[Loreal]

I hope I'm allowed to do this... Haha.
But Jessica inpsired me to make an accutane log, and this is more for myself, just to be able to see what happens, but feel free to ask questions or post comments. Any product reccomendations or accutane stories are much appreciated!

So, I'm 15 and I have had acne for pretty much the past 4 years. It's had its good and bad times, but I'm just really sick of it. I have tried everything, over the counter BP, Proactive, 6+ prescription drugs, antibiotics, arbon, soooo mannnyyy thingggss!!!
My skin gets soo oily during the day, but it has been dry lately b/c of the medicine i was using before accutane. (That didn't really make sense, haha, but i'm not sure how to word it.) My acne isn't like horrendous, it just wont go away!!!
So my dermatologist finally put me on 40mg. (I weigh about 135) a day of Accutane (Claravis) Yayy!!!
I'm on Day 4 today (of a hopefully 5 month course)
There isn't really anything that's changed yet... My lips are slightly more dry today than usual, but my lips have a tendency to be dry all the time, even before accutane. I have a couple new bumps, but i don't really think its from the medicine yet. I think it's more b/c i hadn't been using anything on my face in the few days prior to accutane.

At night I'm washing my face with a bar of Dove Sensitive Skin, and using a VERY thin layer of vaseline mixed with warm water as a moisturizer.
In the morning, I wash my face with the same Dove bar and use a Dove moisturizer. it's like the heavy moisture, or something like that. (it smells so good!! <3 )

I don't use foundation, I just use like tinted moisturizer and i try to wash it all off as soon as i get home.

I guess thats all there is to say! I'm planning on updating this regularly and hopefully see progress....
Thanks for reading!

[reesesilverstar]

Hmmmm....

I don't like the dove bars. I remember using them in high school and the residue would make my skin flare up. I used to suffer from atopic dermatitis.

Good luck to you though, I hope it works

[luxotika]

I'd like to see some pictures!

[GlossyAbby]

I would like to see pics too

[magosienne]

good luck !! maybe take some pics from time to time ? it would really show how your skin's improving

[Harlot]

Good luck to you. Ive tried plenty of products but my skin was never too bad that I felt the need to take any medications. Buts its finaly clearing up and behaving good for the most part. Partly because of Mario Badescu stuff but actually the majority was because I quit.........PEANUT BUTTER. It sucks cause its the best I experimented with eating and without eating and I noticed a big improvement when I finaly quit.

[Kathy]

Sure you can do this! Some before and after or before, during and after pics would be great! Also...just a suggestion, you should probably be using a moisturizer with an SPF during the day. I didn't see you mention it.

Good luck with your Accutane course. I did one in 2006. It's really amazing how it totally transforms your skin. I had a log on another site when I did mine. I've been off it for a year, and my skin is still amazing....

Get some Aquaphor for your lips, and if they get really bad also get Dr. Dan's Cortibalm. If you get headaches early on, it could be because your eyes are dry, so you might also want to pick up some lubricating eye drops (not Visine).

I also really liked Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, it's inexpensive and really moisturizing....if you find that the Vaseline isn't enough....oh yes...also you will need one with SPF during the day. I used Olay Complete SPF 15 lotion for Sensitive Skin (and still do)....sometimes I'd use the Cetaphil first....then wait a while and use the Olay. If you are going to be outside for any legnth of time....you'll need a higher SPF product.

If you get joint pain (I did a little bit), fish oil really helps, and so does an occasional Advil (don't take Tylenol...Accutane is hard enough on your liver).

Oh...and make sure you take the Accutane with a fat....any decent meal that contains fat will work.....a lot of ders don't tell you that, or they just say take it with food....and don't emphisize the fat part.....you won't absorb all of the dose if you don't take it with fat......

[michelledreams]

Good luck and as the ladies mentioned keep a picture history for yourself so you can see your progress

[ColdDayInHell]

Good luck with your treatment!

[jdepp_84]

Best of luck I remember my doc put me on Benzamysen? (SP) and it worked. But then I didnt have insurance so I couldnt get anything. Anyways, pics would be good. Also, could you let us know in detail how dry your face gets? My friend was on this and her lips would get so dry they would look almost white.

Keep us updated

[Loreal]

Thank so much everyone!! I'm SOOO excited!!! =]]
And I will try to put some pictures up soon... Hopefully. My computer has been...struggling. Hah.
Yes, my Dove moisturizer that I use in the morning does have an SPF of 15.
And Labrat81, thanks for the taking the pill with fat tip. That's weird! My doctor never mentioned that. Does milk have enough fat in it to take the pill with a glass of milk?

(Day 5.... Just the same... a teensy tiny bit dryer than normal...)

Hahaha oohhh boy, I apologize for the wonderful quality of pictures... my parents are paranoid about no pictures of me on the internet, which is okay, haha, but i also couldn't figure out how to download them....so this is my E for effot, starting month one pictures. No makeup (obviously...siiicckkkk......) and i had just washed my face and i have on that dove deep moisture lotion.

I think if you have a big glass of whole milk (not low fat or skim) you should be fine. I used to want to take my pill with at least 10g of fat.

If you think your skin is bad...you should have seen mine.....I had like aliens growing on my face...

I think I have some pics somewhere.....

Accutane will clear you right up.....you'll be amazed what it does to your skin....

[Loreal]

DAY 9 Well nothing too drastic has happened... i can definitly feel my face and lips getting dry. Not too dry, but if i don't have chapstick on (Right now I'm just using the chapstick brand, the blue moisture kind) my lips sort of sting. And today, my face ITCHED!!!!!! Oh my gosh. I almost died. Haha okay it wasn't that bad, but I'm not sure if its because its dry, or because of my moisturizer, or what. anyone have any experience with itchiness??!

I'm sure it's just my imagination, b/c i want to it to work so badly, b/c it hasn't been long enough to work, but my face almost seems a little better! Very encouraging, even if it is my imagination. Haha. I'm cautiously optimistic about not having a severe initial breakout. Any thoughts on this? Anyone not have an IB at all??

Hope you have had a great week! =]]

[luxotika]

Your skin is starting to look fantastic! Thanks for posting the pictures!

DAY 9 Well nothing too drastic has happened... i can definitly feel my face and lips getting dry. Not too dry, but if i don't have chapstick on (Right now I'm just using the chapstick brand, the blue moisture kind) my lips sort of sting. And today, my face ITCHED!!!!!! Oh my gosh. I almost died. Haha okay it wasn't that bad, but I'm not sure if its because its dry, or because of my moisturizer, or what. anyone have any experience with itchiness??!

I'm sure it's just my imagination, b/c i want to it to work so badly, b/c it hasn't been long enough to work, but my face almost seems a little better! Very encouraging, even if it is my imagination. Haha. I'm cautiously optimistic about not having a severe initial breakout. Any thoughts on this? Anyone not have an IB at all??

Hope you have had a great week! =]]

I'd really look into getting that Aquaphor, as your lips get worse that chap stick won't cut it anymore....

I did experience that extreme itchiness in the first two weeks....it was realy bad in my nasal labial folds (around my nose). The itchiness I think has to do with what the Accutane is doing to your sebacous glands....During that time my pores started pouring out sebum. It was really oily before but that was insane. Oh, and my scalp also got really itchy and started flaking....but that only lasted the first few weeks and went away. It also stops your scalp from producing sebum....so I only had to wash my hair once a week. A blowout would last almost a week....

I didn't get an initail breakout at all. Only about 20% of patients really do have one. If you don't have it in the first month you probably won't get it....if you do have one...remember it will get better and it's a sign the Accutqane is working. I did get a few more pimple and even a cyst or two in the first month....but it was less than what I'd usually get....

[Jesskaa]

Aquaphor is good stuff, haha.
I still use it even though i'm off accutane.

though, i might be getting back on.
or getting back on something. :/

[noey1219]

my son is finishing his fifth month of accutane and the doctor told him to take a vitamin e supplement everyday to help with his dry skin-it really helped with his dry eyes and skin. good luck!

[FearlessBunny]

I finished accutane a year and a half ago and my skin is still good. I only break out if I get lazy about taking care of my skin. Oh a be careful to look at ingredients in lip balms. I was so desperate one day I used one that I didn't know had salicylic acid on it. Oh the pain.....

[Loreal]

Your skin is starting to look fantastic! Thanks for posting the pictures!

Thank you!! =]

Thanks everyone for the help!!

DAY 11!! WOOO!! Finished my first package of 10 pills. Aquaphor is rapidly becoming my best friend... I have been taking Vitmin E so hopefully that will help with the dryness. I woke up today and my face was dry!!! Like as in flaking dry!! YAYY!! Usually when i wake up it is disturbingly oily. Hah.
The itchiness is BADDD....(around my nose is the worst too!!) but we called the doctor and got some lotion stuff. I'm also using Eucerin anti-itch calming lotion...which is my other best friend.

I have been having some headaches... Is that bad?? they aren't really bad or anything, but before i didn't really have that many... so I'm not sure...

Any reccomendations for a shampoo for siiiccckkk flakey hair?? Ick.