4th Month on Accutane.. Getting Better but Long Way to Go - Ontario, CA
I have been getting acne since I was about 12...
I have been getting acne since I was about 12 years old. It was never a huge issue, but at the time it seemed like it and I tried out all the cleansers and toners and acne fighters on the market. I am 16 now, and the acne that I had in the past year was the worst so far. When I first visited the dermatologist about a year or so ago, he prescribed some creams but nothing worked. So, inevitably, I turned to Accutane. I am now on my fourth month.
I have noticed a significant difference in breakouts, I am having much less. However, I have terrible scarring that is red and blotchy and I am not sure if the Accutane will help the scarring. As for side effects, I have experienced the usual chapped lips and overall dry skin. At the beginning, my nose was really dry and I had to use nasal gel. I have severe back pain at times and my joints hurt. My derm tried to up my dose at one point and I had heartburn-like chest pains every day that I took the higher dosage.. So I had to go off of it. Other than those symptoms, my experience has been alright. None of those symptoms compare to the way I felt about myself and my skin before I started Accutane. My confidence is increasing. My goal is to help whoever's reading this to gain confidence in the decision to take the medication, because I know I was doubtful and nervous to take it. If you have any questions or comments or similar experiences or tips with the scarring please feel free to share. Thanks. By the way the picture is before starting Accutane and how my skin looks currently.
Accutane: best decision I ever made
I am finally comfortable in my skin. Never felt better.
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Thank you so much for posting your before and now picture. There is definitely a nice improvement!! I will be hoping that things continue to improve even more for you, but the amount that has already happened looks really good!!
We have a community dedicated specifically to Acne Scar Treatments, so you could always read some of the stories in there to see what has worked for people and what hasn't.
In your review you wrote, "My goal is to help whoever's reading this to gain confidence in the decision to take the medication, because I know I was doubtful and nervous to take it." What an admirable goal - I love that you are willing to share your story to try to help others. You are definitely embracing what the RealSelf community is all about!!
Your face definitely improved! And you're very beautiful! I took Accutane before and had clear skin for about half a year, then it all came back. I'm thinking of taking it again but I don't want to go through the "it get worst before it gets better" phase. Did that happen to you when you took Accutane? Did it become worst first before it cleared up? Thanks!