My Accutane journey! - Palo Alto, CA

I have acne since I can remember, in high school, my face is always covered by acnes, and including my back and chest, and legs. After high school, I discover a facial wash that cured my acnes. So when in college, my face was very white and clear for the most part. I also became a pretty girl in college and had no problem in relationships. I keep using the same facial wash for many many years.

Fast forward to graduate school, my skin was still good, but I was away from home and didn't know how to cook for myself, I always ate junk foods and drink sugary drinks every single day. And I stopped using the facial wash that I found earlier, I switched to some other brand just to try it out. And gradually my skin was not that good anymore.

Fast forward, after I graduated from master's degree, I started to work to my company now. But I had a heart broken break-up that took a toll in my life. And I was constantly sad and depressed and eat more junk food and fried food. For morning I'd eat potato chips for breakfast and sugary drink. And I always eat out, not cooking for myself. And at dinner I'd eat a deep fried fish bento box. I ate so many deep fried dishes that I feel ashamed talking about now. And as you can imagine, my face started to break out.
At first i didn't think too much about it and just covered it up with BB cream. But eventually acnes covers all over my face. My self-esteem went even lower and I stopped looking at the mirrors. I tried getting facials and medicines but none of them works. And I also didn't know how to take good care of my skins. Many mistakes I made such as: I used BB cream from unknown manufacture, I used very coarse cotton pad to wipe my face, I used towel to scratch my face, I washed my face with hot water, I didn't exfoliate, I picked on it so much, and I ate too much fried food and not enough fruits and vegetables! Those all contributed to the server acne that I'm having now. So for 3 years I have horrible acnes and didn't know what to do.

After a horrible breakout, I started to eat organic and mostly fruits and vegetables, I made a green smoothie for myself every morning, drink tons of water and herbal tea, organic detox tea. I stopped eating junk food like potato chips, and I stopped eating fried food and sugary drinks. I always go to whole foods to buy organic, and I started to drink green juice such as from pressed juicery, I also bought a juicer and make green juice at home. I also drink hot lemon water in the morning, go to bed early every day, and start to exercise more. So for the past 6 months my acne starts to improve. But still there are lots of scaring and I still have regular breakouts.

Two weeks ago I went to get a massage, it required me to face down on the pillow. I worried a little because I didn't want my face to touch the pillow but didn't it anyway because I thought my face is stable enough. So after the 1 hour massage, my face broke out again!!!! I totally regret that I put my face down to touch the pillow and allowed the massage pressure to ruin my face. So I went to see a new doctor and she suggested me Accutane right away.

I was scared because of the side effects I heard people have, but I can't wait for my face to naturally clear up, and since I have acne on my back and chests I might as well fix it all at once!! So I decided to take the plunge with Accutane!

It turns out I need to wait for a month to start, because I need to start birth control pill and I need to do blood test first.

This morning I already went for my blood test. And I'm already taking the pills every day, I really can't wait to start Accutane!! And I also bought the original facial wash that cured me the first time, I've been using it for many days, I can't wait for the results!!

I wanna share with you how I got so many acnes in the first place. And by doing the opposite for a long period of time, I think it will prevent the acnes (finger crossed).

1. Do not wash face with hot water:
The skin can get very dry and sensitive after you wash with hot water, if you wash your face when you are taking a shower the chance is that the water is too hot for your skin. Do not wash your face with hot water. Wash your face with cold water or room temperature water.

2. Do not eat fried food:
The fried food contains those oil that's full of free-radicals, free radicals can damage your internal as well as your skin. I don't eat any fried food now.

3. Do not use a towel to dry your face.
Lots people use towel to dry face after washing it. And they don't wash the towel regulary. Towel is too coarse for your skin, and it contains so many bacterias if you don't wash your towel. In stead, always use facial tissue to pad dry your face after washing it. The facial issue is soft and fine, which is good for your face. In short, the softer the material you use to pad dry your face, the softer your skin will be.

4. Do not use coarse cotton pad to remove makeup or put on toner.
The same as above, if you use coarse material, your skin will be coarse.

5. Do not wipe your face:
Do not use towel or cotton ball to "wipe" your face. If you want to dry your face, gentally "pad dry" it!!!

6. Do not drink too much coffee or tea:
Caffeine is very drying to your skin, it can dehydrate your organs. And it keeps you awake at night. I used to drink tea every day and night and I could sleep well. In stead, drink fresh-squeeze juice or caffeine-free herbal tea.

7. Go to bed before 11PM.
The same as above, if you can't sleep well then you won't have good skin because your body needs the sleep time to recover itself and detox!!! The most important time to sleep is between 11PM to 1AM because during this time the liver is detoxing!!! You need your liver to detox, otherwise your skin will do!

8. Do not use cheap cosmetic products:
Don't try to save money by using the cheapest skin product. I used to be cheap, I'd use whatever other people gave me. In stead, save money to buy the better product for yourself, your skin will thank you.

9. Don't eat too much sweets.
Ice cream, cake, chocolate, soda, candy...all of them bring you high blood sugar in a short period of time and it can trigger release male hormone and therefore increase oil in the oil glands. I used to drink sugaring drink all the time and eat candy as meals. Don't do it!!

10. Don't pick at your skin!
Don't touch your skin as much as possible. Don't pop your acne!! Let them go away on their own time. The more you pick at your skin, the worse it will become! The bacterias can go even deeper and spread even further if you squeeze your skin! If you absolutely need to pop pimples, at least disinfect and wash your hands first!

I'm still on the preparation of Accutane, I'm currently taking birth control pills, and the doctor prescribes me antibiotics and Retin-A for now.

I take antibiotics every 12 hours. And I use Retin-A every other days.
Retin-A can make my skin peel the next day, but it doesn't hurt at all.