Joseph Bark, MD (retired)

I went my whole life and had only mild, hormonal acne. All of a sudden at age 35..I start getting really bad acne, mostly on my cheeks. Its been extremely embarrassing and has really taken a toll on my confidence. I'll be starting Accutane after my Dec 4th appt. Anyone around my age got any advice? I plan on documenting my journey. I'm scared to take it but also scared not too. Updated on 12 Nov 2014: Here are my before pics. I pray that accutane works for me! Updated on 5 Dec 2014: Well, I finally got my isotretinoin capsules today. The name of my medicine is Myorisan. I'm taking 40mg, twice a day. I guess its generic for Absorbica. I'm still really nervous. Updated on 8 Dec 2014: Today is my 4th day taking myorison. Sure enough my face is already worse. Updated on 15 Dec 2014: Of course my face is worse. My lips are starting to dry. I've not got dryness any were elso though, I'm expecting it. Feeling ok. Some joint pain and headaches. Updated on 29 Dec 2014: My skin is definetly worse...but I've noticed the spots going away faster than before. When I wake up to a new spot it seems couple days later its gone or dryed up. As expected. My skin is just now getting dry. I'm using cetiphil for cleaning and moisturizer. Aquaphor for lips and carmex too. Drinking a lot of water everyday. Still confused on the right foods to eat for absorbison. I'm eating a lot of fast food cause its fatty and I've already gained weight. Help Updated on 20 Jan 2015: Started getting nose bleeds today. I know this is a side effect but I've also been sick w my sinuses so idk what's going on. My skin really isn't doing anything. Some dry spots. I've developed ezema on both my hands. I'm also having really bad back pain. My lips are very dry and kinda hard. Not a positive place right now for me. Updated on 30 Jan 2015: At this time I have no active acne at all. Just dark spots from past acne. I'm dealing with the side effects ok at this time. Updated on 12 Feb 2015: My skin looks the same as the last pictures. My skin now is peeling in only certain areas. Still no active acne. Lots of whiteheads, nothing going on w them. Lips are miserablely dry, hard to handle. I have over 20 lip balms trying to find one that actually moisturizes my lips. I've tryed everything. Oilyness in my hair is gone. I'm 50/50 on my opinion of Accutane right now. Hoping for the best still Updated on 15 Feb 2015: I always see my Dr at the Richmond, Ky office but this last time I had to go to Lexington. Huge mistake. Not only were they rude they completely messed up my I pledge by putting in wrong method of birth control. Because of this I've been off the Accutane for over a week. I'm very upset about this. The ladies at the Richmond office are trying to fix things but any little mistake w I pledge is evedentally a huge deal! On the upside, the extreme lower back pain has stopped! So some appreciation for some relief is welcome. The Dr says Accutane is in your system a month and being off a couple weeks would be no big deal. BUT you know my levels are dropping and I feel like I'm losing progress. Can't win for losing. Still wish I could find a great lip balm that would actually moisturize my lips instead of just sit there. Lips are driving me nuts!! Updated on 21 Feb 2015: From my last update I'm still off the Accutane. They got things straightened up w Ipledge but now I need a new pregnancy test. Won't be able to get to the office until Thursday of this coming week. By this time I will have been off the Accutane for three weeks. My lips are getting better. The pain in my lower back is gone. The eczema is also gone. Head aches are gone. Idk if I want to go back on it. I don't really feel like it was helping my face. My problem isn't acne its whiteheads and scares from the past. I asked if Accutane helps with whiteheads and my Dr said yes...but I've read here from drs that it don't help. So I'm really confused and idk what to do. Looks like I'll basicly be starting over. Any advice from anyone? Updated on 23 Feb 2015: I think I've decided not to go back on the absorbica (Accutane). I've been off almost 3 weeks and all my side effects are gone. I feel great. I'm going to ask my derm about things that can be done to help w dark spots and keeping whiteheads gone. There has to be something he can suggest. Do you all have any suggestions? Chemical peel maybe? I'm not sure.