Sharon Heartfield-Marchand, MD

I've had BAD acne ever since really the 4th grade. I'd been treating it with over-the-counter medication (like Proactive, Murad, etc.) and even prescription meds and vitamins. All of them didn't work and even possibly made it worse. I was now in my 2nd semester of 8th grade, and I had had enough!!! I decided that I was going to go ahead and try Accutane. (I had wanted to months before, but was a little scared about the side affects that my dermatologist had warned me about.) She said that the average dosage time period would be anywhere from 5 to 7 months. So I got my first months supply and began taking it February 7, 2013. I took 30mg twice a day. Here are the months that I was on it and what you can expect: Month 1: (February) DRYNESS. REDNESS. BAD ACNE FLAIR UP. (I suggest LOTS OF MOISTURIZING!!!) My dryness came as a shock to me because I had always had wet oily gross skin my whole life, but you can expect to have bone dry skin within the first 1-2 weeks. ~~a lot of improvement...my nose (that was once covered in solid blackheads, was now almost black head free! Month 2: (March) REDNESS. DRYNESS. BAD ACNE FLAIR UP (especially around cheek area) Dry skin, NO BLACKHEADS!! You are now starting to see a noticeable improvement. ~IMPORTANT!!! I had been popping zits all my life. As a person who is now off Accutane with skin that I am now happy with, DONT SQUEEZE UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!! My doctor would get onto me about it, but lets be real...every single time I got a white head, I popped it. IT LEAVES BAD SCARRING. Which I'm still dealing with now. HOWEVER, if your life me and u must squeeze, ONLY DO IT IF YOU HAVE A WHITE HEAD AND YOU ARE CERTAIN YOU CAN GET ALL OF IT OUT!!! Month 3: (April) Not as much dryness or redness. BIG improvement. Should be happy with the results you are seeing. A lot less whiteheads and black heads. Hang in there! Month 4: (May) Good skin!(: People will start noticing and complementing your skin. A little redness. Not as much dryness. Around this month I was only having to wash my face around once a month. I just mainly used moisturizer AND LOTS OF IT!!(: Last Dosage of Month 4: June 25, 2013. I had completed 4 months of Accutane and I was now well within my target goal range of mg's. I was going to go another month, but prices got too high so I just stopped. Overall review: 5 STARS++++ SO HAPPY WITH MY SKIN LOVE MY LIFE NO MORE DEPRESSING MORNINGS OR OVERNIGHT CLAY MASKS! HAVENT GOT A SINGLE PIMPLE IN WEEKS!! TIPS: ~ CHAPSTICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have it on you at ALL TIMES!!! ~MOISTURIZER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have it with u at all times (even at school!) You should expect to have dry flaky skin for at least your first 2-3 months (but believe me its SO worth it!) Good brands: CETAPHIL MOSTURIZER (in purple container) this stuff in THA BOMB!!! And Proactive's Green Tea Moisturizer is okay if you don't want to carry around a big bottle of Cetaphil. My only regret: NOT DOING IT SOONER!!!! I was concerned that Accutane would not work for me...but I can pretty much guarantee you that you will be VERY happy with your results!!