Hello all! Tomorrow I start the first day of my Isotretinoin prescription! (40/mg day) I have dealt with acne since I was probably 13/14 years old. My skin is combination, but tends to lean towards the dry side in the winter. I have good and bad days like everyone else, but my good days would probably be described as the average persons "bad days" (what is average, anyways?!). There are days where I don't even want to leave my house because I am mortified of my skin. With the support of my sister (who went through treatment a few years ago- and currently has angelic skin), I decided to finally start the treatment. My main concern is this drug affecting my running; I'm currently a collegiate cross country/track and field athlete and cannot afford losing my scholarship because of the side affects. Although everyone reacts differently, I am hoping that my side affects will not be drastic enough to be detrimental to my sport. I wanted to share my experience so I can gain advice, help, or tips from current/previous users of Isotretionoin. I also hopes that my story (that will be complete in 6 months!) can help guide others along the journey. Wish me luck! Sam Updated on 15 Sep 2017: Just picked up my prescription from Walgreens! I was given the brand Amnesteem, and I was super relieved when it only came up to $10. Thanks for good insurance mom! Updated on 21 Sep 2017: So far so good! Skin is still feeling pretty normal, lips are tiny bit dry but nothing crazy. 23 weeks to go! Updated on 28 Sep 2017: My skin has (surprisingly) been better than usual! Probably because I have been too busy to mess with it. So far the biggest side affect I'm feeling is dry lips! Not horribly dry, but definitely different than usual. I have been using Dr Dans Cortibalm and Vaseline and they seem to keep me at bay. My knees (joint pain) have been particularly achy but I'm going to blame that on the 45+ miles/week they're taking right now. The eczema between my fingers and (new?) eczema (I'm guessing) on my legs started to flare up too. I'm sure it's a side defect but I will consult with the doctor when I see her in two weeks. Updated on 7 Oct 2017: Lips are very dry and skin is starting to get a little drier as well. I have been experiencing pretty bad back pain in places where I haven't had before so I am a little concerned that it is related to the Accutane. I thought this picture was a perfect way to explain the process so far- chapstick chapstick chapstick! My teammate snuck this picture???? Updated on 10 Oct 2017: Almost a month in! So far side effects include: -Lips are dry! The corners have cracked open as well. However, the feeling is different from normal dry lips, they feel paper thin but not agitated on the areas around the lips (like normal dry lips) . -Back pain! I usually experience some back pain from running/lifting but I am getting stiffness in unusual spots. Nothing terrible but nonetheless unpleasant. Those are the big two for now! My skin isn't drying up (yet) but I am slowly waiting for that day to come.. I feel like my skin is actually looking a little better despite a small breakout by my jaw. I know some people experience initial breakouts (I think around 20%?) but hopefully I skipped out on that part! Thanks for reading :) -Sam Updated on 14 Oct 2017: I just took my last pill from my first months prescription! So far so good... Skin isn't dry yet, eczema has calmed down with derm topical prescribed ointment, lips are still dry but not unbearable, however.. my back is aching! I might need to invest in some massages just to temporarily relieve some of the pain. I started taking Fish Oil with accutane because I was worried my meals weren't high enough in fat. I also am taking a good amount ibuprofen to try to relieve back pain, along with topical tiger balm (because it feels soooo good!) I started that regimen a couple days ago so I will update soon if I notice any differences w/ the fish oil. Ready for round two! -Sam Updated on 19 Oct 2017: Day 34...! So far my back has been OK- some days are definitely better than others but I believe a large factor is also what workout I do that morning. Still very stiff when waking up though. Not too much dryness other than lips, very small dry patches occasionally on my skin but nothing crazy. I've noticed my hair is a little less oily too, which is a good thing! Still taking fish oil with the medication and I started taking it midday versus afternoon in hopes I would have less morning back pain, we'll see if it helps at all during the next couple days. :) Updated on 24 Oct 2017: About 20% there! My skin has been doing very well- to the point where I don't freak out about not wearing makeup out in public! My lips are still drier than the Sahara Desert, and I have a few small dry spots on my face, but on the bright side my back pain has subsided significantly and my eczema has calmed down! Updated on 14 Nov 2017: Hello everyone! Tomorrow will mark the 2 month point (1/3rd of the way done!). I've been a little down lately on my skin, I felt like it was vastly improving and then twoish weeks ago took a turn back to what I started with. I'm trying to be patient with the process! My skin is getting drier, I realize throughout the day I start getting a lot of dry skin around my nose. My skin also starts to peel easier. The lips are still the worst though! Not a lot of body aches though :) Updated on 28 Nov 2017: Hi all! It's been about twoish weeks since I got moved up from 40mg to 60mg (30mg x2 daily). So far haven't noticed a difference in my skin, I am definitely yo-yoing between good and bad but it's still overall better than my original skin. The corners of my mouth FINALLY healed (thanks, aquafor!) but my back pain has increased again, I'm guessing from the increase in dosage. Skin dryness is still doing fairly well, a few dry spots on nose/chin and one or two random rough eczema patches but overall good! I am leaving to Arizona for a month in 2 weeks and hoping the dryer conditions don't dry out my face too bad.. We shall see! Sam Updated on 7 Jan 2018: Hi everyone! Sorry it’s been so long, the holidays have been very hectic! I have been in Arizona for almost 3 weeks and the dryness destroyed my skin. I have numerous dry scaly patches (would post pictures but hard to see), and my lips have been very rough. I am now back in Corpus Christi where the humidity is always about 90% and my skin already feels better. A recent change has been the dryness in my nose, it feels like very hard, painful boogers are constantly in my nose (gross, I know!). I have read that unscented personal lubricant is the best solution for the nose using a q-tip because petroleum jellies can be inhaled into your lungs which is no bueno! My skin has been doing decent, but recently dealing with more acne than usual, including very deep painful pimples that last FOREVER, however I am guessing that it is hormonal due to a recent change in birth control. My back pain is better and Aquaphor has been a blessing for my lips! Only two months left...Thanks for all the support from y’all! Sam Updated on 10 Jan 2018: Just found a old picture and felt like sharing... I have good skin days and bad skin days on Accutane but I see pictures like this and I am so thankful for this medication! Updated on 18 Jan 2018: Was yesterday.. When I went to pick up my prescription (usually $10) is now $535- AFTER insurance took off $200 from the original price of $735. Who else has cried in Walgreens?? Lol. After the 1st of the year, I switched from Cigna (moms plan) to United (dads plan) because my mom changed to part time at her work and was no longer able to cover dependents. I knew my dads insurance was crappier but wow... Was not expecting it to be this bad! I went home w/o picking up the prescription and tried to figure out how ~my broke college student self~ was going to pay for this or if I even should continue. I have two months left and my skin is doing considerably better. I REALLY did not want to pay over half a grand for this medicine, but I also felt like if I was to just quit, that the last four months of not only physical detriment to my body (the dryness, the aches, the affect it’s had on my running) but also the psychological aspects of taking this medication would have been a waste. I scrounged the internet to look for coupons, and ending up finding one for my dosage that dropped the price to just under $400. My mom was able to help me and thankfully I just received financial aid from my scholarship but this was still a big blow mentally and emotionally. At my next derm appointment, I am going to ask my doctor if she would suggest stopping a month early. I have a backup plan in case she wants to continue with the 6-month course, and that is asking to switch from my Claravis 30mg to Myosorian 30mg, because I found a RX coupon that makes it $200. Anyways, thanks for reading and for the continued support. I emphasize strongly with all of you going through insurance changes and dealing with deductibles. As a young adult, I am understanding more and more everyday how messed up the world of healthcare is! Stay tuned Updated on 7 Feb 2018: And my skin is awesome!! By no means perfect, but wow. I don’t stray away from harsh bathroom lighting or the sun anymore and I have been concerned with face makeup for the past two weeks, and when I do wear it my skin looks literally flawless. So relieved and happy that this journey is coming to an end and that I’m seeing so much change in my skin! My lips are still dry and under my nose but not as bad as before. The perks of living somewhere with consistent 90% or above humidity :-) Thank you all for reading and helping me along this journey! Updated on 14 Mar 2018: Haven’t updated in a while but my skin has been SO good... I have some scarring obviously still but it’s been rare that I’ve had a pimple at all. Underneath my nose gets dry along with my lips but not bad at all! Body aches are subsided (or maybe I’ve just gotten used to it!) I also have been dealing with new hyper pigmentation on my arms and back but is pretty minor compared to the acne I used to have.Tomorrow is my 6 month appointment and I’m pretty sure I am going on another month but at 20mg (I’ve been at 60mg), I am excited to see if I feel better running and racing (although I have a feeling just being off all medication will give me some placebo effect and hopefully I run fast lol). Recently my IUD expired (birth control) and I got a new one so I’m guessing some of the little acne I’m getting right now could be hormonal. Anyways, Keep on keepin on!! For those of you in the journey.. It gets better!! Updated on 19 Mar 2018: Let’s go baby! 20mg/day for 30 days! Updated on 15 Apr 2018: Hello! My skin is still looking great.. Still at 20mg/day and have a few scars but no new pimples! My chest and back look great as well but they became clear almost 3-4 months ago. I still have dry white spots on my arms and back and rashes in my underarms but hey... clear skin! Updated on 23 Apr 2018: Less than a week left on 20mg/day and my skin is better than ever!! I am starting to notice however that I can no longer go 3-4 days without washing my hair because my oils are slowly coming back. Very happy! The journey is worth it :) P.s my running has also gotten better but I’m not sure if that’s accutane-related Updated on 28 Apr 2018: What a journey this has been! There was times when this journey was extremely painful, difficult, and expensive... But nothing outweighs the feeling of not having to hide anymore. Some would say that this is all about vanity, but those who have never suffered with acne can not possibly fathom how horrible it feels. I no longer feel a need to wear face makeup, and when I do it’s just an added plus. I love not worrying about looking in mirrors I’m harsh lighting, being out in the sun, or spending a ridiculous amount of time picking at my skin. Thank you, Accutane! Updated on 21 May 2018: WOW! My skin has been amazing... some of the oil is coming back but I have had barely any blemishes on my face and zero on my body. What an amazing feeling it is to wake up and not worry about how your face is going to look in the mirror! Updated on 13 Jun 2018: Recently I’ve been very... disappointed- I guess you could say- with my skin. My acne is coming back slowly, and although the overall texture of my skin is better I’m waking up to see *unsightly* new blemishes that appeared overnight. Nothing has changed hormonally with my body but the weather has significantly been hotter and more humid (thanks south Texas!) and I’m working out more than usual. Not sure if those could be contributing factors but I really hope that this is as bad as it gets, but I also need to learn to NOT pick at pimples and just leave them the heck alone! I am so fearful that I went through this entire process just to end up back where I started. In a few weeks if it doesn’t get better I plan on returning to derm to get tazorac/similar topical rx. Any of you post-accutaners have any advice/suggestions for me PLEASE comment, I will be forever grateful! Updated on 14 Oct 2018: Hi y’all! Sorry it’s been so long... Just wanted to give an update on my skin! It is still drastically better than pre-Accutane but definitely not as good as it was on my last month or so on the medicine. It has been great not having chapped lips or perpetual dry skin, and my running has returned back to normal and I don’t have back aches/knee pain anymore. However, it was really nice not having oily skin or hair! Updated on 27 Sep 2019: As much as I wish this story ended on a happy note... It didn’t. My acne is back, and has been for the past 6-10 months. Maybe not *quite* as terrible as before, especially on the body/back/chest, but the texture is almost the same. I’m so frustrated and extremely reluctant to start on any additional medication because of my collegiate athletic career. So frustrated and upset and I feel like I went through so much to be back to square 1. Updated on 27 Sep 2019: More pics
