Going on Accutane for Nodular Acne

I’m documenting my journey on Acctane to treat cystic acne. I’ve registered with iPledge and I should be able to fill my script sometime next week. Nervous about the side effects but excited about the results. Right now my acne is the absolute worse it’s ever been and it has been downright scary looking at times. I finally decided that enough was enough. I’m tired of avoiding mirrors and having to pile on the makeup. I want to not have to wear makeup at all anymore as I love the way I look without it. Just for special occasions and going out. Having that option alone, would change my life tremendously. It’s been a long, emotional journey with this acne, over 20 years. I’m tired but I’m so happy I’m finally giving this a try.

This is a bit unusual but I’m starting my review of Accutane at about 7 weeks in. My very awesome dermatologist prescribed 30mg 2x/day. So, 60mg a day. I’ve been feeling disenchanted because I just have not been seeing positive results at all. I was deep in the throes of a bad, painful, deep beneath the surface, cystic breakout when I started treatment; but I could clearly tell when the initial breakdown aka “purge” aka “flare up” began. Adult acne struck my already oily, acne prone face very aggressively about 4 years ago (at the age of 30) and I’ve been struggling with it off and on ever since. While on Isotretinoin, my face breaks out in places it typically never would in the past. Just the purging is completely driving me insane right now. My acne never used to effect me that bad psychologically. I just didn’t like it and it was an inconvenience. But in reality, it was impeding my ability to live a normal life because I would avoid many social situations if I couldn’t cake on the makeup. Anyway, dermatologist said to be patient and that I should start clearing soon. Next week, I go for my 2nd month visit and last month all of my levels were normal so I hope it stays that way. I do not regret this decision to go the Accutane route at all. I’m just impatient but I’m confident it will (eventually) start to work for me.

My skin is progressively getting clearer and softer but I still have quite a ways to go. My face and lips are still really dry and peeling a lot. I actually enjoy the dryness and I choose not to opt for any of those heavy moisturizers because I’m afraid of more breakouts. I had been occasionally using lubriderm (contains mineral oil) and some off brand cetaphil lotion (contained macadamia oil) because I needed the oils to conceal the flakiness I was experiencing but now that I might be starting to emerge from this initial breakout, I don’t want any setbacks. Like some other users of Isotretinoin, I too have the rashes on the tops of my hands. There were red, itchy bumps and dryness that has left me with hyperpigmentation but that’s beginning to improve as well. So, not very many changes since the last time I posted, I’m just relieved to see that things are at least headed in a positive direction. I was starting to feel like my acne was refusing to budge.