POSTED UNDER Accutane REVIEWS
23 Years Old - Moderate Cystic Acne (Start Accutane 5/16/16) Austin, TX
ORIGINAL POST
Hello everyone! So with help through these reviews...
natalouiseApril 15, 2016
$35
Hello everyone! So with help through these reviews and my own personal struggles with cystic acne, I have decided to start Accutane. I had my first appointment yesterday (!) and am going to start in 1 month! I am going to really try to be dedicated to posting updates so everyone can see what I'm going through. The pictures I've included are of me (freshly showered!) in one of my better stages. I only have about 7 active cysts, some are lingering on my face from earlier breakouts. I'm really really hoping to see some good results here. It's been such a horrible struggle for me since I was 15. I don't feel comfortable leaving the house without makeup and I can't remember the last time I went anywhere feeling confident in my skin. My dream is to run my hands over my face and feel smooth skin. I already have some scarring but am hoping Accutane will be the answer to everything that's been taking over my life. I'm sure I won't have much to report until May, but I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone in the community!
Replies (15)
April 18, 2016
Good luck! I've struggled with cystic acne for ten years. I am almost 36. I am on my 4th month of Accutane.. The side effects aren't too bad and I am on a high dose of 80mgs a day. So worth it to have clear skin! Drink plenty of water and get some aquaphor. You will be just fine!
April 19, 2016
Thank you for your kind words! I can't wait to get started. Cystic acne is so incredibly painful - I just had a new one pop up under my lip and it feels like an endless cycle. So frustrating! I think the month wait to get on it is the hard part. I'm still three weeks out and I want to start now, haha!
April 20, 2016
Hey! Just wanted to say I started taking this medication in January, I am about half way through month 4 and my skin is so clear it's amazing! The side effects aren't even that bad anymore and I feel like I'm finally living my life to the fullest degree, and it'll be even better when I stop taking the pills. For me, it started getting better quickly. I saw a big improvement after month 1. BUT everyone is different so hopefully that's the case for you, but if not just stick with it and will get better :)
April 21, 2016
Yay! Congratulations on your awesome skin! That's great that you've been seeing results so early. I'm going to hope that my experience is like yours, but will stick with it to the end regardless :)
April 21, 2016
That's so exciting! I just picked up my prescription after the month-long wait. The wait was definitely hard, but at least there's something to look forward to. I got my prescription today and was probably the happiest person in line! Who knew getting a medication would be such a joyful event. Good luck with everything!! :)
April 21, 2016
Awesome! Congrats on the prescription pickup! I keep telling myself 'only three more weeks' but somehow that seems like a marathon. I hope your journey is great and that your skin is exactly what you want at the end!
April 21, 2016
Hey good luck on your treatment I really hope it works for you. You are a beautiful woman regardless!!! I will follow your page, thanks for posting and sharing your experience!!!!! :) :)
April 21, 2016
Thank you so much! Here's to hoping there's a light at the end of this acne tunnel :)
UPDATED FROM natalouise
24 days pre
Acne oh acne, wherefore art thou acne?
natalouiseApril 21, 2016
Acne, much like unwanted solicitors at bars, keeps coming back even though I turn it away. Not three days ago was I getting smug about the condition of my cysts "Oh look at me, I can threaten my acne into submission without even taking Accutane" I thought smugly. Cut to the other night, when a big bad whopper of a zit comes bursting into MY home and steals MY wife. Or something like that. Anyway, this cyst has set up camp partially under my lip but partially on the surface. Not only can I feel it when I put on chapstick but I feel like it's a giant sign that says "This individual is fifteen, do not allow her to buy pinot noir". Adult acne is a trip. The picture I included doesn't do it justice. The red mound is only like 20% of the actual area. It's an iceberg. An acne iceberg.
So yeah, Accutane. I need it.
So yeah, Accutane. I need it.
Replies (4)
April 25, 2016
Hi! So you're going to start accutane? Just want you to know that their are some lasers, like the yag that can suppress oil production and kill bacteria. The results are usually dramatic clearing! I'm an aesthetician that loves to help people with this concern!
May 24, 2016
I am almost done with accutane and it has cleared up my cystic acne. The side effects were not that bad it is worth dry lips for me to have clear skin! I hope it stays this way! I recommend it because you can always stop it if it's causing you problems.
May 26, 2016
do u skin still break out?
June 8, 2016
Still have a couple of cysts, but it's so much better! I uploaded photos in my latest post so you can see.
UPDATED FROM natalouise
23 days post
20 Days In!
natalouiseJune 8, 2016
Hello everyone! First off - so sorry for not updating sooner, life got a hold of me and I fell behind on keeping up with this. So I'm 3 weeks into my first month and let me tell you, my face is a desert. But on the other hand - I'm seeing results! 2 weeks before I started treatment I was so upset with my face. I had some terribly painful cysts on my so called 'acne beard' and I was lamenting my life. Now 3 weeks in I've seen SIGNIFICANT improvement. I only have a couple cysts, white heads are nearly non existent. Here are the side effects that I've been experiencing:
- DRY skin (not a surprise though). I have flaky, flaky skin on my face, especially around my mouth. I try to gently exfoliate and get rid of it when I shower but it usually comes back the next day. This has been somewhat of a nuisance (especially around my mouth). Aquaphor is my best friend.
- DRY scalp. I'm noticing a significant increase in dandruff, which is frustrating but also not a surprise. I don't have to wash my hair nearly as often though.
- Nosebleeds. Now, I'm very prone to nosebleeds as it is but last week I had 4 days in a row where I got a nosebleed at night. Nothing I'm not used to, super manageable.
That's it for side effects thus far. I'm on 40mg/day and my dermatologist said he was planning on bumping me up to 80mg/day after the next appointment. We'll know more after my appointment next week!
Any questions - ask away! I will be doing photo posts right after this.
- DRY skin (not a surprise though). I have flaky, flaky skin on my face, especially around my mouth. I try to gently exfoliate and get rid of it when I shower but it usually comes back the next day. This has been somewhat of a nuisance (especially around my mouth). Aquaphor is my best friend.
- DRY scalp. I'm noticing a significant increase in dandruff, which is frustrating but also not a surprise. I don't have to wash my hair nearly as often though.
- Nosebleeds. Now, I'm very prone to nosebleeds as it is but last week I had 4 days in a row where I got a nosebleed at night. Nothing I'm not used to, super manageable.
That's it for side effects thus far. I'm on 40mg/day and my dermatologist said he was planning on bumping me up to 80mg/day after the next appointment. We'll know more after my appointment next week!
Any questions - ask away! I will be doing photo posts right after this.
Now fast forward 5 years later and I am starting another cycle of accutane because Im having mild breakouts :'(