POSTED UNDER Accutane Reviews
Finally Starting Accutane!
UPDATED FROM PBUser2019
2 months post
8/20 Update
PBUser2019August 20, 2019
$10
I haven't posted in over a month... sorry guys! First off let me just say, my face hurts. I've had more cystic acne consecutively since I've been on this medication than I ever did before. With that being said, this may be due to a few factors. In October I got the Nexplanon hormonal birth control implant ("the bar") not realizing that the hormones would wreck my skin. The accutane is doing what its supposed to do which is to purge my skin, aka "getting worse before it gets better". My dermatologist suggested that I explore other birth control options so I may go back on the pill. I've gotten lucky as far as side effects go, I still have dry lips/skin but it's very manageable. Attached are photos I took this morning, I think a lot of the redness is from just washing my face before... As you can see my skin is flaring up along my cheekbones and jawline with cysts :( I'll make another post after my appointment on the Sept 6th.
UPDATED FROM PBUser2019
1 month post
Over 1 month in
PBUser2019July 13, 2019
I finished my first month on 40 mg Accutane. The cystic acne still persists, but I’ve gotten better at preventing/ treating the dry lips. I’m trying to stay out of the sun as much as I can unless I have 50 SPF on. I saw my dermatologist two days ago and she told me it was normal for things to “get worse before they get better” but she said she didn’t want to see me go through that after having acne for this long. She kept my dosage at 40 mg and put me on an oral steroid (predinone- I think) and antibiotic (sulfameth/trimethoprim) to work alongside the accutane... I haven’t read anything from other reviews about this so I’m a little nervous but I’ll do anything at this point for my face to stop getting worse - Feeling sad :(
Replies (5)
July 15, 2019
My daughter has been taking Accutane for 8 months. She is still having some break outs, and two times her doctor has prescribed antibiotics and prednisone in conjunction with the Accutane. She uses Tazorac topically once or twice a week, and now she is adding Aczone topically for redness. We have been feeling discouraged that it’s taking so long to see progress, but the dermatologist assured us that it WILL get better and to be patient. She said some people take longer than others, but in their family practice they have been prescribing it for 30 years and they have NEVER had a patient that didn’t get better if they stayed the course. I hope this will encourage you!
July 15, 2019
Thanks for the insight. Being in the “in progress” stage is so tough... tell your daughter she’s a trooper! What dosage is she taking?
July 22, 2019
Props to her for being so patient! I have hope that my skin will be better at the end of this journey but it's so frustrating not seeing immediate results. Thank you so much for the kind words and good luck to your daughter.
August 8, 2019
40mg seems low, my son got bumped up to 60 mg From 30 mg after 30 days. The doctor said it wouldn’t improve if he stays on a lower dose.
August 20, 2019
I'm on 40 mg once a day and my derm doesn't want to up the dosage yet because of my labs
July 22, 2019
I took acutane in high school and it 100% helped but the dryness is pretty bad even after you stop it for a while. I’ve considered taking it again as my acne has gotten bad again this past year. Unfortunately acutane doesn’t help with scarring so any of that that’s already occurred won’t go away but there are other treatments.
July 25, 2019
So i'm a few weeks away from starting my course of Accutane. I just met with my derm yesterday and she said it will absolutely get worse before it gets better, and if it gets really sever she'd call me in a steroid. So pretty similar to what your doc is doing. Hang in there girl!! I look forward to seeing more updates from your journey. It'll be worth it :)
August 20, 2019
I'm taking 5 mg prednisone (steroid) and 40 mg Claravis (accutane) currently... Month three has been a pain. Im rooting for you!
July 26, 2019
Hang in there lady! It took me a while to notice the difference, probably 5 weeks maybe 6. I really struggled with my lips during my treatment. I got extremely dry and sun sensitive lips. I bought a lip mask which I now continue to use every night and never ever ever left home without my spf chap stick. I bought the highest spf one I could find and some days would be applying it 6-8 times. My lips also peeled a lot so be prepared and then smother them in Carmex!
Beware the sun, I noticed I got some sun sport starting, especially around my lips around week 12. Wear a hat and spf 50!
August 20, 2019
Thanks for the insight! The sun is my worst enemy right now. I avoid it at all costs... If I am in direct sunlight for more than 10mins without sunscreen I get patches of dry skin on my arms from the burning :(
August 21, 2019
It’s manageable. I swapped my body lotion in the morning to a SPF sunscreen. It would Buring my skin and also give me protection. I go factor 50 with everything lol!
I’ve finished my treatment now and my skin is slowly loosing the sensitivity, but I have gained some melasma from being too much of a sin bunny. Wear the hat, wear the sun screen!
I’ve finished my treatment now and my skin is slowly loosing the sensitivity, but I have gained some melasma from being too much of a sin bunny. Wear the hat, wear the sun screen!
August 8, 2019
It usually takes at least 3 months for most people to see improvement! You’re going to love the results, hang in there!
August 20, 2019
I'm about to make my three month update and my skin is as bad as when it started... Hopefully it's all up from here
UPDATED FROM PBUser2019
21 days post
3 weeks in
PBUser2019June 29, 2019
Three weeks into the treatment and my skin is probably the worst it's ever been. I'm feeling really sad but anxious to see what will happen as time goes on. I see my cystic acne disappearing then a new batch pops up overnight :( Hopefully in the next month I will see results
I went to the beach yesterday- on my body I used 50 spf lotion sunscreen and topped it with 30 spf spray sunscreen to make sure it was even, applied it this way multiple times & still got burnt... Sun sensitivity on this medication is no joke! On my face I used Sun Bum 40 spf facial sunscreen RELIGIOUSLY and luckily my face was fine. My lips, however, are so burnt that they're blistering and cherry red. It didn't cross my mind to use sunscreen on my lips but I will never make that mistake again. Aquaphor has helped a lot with the dryness/ relieves pain a little. I've been using Carmex 15 spf as well any time I walk outside.
I went to the beach yesterday- on my body I used 50 spf lotion sunscreen and topped it with 30 spf spray sunscreen to make sure it was even, applied it this way multiple times & still got burnt... Sun sensitivity on this medication is no joke! On my face I used Sun Bum 40 spf facial sunscreen RELIGIOUSLY and luckily my face was fine. My lips, however, are so burnt that they're blistering and cherry red. It didn't cross my mind to use sunscreen on my lips but I will never make that mistake again. Aquaphor has helped a lot with the dryness/ relieves pain a little. I've been using Carmex 15 spf as well any time I walk outside.
Replies (5)
June 30, 2019
Hi hun, I've been on accurate now for 3 months and skin is looking better than ever! 100% got the exact same side effects as you at the beginning. Face broke out like mad, the cystic acne that wasn't there to begin with appeared out of nowhere and I looked ridiculous. You could peel layers off of my lips and they were scabbing at the sides and I started to look like the joker! I had this until about 5 weeks in and then everything calmed down, the redness disappeared and the bumps were reducing in size. I started off on 20mg and I'm now on 60mg. Skins feeling great at the minute however everytime I up my dose my face breaks out. My advice is the persevere with accutane..everything gets worse before it gets better and trust me itll be worth it!! Ps.. Sun still affects me like crazy, sun burn constantly even if I've barely been in the sun.. Seems like that's a side affect that may continue until the end of the course.
July 2, 2019
That's so great to hear, congrats! I'm currently on 40 mg so we'll see if I get bumped up to 60 when I go in next Monday... I'm hanging in there, thanks for the kind note :)
July 2, 2019
Hi, I’m 4 months on Accutane and for me it only got worse and worse for 3 months, only just started to get better around the 4 month mark. I currently only have 2 under the skin spots and scarring. It’s rough when after a long time you think it’s gonna suddenly get better but it doesn’t, hang in there because it will
July 2, 2019
Ugh... I'm only 3 weeks in and I can't imagine it looking any worse than it does now. I'm definitely going to keep taking it. Thanks for your comment!
July 2, 2019
I was on it for 5 months,
I’m 44 and have had cystic acne all my life. Mine cleared at 4 and half months, been clear and off of it for 6 weeks. Never woken up and not needed make up in my life before! Worked for me.
I’m 44 and have had cystic acne all my life. Mine cleared at 4 and half months, been clear and off of it for 6 weeks. Never woken up and not needed make up in my life before! Worked for me.
July 2, 2019
Wow! Waking up and not having to put on makeup to go leave the house? That's the dream. Hopefully my picking and popping doesn't ruin my skin... Congrats on completing your journey, Personally, I feel like it's taking forever.
July 5, 2019
I had a similar horrible initial breakout on week 1 but after week 3 it was as clear as i been in months! Im doing 80mg a day which is really high tho so maybe that helped. I dont really have side affects which is whats crazy and im on to month two now
July 22, 2019
Ugh so lucky... I expected it to get worse before it gets better :/ I'm taking 40 mg a day so maybe next time I see my derm I will ask about going up.
July 23, 2019
Coming from a guy here, don’t stress to much. If anything you’re one of the most attractive girls I’ve seen in a while. I love your eyes and eyelashes. Hang in there and soon you’re confidence will go through the roof!!! And even so ppl now a day don’t really judge when it comes to acne. You’re beautiful , don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
July 5, 2019
Hang in there on the accutane!!!! It will do its job!!! This is only temporary and in the long run, so worth it!!!
I was on accutane previously due to cystic acne and it did it’s magic for decades. Fast forward 20 years and now taking a round of 40 mg daily due to rosacea with pustules and a bit of cystic acne - I’m on week five and see great improvements on both conditions.
I can recommend Lipster for your lips, made for those lips who’s owners are on strong meds. I wash my face in the morning with water only and then at night with a gentle cleanser. At night after cleansing, I put a layer of Elta MD moisturizer. I use Avene for SPF.
Hope these tidbits help and stay the course!!!
I was on accutane previously due to cystic acne and it did it’s magic for decades. Fast forward 20 years and now taking a round of 40 mg daily due to rosacea with pustules and a bit of cystic acne - I’m on week five and see great improvements on both conditions.
I can recommend Lipster for your lips, made for those lips who’s owners are on strong meds. I wash my face in the morning with water only and then at night with a gentle cleanser. At night after cleansing, I put a layer of Elta MD moisturizer. I use Avene for SPF.
Hope these tidbits help and stay the course!!!
July 22, 2019
Thanks so much! I'm gonna push through for sure. I'll take a look at the products you recommended as well.
Replies (3)
Yes keep at it! I didn't stop getting regular break outs until month five -- though I do know a couple friends who got the bar and even though they had perfect skin before it [RS bleep] them up too. The pill or a copper IUD may be better (I have a copper IUD and I love it, but I'm really sensitive even to the pill) Just be sure to keep at it with SPF on the face and aquaphor on the lips and I promise soon it will all be worth it. Also side note you have AMAZING eyebrows girl. Super jealous.