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*Treatment results may vary
One year later
And I still have clear skin. I get an occasional small pimple around my cycle, but other than that nothing. The skin on my nose has remained dry and gets flakey in winter. I’ve kept up my skin regimen using cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer. I prefer not to wear foundation, and use the same Cotz tinted moisturizer. There is some light scarring on my cheek from acne, pitting from some of the cystic acne that I had experienced during treatment. I also have a slight scar in between my eyebrows. I am now certain that I am allergic to the wax that was being used when I would get my eyebrows done (prior to accutane); I now only pluck or have threading done.
Over the past year my hair has been a wreck. I had so much new hair growth, my hair was always in a constant state of frizz from the shorter, thinner, wavier/curlier hair taking over my head. I still haven’t figured out how to style my new hair right without using a straight iron or curling iron. I now use curly hair products to help calm the rat’s nest. Still have a lot of shedding going on, but my hair growth has improved the thinning. I can still go two days without washing hair and three or more if I use dry shampoo. My natural oils are slowly coming back. My face now gets oily, but not to the extent of what it was pre-accutane, but enough to want to blot.
I still have discomfort when sitting for long periods of time. My chiropractor said I had developed a frozen sacroiliac joint. This was painful during sitting more then movement. I do exercises and stretches to help. Other than that, no other joint aches or pains.
Before I went through this process I wish that more people had posted long-term effects of the medication. Hopefully this is helpful!
Over the past year my hair has been a wreck. I had so much new hair growth, my hair was always in a constant state of frizz from the shorter, thinner, wavier/curlier hair taking over my head. I still haven’t figured out how to style my new hair right without using a straight iron or curling iron. I now use curly hair products to help calm the rat’s nest. Still have a lot of shedding going on, but my hair growth has improved the thinning. I can still go two days without washing hair and three or more if I use dry shampoo. My natural oils are slowly coming back. My face now gets oily, but not to the extent of what it was pre-accutane, but enough to want to blot.
I still have discomfort when sitting for long periods of time. My chiropractor said I had developed a frozen sacroiliac joint. This was painful during sitting more then movement. I do exercises and stretches to help. Other than that, no other joint aches or pains.
Before I went through this process I wish that more people had posted long-term effects of the medication. Hopefully this is helpful!
The end
I decided to finish up early; I did some days with 40 mg twice a day and some only once a day over the span of 20 days. The hair shedding had increased even more, it was unreal how much hair would come out when I washed and combed my hair. I do have new hair growth over the past six months, however it is kinky or wavy in texture; my hair is mostly straight. It had gotten really frizzy looking even when I had applied so many different hair oils and serums to "tame the frizz"; nothing tamed it. The other thing that had me ready for it to be over was the tightness in my hip flexors and the heals of my feet.
Since I am now 24 days post isotretinoin, the hair shedding and joint tightness is gradually getting better every day. I had a derm appointment last week, and she told me that my hair would get back to normal in about nine months. I can still go days without washing my hair and the frizziness has improved, but I still need to apply hair products for a more polished look. I have also been going to the chiropractor since I've finished for an overall tuneup, and I have an ongoing shoulder injury from years ago that flares up doing certain activities. I had stopped going because I was unsure if getting adjustments would be a good idea on isotretinoin. He recommended inserts in my running shoes and WOW what a difference. The additional support and the stretching exercises he recommended have really helped alleviate the heal tightness substantially. My flexibility is gradually getting better; stretching actually feels like its doing some progress now. While taking isotretinoin, stretching didn't seem to improve flexibility even though I was stretching more than I had in years.
While on isotretinoin my allergy and sinus problems magically went away. They are slowly coming back, maybe its the time of year? My face is still clear and my skin is still dry. My derm thinks that my scaring will mostly go away in the next few months and the redness should go away sooner. I will have another followup appointment in about 3-4 months. My skin no longer itches and its not as delicate. During treatment, my skin had gotten so delicate, my fingers would have cuts and scrapes from almost anything. My lips are not constantly dry now, only need to apply lip balm maybe 2-3 times a day and no longer need it constantly. My nails became stronger during treatment, only time will tell if it goes back to being flimsy nails that peel. Also I'm no longer exhausted or tired feeling ... I'm back to staying up late and restless sleeping, I'm a light sleeper. I was hoping that I could keep the heavy sleeping to continue getting my eight hours of sleep.
Overall I'm happy with the results and, as long as my face stays clear, it was worth it. My derm seems to think that I will never have acne again, maybe an occasional pimple at worst. I hope she is right!
This process has helped me analyze different aspects of life: diet, exercise, sleep, mind function, body function. I do feel my diet and exercise have improved over the course of the treatment. When I say diet, I'm not talking about eating to lose weight (ten pounds), I'm generalizing my food intake. I actually ate more calories and fat while on isotretinoin to make sure that I was absorbing the medication properly. I did lose weight over my course of treatment, and felt like I was force feeding myself more food than what I had an appetite for. Now that I'm done, I will probably minimize my fat intake, but will try to keep eating about the same proportions of healthier items such as vegetables and fruit. Towards the end I was running four days a week, sometimes five because of all the christmas cookies I had eaten. Isotretinoin definitely helped me sleep better. Towards the end my mind function seemed scatter brained and forgetful, granted I am a grad student and the end of a semester is always stressful with finals, papers, and projects. I didn't seem as anxious while on the medication, I cared about things, but not to the point of being stressed; I was able to be more objective and not as emotional. Body function didn't change other than tight joints and I was more regular. I feel its important to analyze oneself from time to time to determine if something is having a positive or negative effect on one's life. I wish everyone luck on this journey. And I will try to continue to check in if there are any changes worth noting.
Since I am now 24 days post isotretinoin, the hair shedding and joint tightness is gradually getting better every day. I had a derm appointment last week, and she told me that my hair would get back to normal in about nine months. I can still go days without washing my hair and the frizziness has improved, but I still need to apply hair products for a more polished look. I have also been going to the chiropractor since I've finished for an overall tuneup, and I have an ongoing shoulder injury from years ago that flares up doing certain activities. I had stopped going because I was unsure if getting adjustments would be a good idea on isotretinoin. He recommended inserts in my running shoes and WOW what a difference. The additional support and the stretching exercises he recommended have really helped alleviate the heal tightness substantially. My flexibility is gradually getting better; stretching actually feels like its doing some progress now. While taking isotretinoin, stretching didn't seem to improve flexibility even though I was stretching more than I had in years.
While on isotretinoin my allergy and sinus problems magically went away. They are slowly coming back, maybe its the time of year? My face is still clear and my skin is still dry. My derm thinks that my scaring will mostly go away in the next few months and the redness should go away sooner. I will have another followup appointment in about 3-4 months. My skin no longer itches and its not as delicate. During treatment, my skin had gotten so delicate, my fingers would have cuts and scrapes from almost anything. My lips are not constantly dry now, only need to apply lip balm maybe 2-3 times a day and no longer need it constantly. My nails became stronger during treatment, only time will tell if it goes back to being flimsy nails that peel. Also I'm no longer exhausted or tired feeling ... I'm back to staying up late and restless sleeping, I'm a light sleeper. I was hoping that I could keep the heavy sleeping to continue getting my eight hours of sleep.
Overall I'm happy with the results and, as long as my face stays clear, it was worth it. My derm seems to think that I will never have acne again, maybe an occasional pimple at worst. I hope she is right!
This process has helped me analyze different aspects of life: diet, exercise, sleep, mind function, body function. I do feel my diet and exercise have improved over the course of the treatment. When I say diet, I'm not talking about eating to lose weight (ten pounds), I'm generalizing my food intake. I actually ate more calories and fat while on isotretinoin to make sure that I was absorbing the medication properly. I did lose weight over my course of treatment, and felt like I was force feeding myself more food than what I had an appetite for. Now that I'm done, I will probably minimize my fat intake, but will try to keep eating about the same proportions of healthier items such as vegetables and fruit. Towards the end I was running four days a week, sometimes five because of all the christmas cookies I had eaten. Isotretinoin definitely helped me sleep better. Towards the end my mind function seemed scatter brained and forgetful, granted I am a grad student and the end of a semester is always stressful with finals, papers, and projects. I didn't seem as anxious while on the medication, I cared about things, but not to the point of being stressed; I was able to be more objective and not as emotional. Body function didn't change other than tight joints and I was more regular. I feel its important to analyze oneself from time to time to determine if something is having a positive or negative effect on one's life. I wish everyone luck on this journey. And I will try to continue to check in if there are any changes worth noting.
5 months down!
Not much has changed since last post.
My arms and neck are super itchy. My derm prescribed a steroid cream to use twice daily until itchiness and scaliness subsides.
For my last month of treatment, I have the option of doing the same dosage for 15 days (40mg twice a day) or reducing the dosage to 40mg once a day for 30 days.
I haven't decided what to do. Part of me just wants to get it over with, but another part of me thinks it may be beneficial to "gradually" discontinue. Any recommendations are welcome.
My arms and neck are super itchy. My derm prescribed a steroid cream to use twice daily until itchiness and scaliness subsides.
For my last month of treatment, I have the option of doing the same dosage for 15 days (40mg twice a day) or reducing the dosage to 40mg once a day for 30 days.
I haven't decided what to do. Part of me just wants to get it over with, but another part of me thinks it may be beneficial to "gradually" discontinue. Any recommendations are welcome.