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POSTED UNDER Accutane REVIEWS

20 Years Old - Utah, UT

ORIGINAL POST

My face was perfectly clear up until about 18 when...

1826374
WORTH IT
My face was perfectly clear up until about 18 when I started taking birth control and since then my face broke out. I had a bunch of little tiny zits all over and tried literally everything and finally my dermatologist suggested accutane. I was so hesitant because I've only heard bad things. I am currently on week 12 taking one pill one night, and two pills the next night. The first few weeks I broke out pretty bad, I didn't even want to go out in public. It started getting better and then got worse again (which is why I think my dermatologist upped my dosage)
My side effects have been pretty minor, annoying, but not crazy terrible. The first 6 weeks my lips hurt so bad. I went through 5 tubes of aquaphor and was applying it every twenty minutes, I'm not kidding. It definitely got better, I still apply it quite often, but my lips are just dry, they don't hurt anymore. My skin recently has gotten dry and paper thin. My hands have gotten eczema, but they are okay if I keep up with lotion throughout the day. The past week or two my nose has gotten dry and when I blow it it's bloody. Oh and my pee is like Gatorade. I'm serious, it's the weirdest yellow/green color ever.
Other than those little things, my side effects have been fine. I still have three months to go and I'm hoping it gets better. I didn't have crazy bad acne to begin with, but after having clear skin forever, this is hard to deal with. I'm waiting for the little white and black heads to be gone and to stop getting the random big zits that hurt. I want flawless skin, of course!

1826374's provider

John E. Robison

Board Certified Dermatologist

1826374 rating for Dr. Robison:

Overall rating

Replies (3)

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January 29, 2015

Welcome to the community, I wish you all the best as your continue your Accutane treatment. I have never heard of urine changing color, that is interesting. Did you mention that to your doctor? Dry lips are such a pain, glad you have found some relief from the aquaphor. Glad you shared photos :) thanks! I look forward to your updates, keep us posted. 

February 1, 2015
Thanks for this post! I am the same and am now on week 6 - skin has gotten worst which, like yourself, for someone who has had great skin before is torture! Would love some updates on how your treatment is going!
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February 2, 2015
you'll get there!!! Keep persisting and your skin will improve :)
UPDATED FROM 1826374
3 months post

Starting week 14 on accutane

1826374
So my face started to get better.. for like two days and got really bad again. It's so frustrating because as soon as I think it might be working, bam, nasty face. Luckily I go to my dermatologist tomorrow and we'll see what he says. I got my blood work done last week too, so hopefully everything is good. Here's a couple pictures from this morning, end of week 13.

Replies (1)

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February 11, 2015
Keep with it! It WILL improve!!
UPDATED FROM 1826374
3 months post

About to start week 16

1826374
I went to my dermatologist almost two weeks ago and got my new prescription. Apparently my triglycerides were high, which is definitely from the accutane because I eat really healthy. Anyway, I've been taking omega 3 supplements so we'll see if that works. I think I might be hitting the point where my face is starting to totally clear up. Trust me when I tell you this.. Do not pick. I kept wondering why my face was still so bad, and my dermatologist told me to stop picking. Because of the pill, my skin is so sensitive, so any little scab would bleed, and anything Id try to get, would just turn into a big, painful zit. I'm serious, it makes such a difference now that I've stopped picking at everything.
No major side affects.. just my lips, I've gone through now 10 tubes of aquaphor. The corners of my lips hurt.
Oh, had anyone noticed a difference in their hair? I have long blonde hair and I've been noticing it's gotten really dry and breaking suuuuuper easily, whenever I get out of the shower and brush my hair, it knots up and if I gently brush it out, my hair just gives up and literally comes out!! It's so sad because I looove my hair.

Replies (1)

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February 25, 2015
If you would like to check out my profile, I'd love your advice!