35 Year Old Nursing Student with Mild to Moderate Acne, Moving Forward with Isotretinoin (Accutane) - Vancouver, WA

I have been reading nonstop reviews for the past couple months about isotretinoin (Accutane), so I wanted to give back so that someone similar to me might benefit from my posts. I am a 35 year old female who has a long history with zits. In middle school and high school I used Retin-A 0.25%, and it kept things under control until I had kids, which cleared my skin. I battled the monthly breakouts, but they were never severe, and never scarred. My skin was great overall. Now, 12 years later, my acne is progressing. I used an Alpha Hydroxy cream for several years that kept my complexion decent, but it began to fail about a year or two ago. My doctor prescribed Epidou and Spironolactone, and I had high hopes for the spiro. The Epiduo wreaked havoc on my skin-what I thought was the initial breakout progressed for three months, and left me more scarred. Now, after four months, the spiro has done nothing (100 mg/day). I'm 5'5 and 125 lbs with an overall healthy diet.
Cue the dermatologist. I'm finishing nursing school, so I'm pretty savvy to meds, and I asked for Accutane. He obliged, understanding that even mild-to-moderate acne can be severely depressing. I put mineral powder on my worst spots after showering because I don't even want my husband to see the spots. I took my initial blood and urine tests a month ago, then again a few days ago. I pick my prescription up today, and I'm starting at 30 mg/day. I'm terrified about the IB since I just went through Hell with Epiduo-especially with family coming for Christmas. But the idea of going makeup free someday is thrilling. Wish me luck, and feel free to follow. I'll update frequently-at least every couple days!

Oh, man. I know I said I hoped for side effects soon, but the one that worried me most is here. The headache.
I have a long, looooong history with headaches and migraines (several per month, with more mild headaches nearly daily). A few hours after taking my first pill yesterday, I developed a mild but annoying headache. Now I've awoken to it, and it's insanely aggravating. It's bad enough that I'm really hating it. The worst part is that it's untouchable. 800 mg ibuprofen and large amounts of water won't touch it. It feels EXACTLY like a hangover. Same location, SAMs dull ache. I'm sooooo crossing my fingers that this phase passes, but it will CAUSE the severe depression side effect! On another note, I got my Aquaphor for my lips, and some CeraVe lotion for my face yesterday. Everybody says to start moisturizing from day one, but the idea of putting LOTION on my face is still just too insane to me. Hello, breakout! Nah. I'm gonna have to wait until the dryness sets in. I just can't bring myself to moisturize my zits.

Anyways, cross your fingers for me. This headache is the hell from a hangover without the fun of drinking the night before!

No photos since A. I'm wearing makeup already, B. The lighting is different, and C. There's nothing to see. BUT last night I itched like you wouldn't believe. My arms and wrists, mainly, and the sides of my neck. So my skin is definitely starting to dry out, even if it's the earliest stages. I also skipped BP last night for the first time. I've opted to not switch my skincare routine until I have reason to-I didn't want to exacerbate an initial breakout by suddenly stopping everything before the Accutane does anything. I wash morning and evening with Acne Free face wash (with BP-a great alternative to Proactiv wash), and follow that with Pixi Glow Tonic toner (amazing stuff with Glycolic Acid). THEN I rub in a couple drops of Aloha Hydroxy Intensive Serum (14% AHA), and-once that dries-I rub in some 2.5% BP (generic Proactiv). Despite all the Glycolic acid, I've never tingled much. My skin is pretty used to the acid exfoliation. However, last night I was a bit red and tingly after the Intensive Serum, so I skipped the BP and rubbed a pea sized amount of CeraVe lotion on my cheeks/mouth/chin area (skipped forehead). It instantly soothed.
This morning I moisturized again before makeup, after serum. Once the serum starts to redden or burn, I'll toss that as well.
I think the lotion is a good idea. Although I'm the only one who could notice, my skin is just now starting to show the earliest signs of a dryer texture. Not pretty. I can barely feel it, but there's the ever-so-slight feeling of the most mild sunburn. Barely noticeable, but at least I know the process is starting. I also take my pill in the AM with a couple TBSP of peanut butter on an apple-absorption is twice as good with significant fat eaten at dosing.

I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas, only Santa might burn the house down. I'm excited and terrified at the same time-not for my health, but for what I fear I'll look like in a week.

More to follow!