Accutane/Isotretinoin Adventure

Hi! I'm starting up this blog to document my progress while on accutane. I will be starting in May 2014 and hopefully will be done by the end of September. Feel free to ask me any questions! :)

[njosnavelinx]

i need clear skin by yesterday

[leijune]

Spot treatment? Yeah right. More like all over your face treatment

[leijune]

Time feels like it goes by so slow when you have acne. It's like, when will this pimple go away? I dunno? Never. It is eternal, it is immortal.

[leijune]

During accutane month 3. Take me backkk :(((( why does nothing ever work

[leijune]

Update

Almost 4 months post accutane annnd the pimples are coming back. They just don't want to leave me alone. Looks like I might be going on round two. Will post pictures of my current condition soon.

[leijune]

Almost a month post accutane :) The oil is coming back in my hair and my face is definitely less dry. Also, I don't have to use so much chapstick all the time. They are still a bit dry though.

[leijune]

One week off medication

[leijune]

Took my last pill two days ago! Fuck you acne.

[leijune]

Only eye makeup! Last month of accutane! I’m so stoked :)

[nyimasyangbo]

How did you get rid of your acne marks?

[leijune]

So luckily for me, the majority of my acne went away after month two. That gave my skin quite a bit of time to heal and most of my redness has gone away. I do have larger pores and a few scars on my cheek area that iphone quality photos don't pick up. I don't think my skin will ever be able to be baby butt smooth again, but I do find that exfoliating helps. I use a clarisonic and it works wonders. Also remember to moisturize a lot, and use sunscreen. Exposure to the sun will darken your scars so do use spf. Also think about taking some supplements that help your skin heal. I take fish oil, vitamin e, and vitamin c. Drink lots of water and get lots of sleep as well! Good luck :)

[leijune]

Only eye makeup! Last month of accutane! I'm so stoked :)

[leijune]

Eat Properly

Eat properly while on accutane! I know it says to take it with fat, but because I was worried about the increase in cholesterol I didn’t eat that much throughout the day. I think this is what caused my liver function to go a little bad. Your body still needs proper nutrition! So definitely don’t eat bad foods, but make sure you’re still eating three proper meals!

[leijune]

20 more days!

Accutane is going by faster than expected. I haven't had a new pimple since the start of month 4. Sorry for the lack of posts! Nothing much had changed so I didn't really feel like I had anything new to update on. I did decrease my dosage down to 20mg. I was originally at 40mg, but because my liver function went wack my derm decreased the dosage. At first I was worried that the acne would come back, but it hasn't! I have noticed a decrease in the dryness of my skin though. 

[leijune]

I had completely forgotten what it felt like having smooth skin.

[leijune]

Day 83

[leijune]

Tanning and Accutane

Tanning! Yay!...well not so much since we accutaners can't exactly go soak up that summertime sun. I have seen the videos of the people who get horrible blisters from the times they think the sun won't affect their skin while on accutane. I am here to tell you that it probably depends on the person. 

I am half Chinese, and my dad is Norwegian Finnish, but he has more of a olive skin tone so he tans really easily. That being said, my skin color is more on the darker side. I tan really easily and I don't burn. 

I don't really wear sunblock or a hat...which isn't recommended. However, I haven't had any problems with my skin, and I tan just how I normally would. Maybe a little bit faster than normal. The longest I have stayed out in the sun would be three hours. That was around day 10 of my course so I would say I wouldn't have had the same effect. Recently I have just been walking to class which takes about 20 minutes. I also occasionally sit out in the sun for maybe an hour. I have had no problems. The hottest it has been over here is around 88 degrees. 

I am not saying that it is okay to tan, but based on what type of skin you have, it may be okay to stay out in the sun for short periods of time. If you have asian/olive skin like me, maybe the sun won't affect you in a bad way. Honestly though I wouldn't risk it. If anything went wrong you could be taken off the medication. Also, skipping the medication for a day just to go tanning most likely won't do anything to help you go tan either, so I don't recommend that either. If you want to get a little sun, I would say to just use a low spf and don't stay out in the sun for too long. If your skin is looking a little pink, go inside. You started the medication to heal your skin, so be gentle with it :)

[leijune]

Day 72

hellooooo

So if I count the days by the number of pills I have taken, today would be day 72. I already had my third month dermatologist appointment, and everything is going really well, which was surprising to me because I had a fever during the second month that lasted for a lot longer than it should have. I kind of thought that my liver was freaking out and I had a mini panic attack..but everything was fine! I was a little dehydrated though. Drink more water everyone!! Its very very important for your skin and your health. I'm about 80% clear. I still have some really annoying blackhead type acne that is being really stubborn on both sides of my cheeks. I am also getting the occasional fat zit on my face too. Only two or three at a time though, so it doesn't really bother me. My dermy said that if this continues, he will up my dosage during me next visit. Currently I am taking 40mg, and I weight 120 lbs. He would up the dosage to 60mg. 

Side effects: Don't have to wash my hair for about a week, Dry skin, Dry lips, Dry eyes, occasionally realllly reallly annoying SWOLLEN eyes...so dumb.. I had to skip class one day because I looked like a troll, Dry inside of nose. Also..not to be super personal or gross or anything, but my menstrual cycle was almost a full month late. I think it was because I was too dehydrated. Who knows though. 

That's about it! I'll make another post about alcohol, tanning, and your immune system in a bit! Please feel free to ask me any questions!!

[leijune]

Swollen eye..yay