Accutane

[GWOD]

I was doing 3 pills a day for about 6 months and the results have been fantastic!
I had such bad acne... I'm talking the worst I've ever seen on anyone.
It was almost to the point of disfiguring.
Although I do still get the occasional break-out now, it's still sooo much better than it used to be. An amazing relief.
Luckily I didn't scar at all! I got the red marks which took a few months to fade, and only now is my skin looking almost 100% normal.

I've got my year 12 formal coming up so I'm taking some antibiotics jst to give my skin a bit of a boost!
It helps to have a parent who is doctor.

 

[lifeis]

just started on a generic of accutane so far it has been 3 days and no side effects. can't wait to get to the point were my face is clear!!However i've been warned that it gets worse before it gets better :S

 

[Deleted member 106803]

I think I'm going to ask my GP about going on accutane. The results sound wonderful, and I'd quite happily moisturise etc.
I've just been trying to find guys who've been on it to make sure it is still effective. I've been surrounded by female friends taking 'the pill' and it's been painful knowing it only works for girls!!

 

[LetThemEatCake]

^^Dear, I dont think you need it!

 

[xhommex]

I heard some horrible stories about it depression/growth stunt/ mood swings/ hair loss

 

[Deleted member 106803]

^^Dear, I dont think you need it!

Oh I do, I do. I'm sure my acne is causing scarring. My skin is painful with cystic acne etc, I'd say I have the worst skin in my year now. I just manage it quite well with aloe vera gel, moisturiser, and supplements.

Trouble is I'm meeting my lover in 38 days which I hope will be past the initial breakout?

I heard some horrible stories about it depression/growth stunt/ mood swings/ hair loss

Haha, growth stunt. Good. I'm 6ft2 and don't want to grow any more. Childish as that sounds.

No I do realise the consequences but I believe it could really help.

 

[Diorlover]

I want to go on it too!!!....iv'e asked my doctor to put me on it a few times....but she flat out refused...so i'm gna ask to see another doctor and he/she better prescribe it. I'm sick of my acne, and i'm really not botherd about the depression or whatever it causes..my spots have me pretty depressed anyways.

 

[Diorlover]

oh one question, i know you should never get pregnant on acutane, but I wanna make sure it wont do any damage in the long term to my physical health...bcos i want to have babies!!

 

[LetThemEatCake]

Oh I do, I do. I'm sure my acne is causing scarring. My skin is painful with cystic acne etc, I'd say I have the worst skin in my year now. I just manage it quite well with aloe vera gel, moisturiser, and supplements.

Trouble is I'm meeting my lover in 38 days which I hope will be past the initial breakout?

Aww I'm sorry honey. I wish there was something I could do to help.

 

[Deleted member 106803]

I don't know what to do :'(

Accutane -> Could make my skin improve by the time I meet him. Initial breakout could be healed by then. OR breakout occurs around the time we meet and I'm stuck feeling like **** while we're finally away staying in a lovely hotel together.
No accutane -> Skin remains the same, could get better, could get worse. No dramatic effects. Missed out on a chance of having good skin?

I'm thinking no accutane & concealer :/

Ugh. I need a hug.

 

[avantgarde]

I started mine about a month ago now - my derm told me that it's supposed to make all the zits come out within the first two months, but I haven't really noticed a dramatic change.

 

[Deleted member 106803]

^ The first two months! That's a long time, I was thinking the first two/four weeks! I'm glad I didn't go straight on it then.

I'm on new antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide now. Have to try less strong stuff first before trying accutane. Though I am happy to be on a waiting list for a dermo! <3

 

[RandomGlitter]

I've been on this. It was the best thing I ever did and completely cleared up my skin. 3 yrs later, and I'm still free from the "disease". It is scarring emotionally and physically! I really feel for anyone going through it. Feel free to PM me if you need to talk, or have questions.

The side effects are NOT as bad as everyone says. The only ones I noticed was dry lips, sweating more than usual and dehydration. I didn't experience the mood swings/depression AT ALL, so have hope... it's not as bad as ppl make it out to be!!

 

[RandomGlitter]

oh one question, i know you should never get pregnant on acutane, but I wanna make sure it wont do any damage in the long term to my physical health...bcos i want to have babies!!

No, it will not damage reproductive organs. The only reason you MUST be on birth control is cause the drug is extremely potent, and would cause damage to a fetus.

 

[EVBC]

I took Accutane for six months in 2004. I began to see a difference in about three weeks, and it really helped overall. I had tried to go on it for years but my GP refused to prescribe me it because of the risks associated with birth defects, even though I assured her I was not sexually active at the time. I even went to a dermatologist who instead put me on a course of antibiotics and creams, which helped a little but didn't do anything for me in the long term. Finally at university I found a doctor at student services who would prescibe it for me. I didn't have any problems with mood swings or depression, in fact I felt better about myself than I had in a long time. After being on it for about a month and a half my hands started to get really dry, and I had to carry lip balm with me always because my lips dried out as well. Over all it was a good experience and has been the only thing that ever helped me. Since then, my skin has been oodles better.

 

[avantgarde]

omg my hands are so dry right now they are on fire, I think it's because accutane makes you really dry

my advice: MOISTURIZE. EVERYWHERE. EVERY DAY.

 

[bun-bun]

I'm on my third month of Accutane. So far the worst side effects have been the dry skin, lips and inside of nose, occasional knee pain and muscle cramps. Because of the latter, I choose not to exercise, and I'm fine.

I took Accutane when I was 14 and was pimple free about 8 years, but then my breakouts came back and finally I decided to go take it again. My dermatologist is a woman, very kind and understanding.

My question is, has anyone ever been on 80 mg of Accutane per day? That's what my dermatologist has been prescribing for me for the past three months and it doesn't seem like anyone goes above 40 mg per day. I'm 5'4'' and weigh 135 if that makes a difference.

 

[Meg]

yeah I'm thinking about going back on it again. When I first went to a derm, she looked at me for like a minute and then prescribed it (not because it was obvious I needed it, she was just lazy I think ). The dryness is the worst. Everyone is different, so I never experienced mood swings, but it basically hooked me on using vaseline (the best for dry lips) ever since. I forgot about the dry nose and stuff though. Bleurgh.

 

[RandomGlitter]

If you want something that is even BETTER than Vaseline for the lips, try AQUAPHOR. I got hooked on it when I was on Accutane as it was the only thing to make my lips feel the least bit moisturized. It is a thicker version.

They sell it behind the pharmacists counter, so you just have ask them for some. They weight it out for you... ask for like 30mg, and it comes in a plastic container.

 

[Meg]

thanks for the tip but I had tried some more intense things, but I don't like how thick they are