An Accutane Experience in Pictures

Refresher on the foundation of sucessful treatment...

Hey all--
Yes, it's discouraging at times, and I have to tell you, as you can see in the pics: (at least with me,) it got a lot worse before it got better---but, it DID get better :)

The physical discomfort I had was made a lot more tolerable with the use of the Cetaphil cleanser (which I still use to this day, by the way-- won't use anything else on my face) and the Aquaphor Healing Ointment on my lips.
Here's a link to each so you know what they look like: 

Cetaphil Cleanser

Aquaphor

PLEASE remember, before every other piece of advice, to STAY HYDRATED-- I am absolutely serious about a gallon in your body, evenly through the day, from when you wake up to when you go to sleep.

It's as simple as getting out a frosty-cold metabolism-destroying high-fructose corn syrup sugar-bomb in a can (you might know it by it's kinder name: soda), dumping it in the sink, rinsing it out, filling it with water, and drinking 10 of them through the day-- once every hour and a half, on average. Seriously not hard, and incredibly good for your body-- I can't stress it enough.

Also, make sure you're taking a good multivitamin (at least), but remember not to take any extra Vitamin A to be safe, since your medicine is a hyper-active version of this substance. Also, while you are on Accutane, I would not take the higher-dose of Vitamin D3 I mention below (Vitamin D3 and A are very closely inter-linked in the human body, and having high doses of one directly affects the absorbtion/utilization of the other--I believe the vitamin D3 creation by the skin in the sun is why your doctor recommends staying out of the sun while on the drug--it might throw off the saturation of the isoretnoin. That is a guess-- but I don't want to have you take a vitamin that negatively impacts your treatment--even if it's only a small chance that this could be the  case. That said, don't avoid vitamin D either--it's arguably the most important single hormone/vitamin in the human body!

As an aside, but because it's such great knowledge to have:

Here's the best list I've ever found of the most important nutrients your body needs in one place, with the reasons why, and the proper amounts, (the link in the page there goes to the full PDF version) I hope you find it helpful. I personally take the D3, Iodine, Selenium, K2, B-complex, Magnesium citrate, Co-Q10, and Carlsons Fish Oil.

It's up to you if you choose to supplement your diet with this stuff-- but for me, it's the best five bucks-per-day insurance I can take out on my body. Just sayin.

I get mine through illnessisoptional.com, and picked the site and brands I did for no reason other than the fact that they offer the doses I want in the larger quantities, in one place, so I don't have to re-order it all the time or from different places, and I save money per-pill by buying the higher bottle-count versions, but there are plenty of other places, brands, and quantities to choose from-- the author linked to several more through the list I linked to--

If nothing else, the D3, Iodine, Selenium, and B-complex will dramatically improve your overall health-- read it and research it-- the government RDA of many of these vital bodily nutrients is based off of ridiculously outdated, demonstrably incorrect, and poorly conducted studies whose recommendations are dramatically below what has subsequently been shown in study after study to be the true optimal doses of these vitamins for the human body.

But back to the point:

• Stay hydrated,

• use gentle moisturizers and cleansers for your ailing skin,

• avoid alcohol or foods that dehydrate you

Before you know it, you will find yourself in the home stretch, and feeling better than ever...

And maybe, several years from now, you'll still be just as clear-skinned as everyone else.

Have faith you guys--this stuff works:

I'm living proof :)

All these years-- still clean and clear

Looking back on the years since I put this site up, I am so grateful to all of you that write to tell me how you were glad to find this place, and you have really made me feel like I may have helped cool some of the concerns or ease your questions through the tougher times (or at least show you what you may expect)

Thank you for making it all worth it--I hope that one day you and your clear skin won't need this site anymore, either :)

Hey guys!

Thanks again for all the gracious comments, and I'm excited to see so many of you benefiting from this little website-- it's an honor to be of help to you, and I remain humbled by your praise--

Thanks everyone!

I don't have much to say other than to reply to the kindness you have shown me in your messages that come in every once in awhile-- but seriously-- THANK YOU for your notes!

It's really nice for me to know I made some small, positive difference in someone's life-- and you ladies and gents that let me know you appreciated this site are freakin awesome!

I wish there was more for me to add...

I know that one of my biggest concerns when I started this whole process was the risk (as some of you that have written me mentioned) of the first treatment not working for a long term, and the possibility of having to go multiple bouts with this stuff before exorcising this demon from our lives for good...
The only way for me to show that sometimes... (maybe most times) this stuff works it's wonders the first time perfectly, is to prove it with evidence.
So here's another now-years-later (as in: current) and STILL blissfully acne-free picture  : )

For those of you that didn't get to kick it the first time, fret not-- watch your diet (clean food adds so much to the overall health of the body) stay fit... and keep with it-- I know how absolutely staggering a change I have experienced (a very positive change) post-acne, and I deeply wish the very same experience for each and every one of you that are considering Accutane, or are in the process of your first (or even repeat) treatment.

I believe in this stuff, and I hope you have the success with it that I have!

Just a quick update

Another deep thanks to the kind emails and supportive comments I've received from many of you-- you make all of the time spent taking these pics and documenting my progress , and maintaining this site totally  worth it!

One year and one day later:

HEY!

I'm still here, and oddly, am typing this one year and one day after my last post, hehe.

Still clear, still looking great!

A quick thanks

Hey everyone-- as summer approaches and I get ready for beach season, I just want to take a minute and thank all of you who are kind enough to send me your thoughts and ideas on the site-- you keep this tiny place going.

Remember, to those of you who are new to this place, the links to your right will take you to the various galleries I made that document my Accutane/Amnesteem regimen, from the first day to the last in one-week intervals, plus various shots post-treatment.

I gave these pics to my dermatologist on a CD as well, and he was happy to receive them-- he said he wished he'd had something like this before to show his prospective patients...

This had me thinking, and I'm glad I remembered to mention it here:

If you think this is a helpful site, for you and for anyone else who suffers from acne, or is considering Accutane, SPREAD THE WORD-- let them see what it can do by seeing my pics, and tell your derm about this place, too, so that she/he might show his/her other patients---

The only thing that's in it for me is the knowledge that I may have encouraged someone to give this drug a shot, if all the other alternatives have failed-- or perhaps let someone know that it DOES get better during treatment and there IS hope... even though it's not a pleasant thing to go through, with the dry skin, major increase in severity of the acne you already have, and potential liver problems, however rare.

Thanks again, and best wishes to you all--

Still loving life...

Hi again-- I am very pleased to report that I am still in great shape-- my status has remained unchanged since my last post-- I still occasionally get minor whiteheads, and very small blackheads on the nose (mostly at the crease where it joins into my cheek-- which are so small as to barely constitute "blackheads" as I once knew them... those evil thick waxy beasts that I spent so many hours in front of the mirror ejecting from my face by force...ugh)

 

I am still very conscious of keeping my face/body clean-- the whiteheads I do get always appear after a too-long departure of my cleaning regimen... so I finally have clear, observed proof that cleanliness is the #1 weapon I have working both for and against me in my fight. I still use Cetaphil cleanser on my face in the shower, and Dove's sensitive skin bar soap on the rest of me.  Judicious use of Oxy's sensitive skin pads remove oil buildup  throughout the day.

I visited my dermatologist a few months ago for a voluntary checkup ( mostly because I wanted professional reassurance that I had beaten this menace once and for all-- because I know how some, including readers here, have re-developed the acne after a few years.....) and gave him a CD of the pics I have on here so that he might show them to potential patients looking to use the drug--- he seemed as excited about getting them as I was in making them.

He also gave me some samples of a topical called Duac-- it's benzoyl peroxide plus an antibacterial that I use on the spots that develop since my Proactiv stuff ran out-- It seems to do the job, and it doesn't appear to dry my skin out either-- so that's something you might ask your derm about, if you're worried about sensitivity post- (or pre) Accutane. As you know if you've done the treatment, just about everything irritates your skin when on the drug-- and you're not supposed to use topicals then anyway.

I still feel it's an important thing to be able to see the course Accutane takes you on... and based on the very kind words of those who have written me with thanks and support for this little place, I'm very happy to see that you agree.

THANK YOU-- your sentiment makes it easier for me to keep this site going---

I hope winter is treating you well:)

Keep the faith, and let this drug work for you-- just do it exactly as you're supposed to, and be safe!!!

End of Summer

Hey everyone--

Hope this site is still helping people, and again I thank the folks who have written to thank me for the place-- hey--it's here for you-- I'm glad/hope you all continue to find it useful.

Made it through hot and sticky summer without any adverse acne-related disasters. This is good. Still the occasional blemish on the face or chest, but nothing serious... It feels so good not to worry... Here's to a year in the clear ;)

Another year older-- still looking pretty good

Hi everyone--

Been a long time, and this is just a "still doing OK" update.

Next month (August 24th) will be one full year since I stopped taking Accutane-- the big milestone.

I'm still as I was last time I updated-- I get occasional smaller blemishes, and every few weeks a disturbingly large one.

This last time it was IN the scar on my left collarbone, where you can see from my picture archives once lived a never-healing mega-cyst (it had been there for over a year until the Accutane finally murdered it) -- I almost cried, thinking-- here it is-- the beginning of the relapse into my nightmare...

It was bad-- but after a little over a week and a half of rabid Proactiv  and oxy pad application, it eventually expired. I just pray it stays away-- as always...

So I'll write again next month for my one-year anniversary of clear skin, celebrating the wonder and glory of the best drug to ever happen to me...

Thanks again to all of you who offer your support and kind words through emails-- I really do appreciate them...they remind me that this site is doing what I hoped it would do-- informing people who are researching the drug and helping those who are either on it, or are considering it--- for themselves or their kids...

See you next time :)