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 :)

Comments

[leslie francis]

Thank you so much for this log.

[leslie francis]

Wow!! amazing results. i began taking accutane earlier this year, in jan. and i was a bit frustrated that i wasn't getting the results as fast as i wanted. but by mid-last month, i saw results. not only do i exercise and slather on lots of aquaphor and moisturizing creme, i drink lots and lots and lots of water.

[mdlestat]

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, 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:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=13123&catid=137215&aid=337953&aparam=aquaphor_healing_ointmen&CAWELAID=61238598

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=86118&catid=21222

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 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. Here's the best one-shot list of the most important vitamins your body needs in one place, with the reasons why, and the proper amounts, I've ever found--
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller28.html

I get them through illnessisoptional.com, but there are other places linked to through the PDF version of the list I linked to there-- if nothing else, the D3, Iodine, Selenium, and B-complex will dramatically improve your overall health-- read it and research it-- the common RDA of many of these vital bodily substances is dramatically below what has been shown in study after study done 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, and avoid alcohol or foods that dehydrate you-- before you know it, you will find yourself in the home stretch, and felling better than ever :)

[mat s]

ive been on accutane for a tad over 3 weeks.. i have slight-moderate acne but its VERY VERY stubborn..week 1 was TERRIBLE. .week 2 was def better and now Week 3 turning into week 4 is just as bad as week 1.. is it always up and down like this?? its depressing.. seeing that it worked for your acne really gives me hope.. this is by far the best accutane journal ive ever come across..and ive come across hundreds over the last couple months

[P]

Thank you for keeping up this log.

I just started accutane (it's been a week so far). I haven't experienced any of the side effects, yet.

You really give me hope.

thank you!

P from California