I am so unhappy. I am seeing *slight* improvements on my cheeks, but my forehead is getting attacked now!! =( I got a couple of new ones there this week.
And this morning, I woke up with 3 zits near my chin. ARGH!! WHY??
And as for the improvements on my cheeks, it is really very slight!! I still look like crap...far, far, far away from being clear.
On a brighter note, my bro and cousin said that they could see some improvements. My cousin said that she can see the new smoother skin coming out after the large pimples leave. =(
very sad....I just don't wanna think about it anymore, but I can't help but run to the mirror every 5 minutes.
Honestly, I think my skin was better pre-Accutane. On Accutane, I've steadily gotten worse! and I've broken out on places I don't normally break out--like my neck!! I think my intial breakout must have lasted for at least 2 months. And the last half of the 3rd month, I was recovering a little bit. And now I've begun my 4th month, but still not seeing the results that I want.
Just when my neck was improving nicely, today, I notice another 3 zits on my neck and 2 coming out on the left side of my face. =(
When is the breaking out going to end?!! =(
great! noticed one more coming out on the left side of neck and 2 new ones on the right side of neck!! What should I do, people???!!! Should I put some BP on it?
gosh...maybe my period is coming or something, but if my skin is affected whenever my period comes, wouldn't that means that I have hormonal acne? and if that's the case, what am I doing with accutane??!!!
I also experienced a lot of breakouts in places I've never broken out. But this was into my second week or so of accutane. Have you told your Dr??? From what my derm told me things don't start clearing up till weeks 12-15. So you still have another few weeks or so. Plus not to mention, I've also heard people on this board say that they weren't actually clear till after they had actually finished accutane.
I am in my 14th week and am still breaking out. I am actually worse than before accutane. I just started to spot BP on new ones and it seems to help a little. Other than that I know your fustration, because I complain to my derm everytime I see him and he keeps telling me that it will get better and to be patient. But it is hard to think that this will ever get better because I have tried everything in the book and nothing has worked. I'm just hoping this is not another thing to add to my list of things that didn't work for me. Sighhh... Anyhow, I'll keep my fingers crossed and keep on bugging my derm until I see some results.
hi legalhottie23, this is good that we're close to each other in the course. let's try to keep in touch on this board.
Anyways...at least your derma is being optimistic. My derma called me his "worst patient." I don't think he means that I have the worst acne, I think he means that the accutane isn't working as good on me, because he said that his other patients usually don't have "bumps" a.k.a. pimples by now and only have red marks to deal with, whereas, I'm still breaking out!!!
But I'm trying *very hard* to be optimistic, because I read that some accutane users don't experience improvements til late into their course.
I just took pictures of myself and compared them to pictures I've taken at week 11 and 12, and I look no different!!! It's been almost 14 weeks and I still look like I'm back at week 11. I don't know how long I could take this anymore! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Why does it seem like my skin has stopped improving? How come I don't wake up and see major improvements like some people?? Every morning, I wake up looking the same as the night before. I feel like my skin is stagnant...it's not going anywhere...I have a zit that's been here since week 10. Granted it has gotten smaller, but it's still here!! Still hanging on for dear life, not wanting to go away and leave me alone.
I can't take this anymore!! ARGHHHHH!!!!! Why won't I get better? =(
Yeah I took Accutane. I saw results, but I never got completely healed and 6months after I didnt have acne as bad (zits and pimples) but started forming big nodules that hung around for weeks and left scars each and every time. I still get them, but not as frequently and its been about a year and 4 months since I was on it. It sounds like you'll be on Accutane for 5-6 months, but dont worry, it WILL get better. Accutane is 100% fail proof because it dries out your oil glands. Without oil glands you cannot have acne, so just be patient a while longer.
You aren't applying any topical creams that are preventing Accutane from working, right? My dermatologist said to stay away from Oil of Olay and other products containing oil (which to me was a big obvious "Duh!"). He said to buy Purpose moisturizer when I was too dry, use vaseline for my nose and Aquaphor for my lips. After 5 months, I was completely clear (although it did come back after I stopped using Accutane). Now I use a combination of Paula's Choice, Neutrogena, and aloe vera. Works well enough for me!
No, I'm not using anything that is making my skin worse. I am very cautious about putting anything on my face. In fact, even when my skin was flaky and dry, I don't put on any moisturizer. Yesterday, I was tempted to put on some Cetaphil moisturizer because my skin was very dry and peeling and red--one word: RAW. I felt so bad doing this to my skin, but no matter what, I won't put any moisturizer on it.
nomoreacneplz, I've never taken Accutane, but my older bro did. Maybe the reason you are barely seeing improvement is because you aren't using a moisturizer. Accutane may dry up your oil glands, but you DO need to keep your skin hydrated somehow. It could be the irritation from the dryness is making you breakout more, or making the acne you do have, seem worse.
At any rate, a moisturizer will at least make your face less red, and the pimples less inflamed looking. Oh, and be sure to drink LOTS of water.
Moisturizing is *EXTREMELY* important! If you aren't moisturizing, all you're doing is making your complexion worse! Get yourself some oil-free moisturizer with an SPF 15 or higher. That's what all dermotologists recommend. It is *CRUCIAL* for having healthy skin that you do this. Letting it dry up only irritates it and makes you more prone to breakouts and gross looking skin.
I feel very bad for you that your acne hasn't improved at this stage. I took Accutane 5 times before. As far as I know, it is very uncommon, though not impossible that acne has not improved after 13 weeks. If I were you, I'd do 2 things:
1) Follow up closely w/your dermatologist; make sure he/she is monitoring your skin & providing you w/feedback.
2) Pls. don't put B.P. or anything harsh on your skin. Instead, if your skin is very dry (which should be), try using a good moisturizer free of irritant. I personally can't recommend you a good moisturizer based on my little experience w/them (I seldom use moisturizer). But if you do a research on this board, you will very likely to find one that you can try.
If you finish the course of Accutane and hope to gain more info on Accutane-free skin regime, pls. read my very recent post, with the topic, 'Finally beautiful skin without oral medication'.
Thanks for all your replies.
I listened to all your comments and have just applied Cetaphil moisturizer on my face. I guess I haven't applied any moisturizer on face before because I'm afraid the lotion would just make my face worse. I remember a derma (from way long ago) telling me that "dry" is the key to acne-free skin, so from then on, I never put any moisturizer on my face...no matter what!! except if I have to put on makeup and I look cakey without applying lotion...otherwise, I don't put on moisturizer, even if my face is cracking in the winter.
I just hope that moisturizing won't make it worse. The bottle says that it's fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, so hopefully it's good!!
But yea, my skin does feel better with the lotion on; let's just hope it'll look better too. ***fingers crossed***
Still looking like crap. Maybe a teeny, little bit better, but nothing noticeable. Still look like crap. Still look worse than before accutane. Still sad....someone make me feel better, please.
I can't take it anymore. I finally broke down and cried tonight on my bed; this is the first time I ever cried for my acne. I've had bad acne before, but I've never cried, but I guess this time really took a toll on me. I am depressed, but NOT because of Accutane, but because of my acne! In a way, I guess you can blame accutane as well since it's not clearing me up yet. I am soooooooo sad and discouraged. Seriously, I think people get more depressed on Accutane NOT because of the drug itself, but the hope. The idea that it's this wonderdrug and then when people get bad results from it and don't get clear for a while, they get more depressed, because they think that not even the wonderdrug can help them. I know, because that's what I'm going through.
This is horrible!!!
I am just about to break down and go back to Proactiv, but I think it might just make this things worse since my skin is not the same anymore. It's now dry and sensitive, instead of oily anymore.
I just can't take it anymore. I've given up so much. I barely go out; I quit my job; I don't meet people anymore; I basically confine myself to my house; I don't put on makeup; I don't wear my hair down; I do my laundry a lot more than I used to in order to keep my pillowcases and sheets clean; I drink lots of water; I cut out all my favorite food, like chocolate and ice cream; I don't call this guy I like back because I don't want to give him a chance to ask me out or even to hang out; I stop hanging with my friends as much; I feel like I'm distancing myself from them; I stop hanging out with my guy friends; I don't go clubbing or bar-hopping anymore; I don't drink; i don't smoke; and now, I think I might withdraw from school for a semester; What more does it want from me??!!!!!!!!
What more do I have to give up????????????
The saddest part is....it's not going to end tommorrow; it's not going to end next week...and even if accutane helps, I still got the red marks to deal with and that will take a few months, too.
I want to see the guy that I like; I want to finish up school; I want to go to work, because I'm broke; I want to see my friends and chill with them like I used to.
But it looks like it will at least be a couple of months before that could happen again, or if at all...
Sorry for such a long post, but I guess I just need to do some venting.
Well here is another suggestion...You have to use to a moisturizer! However, Cetaphil may not be the one. It does contain oil and can lead to problems on Accutane users. Its by far the best lotion to use, but if it doesnt start to help you out, I think you should look into Purpose or something that is oil free, hypoallergenic, and water based.
I feel so sad for you. I can feel your pain, for I have had those horrible feelings and isolated myself from the rest of the world.
When was the last time you saw your doctor regarding Accutane and what did he say? I understand that you'd like to stop Accutane. Have you told your doctor?
Have you had the chance to read my post, "Finally beautiful skin w/out oral medication"? I'd really hope that you can read it because I have won the 10+ years battle against acne, without Accutane or any oral medication. My life has changed dramatically in the last 2 months since my skin has became flawless. I think you'll be more optimistic & hopeful after reading it. Pls. take care.
week 13 on accutane...very sad =( 
***fingers crossed***
