Some accutane questions!

[kta]

OMG! So I went to the derm yesterday, and she gave me two options. Either Estrostep, along with Retin-A and Benzaclin or ACCUTANE! Finally, after 3 years of doctors telling me that they wanted to try something else first! But I'm going to have to wait a little bit, because for some reason, she wants me to start accutane on the second day of my period. Anyone know why? Oh, and my mom also wants to talk to my pediatrician before she lets me take accutane. He's a friend of hers and he's been my doctor FOREVER, so she really trusts him. So anyways, I'm very excited because I'm finally going to have clear skin! I have been waiting so long for this. And I have a few questions for you guys.

1) Why does my derm want me to start accutane on the second day of my period?
2) How long until my acne starts clearing up while I'm on accutane?
3) How long until the oil reduces?
4) What are some good products to use while I'm on accutane? (like face washes, lotions, lip balms, etc.)
5) What are the major side effects?
6) Will there be a really bad initial break out?
7) Will my acne come back after I'm done with accutane?

And if there are any other things you want to tell me about accutane, that would be really great! Thank you soooo much for all your help!

[Zshock]

Ok I've been on accutane for a while and I can answer some of your questions...

1) I wouldn't know...I'm a guy

2) I noticed my face clearing about 3 weeks - month while I was on accutane.

3) My oiliness went down about 2-3 weeks into it. My skin started to feel different, but in a good way.

4) Cetaphil moisturizer is great to use,
I also use saline nasal jell, but I hear vasaline works
I use blistex complete moisturizer for my lips, and chapstick overnight treatment for when I go to bed, because it lasts longer.
I use some sort of eye drops, but they are all pretty much the same.
As far as shampoo, I don't really know which one you should use because everyone would probably use something different.

5) Some of the MAJOR side effects of accutane are swelling of the brain, blindness, liver problems, changes in vision, internal bleeding. Anyways these are EXTREMELY rare and they only happen in 1 case out of a million so the people who make the drug are required to warn those who might take the pill.

6) As far as a bad initial breakout I didn't notice anything different. My face looked pretty much the same as it did before I started accutane, after about a month it looked better and better. So I did not experience any initial breakout.

7) I don't know if your acne will come back after you go on accutane, it might and it might not. Accutane is not a permanent solution for acne, it's just ment to give your body some time to grow out of the acne. For some people 1 course of accutane will clear you up, for others it may take several courses.

[KyleDale]

most of your questions just scientifically can not be answered......for every person it is different, you may clear up fast or slow or not at all, same goes with oil, you may also never have acne again or it may come back with a vegence, no guarentees with accutane

[kta]

Thanks for your help Zshock! Oh and KyleDale: I know that some of the questions you might not have the answer to, but I just wanted to know some of your experiences! Thanks for your help though! Anyone else?

[skimom]

Then answer to question #1 is because they want to make sure you're not pregnant.