bostongirl

[curiousP]

I was just wondering how bad your acne was when you first started taking accutane. I know it wasn't that bad (neither is mine), but you used to get cysts that were huge and hurt (i do too). I am afraid of what to expect for the initial breakout, because my dad said he broke out like mad. But if my acne is like yours maybe there is a chance that I won't get a horrible initial breakout period. I was just wondering if you also had tiny hard flesh colored bumps on your face (because i do ) and if accutane got rid of those? HOw long did it take?

[BostonGirl44]

Hi CuriousP,

My acne wasn't too bad when I started accutane. I had 3 cysts at the time (one on my left temple, one under my right eye, and the cyst that has been the cyst from hell which is small but still here on my right cheek). The one on my temple and under my eye healed relatively quickly once I started accutane. I was terrified of the initial breakout and just assumed that I would go through that. I thought maybe I could use certain cleansers and moisturizers that would prevent it, but there was no guarantee I could prevent it. I guess I just got lucky. Maybe I didn't get it because I only got cysts in certain places and the rest of my face that didn't have problems didn't suffer from the medication. Those areas dried out pretty badly. I was moisturizing 3 or 4 times a day. As for the flesh colored bumps, I had that sometimes on my chin and near the corners of my mouth but they never lasted for too long and went away quickly after I started accutane. Accutane seemed to work fast for me. Within a month to a month and a half I was completely clear, and very dry. I had a couple of breakouts on my forehead after I went off, but those cleared up within a week or two after stopping the medication. Any other questions, please feel free to ask. I'm always around here somewhere.

[curiousP]

honestly, i just want to say a great big thank you for replying so quickly and thoroughly.

I have been for my derm appointment to arrive for so long and then finally it did, today. I went with my speech ready on how I was going to convince him to let me take accutane, since nobody thinks I need it, and I did. HOwever, I came home and my father who had really bad acne as a teen and adult (until he took accutane) told me that i shouldn't take it, that i wouldn't be able to handle it and that the initial breakout period was horrible!

I have been feeling so helpless today, like even when I think I have an answer, there is still a downside. I just wish something was guaranteed to work, because if i do go through the initial breakout, it better be well worth it.

I was wondering though, were you taking anything, to keep your cysts down at the time when you started accutane, because I have been taking this homeopathic stuff that has kept my cysts away. I am afraid that they have been suppressed or something and that when I start taking accutane, everything will all surface at once and leave me with scarring.

thanks once again

[BostonGirl44]

I've always wondered why it's so hard to get a derm appointment. I mean, with all the derms I've been to, I've seen their calendars at the reception desk and they're always pretty sparse. It drives me insane so I used to resort to lying to get appointments (such as "I've got a wedding to go to this weekend and I need an injection for a cyst"...things like that). Worked like a charm every time.

Anyway, I think you should go for accutane if you have the chance. I know a lot of people suffer the initial breakout and then clear up after that and are happy with the results. If you're lucky, maybe you won't have the initial breakout. It's a nice thought, at least. Unfortunately, there's no telling what could happen. If you did have the breakout, the doctor might be able to give you something to go along with it. I was on a three week course of Cephalexin during the beginning of my accutane treatment. That may have helped.

Before accutane, I had nothing to help me keep my cysts under control. They were running rampant lol. I just tried different topicals and as everyone seems to know, topicals do nothing to get to the root of the cyst problem. They don't penetrate the skin deep enough to kill whatever bacteria is in there. I just suffered with the pain on my face and the embarassment til I decided enough was enough and it was time for me to take accutane.

Please let me know how everything is going for you.

[curiousP]

I am doing okay today, I think I have finally made up my mind to finally take the accutane starting in december.

I was just wondering, what did you use to moisturize and cleanse while you were taking tane, what are you using now.

also, how long was your course again? My derm is saying four months, but for some reason it seems kind of short to me.

Were you weened off accutane, or were you put on at a certain dose and then taken off right after a certain amount of time was up?