Some Changes in Week 11 on Accutane
April 5th, 2008
WARNING: Accutane is a serious drug that can have long term effects on your liver, skin, joints and more. Try the Acne Products out there first. We recommend Murad Acne Complex.
So this is my third week and I am one week away from being 3 months done! I went to go see my dermatologist the other day and we had an interesting meeting… After I informed him of how badly I was breaking out and how much it was discouraging me, he decided to up my dosage from 30 mg to 40 mg! He made a pretty valid point: he said that if he upped my dosage any more than that then I would experience a huge increase in negative side effects (such as dry skin, etc.) so he was just trying to strike a decent balance between negative side effects and complete control of my skin. Oh! I almost forgot…he also told me that I would most likely be going a half a month longer on this claravis treatment than I had originally anticipated. So it looks like it is going to be a 5 and 1/2 month long treatment and I am not even done with my third month = ( ….well, ANYWAY-
Dry Skin: Whenever I have trouble spots, I put on Evoclin (clindamycin phosphate foam, 1%). However, my face started drying out when I used it so I told my dermatologist and he prescribed me Clindamycin Phosphate Lotion (clindamycin phosphate topical suspension USP, 1%). He claims this will dry out my face a little less than the foam will but I haven’t used it yet and can’t really tell you if it does (I will when I use it though!). At night, I put on Duac Topical Gel (clindamycin, 1% - benzoyl preoxide, 5%) if I have trouble spots. Regardless of what I put on my face for my problem areas, I always put on my DML Moisturizing Lotion (which I love). Skin is not OVERLY dry but, once again, that’s cuz I do my part to keep it under control.
Lips: Lips are still really really dry and easily peelable… I need to learn what to do to get myself to stop biting them! It is the OCD in me. Also, I got the medicated Burt’s Bees and I absolutley adore it! …give it a try, I highly recommend it. However, I heard that it’s not too good to use all the time, seeing as it is medicated, so just keep that in mind.
Breakouts: I am still really really broken out. It isn’t even superficial acne (the type really close to the surface and relatively harmless). I am getting cystic acne still and that kinda freaks me out. Hopefully the fact that next month I will be on a higher dosage will help things out. Until then, I am suffering pretty bad. Also, I need to keep my hands off my face = (
Body: Ok… so I decided to go off birth control = 0 Let me tell you why… a) it made me gain crazy weight b) it made me an even crazier bitch than I already am thanks to all the damn hormones c) i have no need to worry about getting pregnant d) i heard that it is really bad for you and most importantly… e) considering the fact that i went on it in order to control my acne, i don’t want the birth control to be responsible for my skin clearing up so that when i do go off of it eventually- my face will go back to shitty again. I wanna be certain that the reason for my new skin is the accutane and not some extraneous variable. I should have started my new pack yesterday, so I will let you know how I feel next week with this new change in my body. And don’t worry! I am absolutely 120 million % not getting pregnant EVER and if I am going to, it will be in many many many years so do not fret anyone, I will not be poppin out deformed babies anytime soon! haha
I will be back next week! In the meantime, feel free to comment and please do tell me about any experiences you have been having or have had. Also, if you wanna be super awesome and the coolest person in the world…support my site (and me haha) and check out the Murad link. Tell me what you think of it or just tell me any damn thing on your mind, I would love to read about it = )
April 5th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I just finished my first week of accutane and a little bit of dry skin on my face but nothing else. I know it’s way too early for the side effects to come in. Anyway, thanks for your helpful entries - things that I need to be aware and not freak out if I do get the side effects. BTW, I am a 34 years old woman who still get major acne - so sad. I hope this is the answer to a very prolonged problem.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Since you’re choosing abstinence, you may want to discuss it with your doctor and make sure that your iPledge contract is updated with your new choice of birth control — assuming that you are in the US.