Catch-Up Post

All right, so I've been awful about keeping up my blog but I've been pretty good about taking pictures weekly. From the pictures, it doesn't look like much progress, but it really has gotten much better. The big cystic bumps under my skin are almost 100% gone but there are still some little bumps and dark marks. My derm switched me a couple of weeks ago to 80mg a day (I was on 60mg a day for the first two months). It's making me more dry than I already was and I have to moisturize like crazy, but I'm about halfway through my treatment and I think it's going well. I haven't had any other side effects other than dryness. No depression, no vision problems, a bit of joint pain and backaches, but I think this is due in part to my increased workout schedule. I am making sure to take calcium supplements twice daily to keep my bones strong while I'm on this drug. I'm supposed to take five months total so I'm scheduled to be done right around my wedding on November 7th. We'll see how these next two months go... (crossing fingers!)

Front view

Right side view

Left side view

Chest

Back

Week Five

I have a confession. I have not been very good at not picking at my zits. :-( I have had more breakouts this week and I don't know if it's just because it's getting worse before it gets better, if it's because I'm off the Claravis for a bit, if I'm picking at them, or any combination of the above. I'm really trying to stop, but it's so hard. Especially when I see a whitehead - I just want to get the gunk out. That's probably a big reason why my forehead is much worse than it has been. Also, my back has had a few more breakouts that make me itchy and I end up scratching them without thinking about it then they scab over. I know it's gross and I need to stop. It's going to take a lot more willpower than I have right now.

I do have a new development which is interesting and I wonder what my doctor has to say about it. I've gotten itchy, painful rashes on both of my arms and nothing is really helping. I thought it may be the lotion that I've been using, but I've been using it for a while now so I don't think that's it. I'm kind of confused about what brought on the incredible dryness and itchiness on my arms. Maybe I need some different lotion or maybe it's something else. It seems like either an allergic reaction or eczema.

Anyway, pictures for week five are below. Keep in mind that this week was without any Claravis at all. Next week, I have my derm appointment on Thursday and hopefully I can get my new prescription then. So I'll have about two weeks with no medicine. :-( Maybe my skin will get back on track after I go back on it. Here's hoping.

Week Four

So... maybe I was wrong about my chest. About two days after my last post, I had a monster break out right in the middle of my chest (see the picture below). My other really annoying zit was right in between my upper lip and my nose. It got so dry and cracked that it bled almost every time I washed my face. I don't think my face, chest, or back have gotten much better quite yet, but it's only been a month. I'm not really looking foward to next week because I am not getting my new prescription yet. I'm starting a new job (with new insurance) and it will just be easier to wait until my insurance kicks in and I can save a bit of money on my appointments and medicine - it's a better plan than my other one was. So a little time off from the Claravis may or may not be a good thing... we'll see.

Week Three

I feel like I'm starting to have a few more cystic breakouts now that the Claravis is in my system. This is the way my skin usually handles things that I throw at it: I will begin a new treatment and about a month later, it's like it gets immune to what I've been doing then breakout even angrier than before. However, I've been expecting this with the drug since the first month is supposedly the worst. It hasn't been all that bad, actually. As long as it doesn't get too much worse, I think I can handle it (knock on wood!).

Same routine: 60 mg a day, 3 times a day. Same cleanser and moisturizer. I did find some Carmex brand cherry lip protectant which feels more like lip gloss than the Aquaphor I've been using from the dermatologist - plus it has SPF 15. It seems to work about the same but I do have to put it on like 5 times a day or more. I'm super dry around my mouth and on my lips. The Eucerin treatment at night has helped my nose dryness some. Also, I've been sleeping with a humidifier running. I don't know how much good it's doing, but it can't hurt, right?

I've noticed I'm way less oily throughout the day as well. I used to wake up in the morning, wash, moisturize, and about an hour later, I could press my fingers across my forehead (not even wipe them across, just touch) and they would be shiny with oil... super gross. Now, I can go through the day and not feel oily at all.

Below are pictures for week three (no real noticable changes yet except maybe my chest):

Week Two

Still on 60 mg per day of Claravis but I decided after getting so incredibly dry and itchy that I would spread it out throughout the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This makes it a little more difficult because I'd rather just do it all in one dose so I don't forget to take one. There have been a few I've forgotten, but for the most part, I've been doing well at remembering.

I'm alternating Purpose cleanser (morning) and Dove soap (night) as a facial wash and Purpose moisturizer with sunscreen (morning) and Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream (night). I feel like the Purpose cleanser and moisturizer give me a lighter feeling that lasts throughout the day with makeup on, but the Dove and Eucerin routine at night keep me from drying out while I sleep. Even though the Eucerin is super thick and creamy and kind of makes my skin feel waxy, it really keeps me from getting more flaky overnight. I've also started using the Head and Shoulders Intensive shampoo. It has really helped my itchy scalp.

Again, here are pictures of front, right side, and left side views of my face, my back and my chest. No new developments, really, so that's good. Just continuing to get dryer, especially my lips and around my nose, mouth, and chin.

Week One

I've been dealing with acne for a long time now and I am fed up!  I'm 26 years old and it has never been this bad.  It even hurts to wash my face at times.  I have tried topical stuff both from the store and from the doctor, antibiotics, cleansing systems (i.e. Murad and the like) and nothing has worked.  I am at the end of my rope.  I decided to go on Accutane recently as a last resort because I just want it gone.  I was nervous because of all the possible side effects but honestly, having clear skin is more important to me at this point and will hopefully outweigh all of that.  I am getting married on November 7, 2009 and I would really like to have beautiful wedding pictures that don't include caked on makeup all over my body.

I started on 60mg of Claravis (generic Accutane) a day last Friday (20mg 3 times a day - but I take them all at once at dinner time).  Already I definitely can feel and see a difference.  I am starting to have a lot of dryness on my face, especially around my mouth and nose, but I don't think I've had any new developments since I started.  I am using Aquaphor ointment that I got religiously on my lips to keep them from drying out.  Last night, I had a hard time falling asleep because my scalp was so dry and itchy.  I contemplated taking a shower around midnight just to get it to stop.

This morning, I took pictures of my face after I washed it and pictures of my back and chest after a shower.  I am going to try to post pictures and blog weekly to track my progress.  I'd say I'm starting out with moderately severe acne on my face, and moderate on my back, shoulders, and chest.

My back after a shower

My chest after a shower