6 months later

I’ve been done with treatment for over six months now. My oil production is still low, but I am a little shiny on my forehead and maybe nose, by the end of the day or when I wake up in the mornings. Nothing major and I’m not even using blotting sheets. Also back to washing my hair daily or the crown and sides are a little oily.

My chest has been completely clear for months.

I now reside in AZ and it’s so hot here. I sweat on and off all day, every day. However, the humidity is low. I have been getting a few SMALL whiteheads on my face – mainly on the sides of my face in front of my ears. They are very small and not painful. Also just a few around my mouth, to the sides of my chin. Not noticeable, not red, etc. I also have a few little sweat zits on my back.

Maybe a month ago I started getting some small zits on my upper arms. They are like little cysts, but they do not hurt. They have the tiny white center but if I squeeze them, it’s a little core/cyst. Weird to have them on my arms as I have NOT had them there before.

My doctor recommended that I use Renova every other night on my face and see if I am too sensitive. It will initially cause a little irritation and maybe peeling, but will go away and make even whiteheads less likely. It essentially exfoliates so that the skin is not blocked.

I used it for the first time a couple weeks ago.

It seems the shoulder pain I had on the left side is something UNRELATED to the Accutane. Likely some form of tendonitis or frozen shoulder.

2 MONTH + UPDATE

I’ve been off Accutane for about 9 weeks now. My hair is a little oily at the crown, but definitely manageable. I need to wash it every other day.

This morning when I woke up, I noticed my forehead was slightly oily. Not visibly, but to the touch. However, I did wake up sweating in the night, say around 3AM.

Today at work, my skin felt slightly oily (mainly around chin and Forehead). It's not bad, and not as if I need to use oil absorbent sheets. I also notice the same moist feeling on my chest. My back feels nice and dry as do my cheeks, etc.

I am not worried about this, as I read that oil production would resume, but not to the same degree as pre-Accutane.

I continue to get a few small white heads, but they go away fast. They are usually on my cheeks and not noticeable. No cysts, thank God.

1 MONTH UPDATE

March 28, 2005
I have been off the medication for about 5 weeks.

The rash on the back of my hands/wrists is gone. That cleared up a few weeks back. My lower back pain is much better. I still have a bit of aching, but I actually believe it’s just that I don’t exercise as much and my desk setup at work is not ergonomically correct. The skin on my chest and back is completely clear.


My face is 99% clear. I get some small bumps, that are just tiny white heads that don’t need to be popped. The few I get show up on my cheeks and to the left or right of my chin. Again, they are very small and no one can see them. I don’t even see them, I just feel them when I wash or put make up on.

My oil production is still very low. I have noticed in the last week that the oil in my scalp is coming back, which is a good thing. I am washing my hair about
every other day.

There is no oil to speak of on my face, chest or back. The rest of my skin has normalized and it’s not as flaky (I have ALWAYS had dry skin, even as a child) and any sensitivity is gone.

So far, so good.

I am taking vitamins each day to include A, C, D, E, zinc, selenium, copper, Flax Oil (omega 3 fatty acids), Evening Primrose Oil, magnesium, B6, etc. Research indicates that many people with acne have low levels of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid belonging to the omega 6 family. This is where Evening Primrose Oil comes in. The research I’ve done indicates Flax oil in liquid form is best, and it need not be “cold pressed”.

Treatment End

On February 20, 2005 I finished taking all of my medication.

It feels good to be done and look forward to letting my body get back to normal. My face, back and chest are clear. God willing, they will stay that way.

I plan to post occasionally and please feel free to email.

WEEK 18, 19 & 20

Nothing new with my skin over these three weeks. I continue to battle the rash or dry bumps on the backs of my hands. My elbow and shoulder joints are definitely tender. My low back still aches and is stiff. I hope this all goes away very soon.

SIDE EFFECT

Well, a week or two ago while doing stretches, my left shoulder was hurting. I thought I must have slept on it wrong or something, but it still hurts. It's more aching than pain, but I definitely feel it.

Then a couple days ago, I was resting my left elbow on a chair or something and it felt like it was bruised. Again, I really didn't think much about it. But, yesterday while at work I had both elbows resting on the arms of a chair and they felt tender. I have never had this before, so I guess it's the joint pain that maybe 10% of people experience. I shouldn't be surprised as I have had an aching back for many weeks now.

My only fear (which is probably not supported by research) is that it will continue after I stop taking the medicine. Have any info about this??

WEEK 17

I visited my dermatologist a couple days ago, and my blood work results were good.

Although she agrees that my skin looks good, she recommends that I take a few more weeks of medication. She hopes that by taking the full course of treatment (5 months), the acne will be less likely to return.

She has told me more than once that about 30-35% of people are cured after using Accutane. She claims 30% will need Accutane again, and the rest will need some other form of less aggressive treatment. However, I have read where other physicians believe the percentage of those cured is higher. If you want to see the web pages, let me know. I guess there is some research out there that indicates young women (those in their teens) are more likely to have a recurrence than older women. My derm said that may be accurate because they are taking Accutane before they are done with puberty, developing, etc.

I am presently taking 80 mg two days in a row, and then 40 mg on the third. My derm doesn't feel I need 80 everyday because I only weigh 130 pounds. She even thinks if I took 80 one day and 40 the next, it would be sufficient.

Just a few more weeks- then no more chapped lips or back pain! I won't miss paying $6.40 a pill either. It seems like a high price to pay, but it's worth it to have clear skin.

WEEK 13, 14, 15 & 16

I have completed 16 weeks of treatment as of today. I have no cysts on my body right now- great news! Even my jawline has cleared up. There are a few little bumps here and there, but I am not even sure they are pimples.

Although a month ago, my doctor put me on 80 mg/day, I have not been taking that much. My face got so flaky, I couldn’t stand it. And my lips got more chapped. So, I take 80 mg two days in a row, and then on the third day I take 40 mg.

My back pain is minimal. My contacts are not totally comfortable, but I can still wear them. I still have the bumps, like a rash on the back of my hands and wrists. I don’t think anyone else even notices it. Other than the above, I have no new side effects.

I have to admit that over Christmas and from time to time, I have an alcoholic drink or two. I thought it would be alright because my blood work was coming back fine.

I am scheduled to see my doctor next week on Jan. 26th. I think she will give me a couple more weeks worth of pills, and then I am done!!

Just one more trip to the lab for blood work- so glad that will be over. Fasting and then trying to work it into my work schedule has been a pain, albeit necessary.

I have been so blessed not to have headaches, a bloody nose or any of the other scary (although rare) things that some people experience while on Accutane.