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Thread: Starting accutane

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    God/dess lynn2009's Avatar
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    Default Starting accutane

    Hello ladies,

    So I am set to start Accutane next month (very strong acne medication for those unfamiliar). I am wondering if anyone else has ever been on it and what was it like for you? I know side effects will vary per individual. I haven't worked at a club regularly since November but I would like for it to be an option as I am really wanting to 'settle' into a routine and I'm worried I shouldn't audition until after I'm off it completely which won't be for about 6 months. I know dryness is a common problem, was it so bad that you couldn't do your regular makeup routine, or use contacts at all? Did you break out really horrible in the beginning? I read that can happen. My skin isn't *that* bad right now and I cover it fine w/ makeup but it is stubborn which is why I'm getting Accutane finally.

    Thanks in advance!
    "There are different kinds of darkness. There is darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the darkness that is restful. There is the darkness of lovers, and the darkness of assassins. It becomes what the bearer wishes it to be, needs it to be. It is not wholly bad or good."
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    Featured Member MissJu's Avatar
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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Most of the time, acne is inner problem. I hope you realise that if you are not going to fix problem inside you will keep getting acne!
    I myself had acne, but drinking first thing in the morning water with lemon and apple cider vinegar. Really fixed my problem.
    I cut refined sugar, flour, never eat things like twinkies, and try to cut chocolate. And add probiotic.

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    God/dess Nikki_Fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    I used it years ago for 6 months - no really bad side effects I can remember except the dryness -

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Your dr can start you off with a low dose the first month, so you don't get the initial break out. Then your doctor gives you a stronger dose for the rest of the months.

    I didn't get any bad side affects, except super dry lips. Take omega3/flax for the dryness. I didn't drink at all while on it either. Didn't want to risk liver damage.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Oh, fuck that shit! Ask your doctor if you're eligible for spironolactone. It's a pill of anywhere from 50-200mg per day taken all at once. It takes about 3-6 weeks to build up in your system, but it completely stops my acne. For comparison, I have severe cystic acne and I've been on this stuff for just shy of a decade. I've tried going off of it so many times before only to discover that--jesus christ alive!--my acne is just as bad as it was when I was a teenager. No major side effects. Doesn't dry out your skin. Doesn't turn you bright red. Really, you just have to check your potassium levels aren't going out of whack with it using a quick blood test every 6-12 months (never been an issue for me). In conjunction with an oral birth control pill, this shit is 100% pure awesome for me. Even without the BC pills, my friends have had amazing results.

    TL.DR -- Different options! Look at this one!


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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Accutane literally saved my face.
    I know it all sounds scary, but its WORTH IT.

    There is a big difference for acne on a normal "teenage" level and then hormonal cystic acne which accutane is ued for...its usually genetic my dad suffered his whole life with it and I wasnt prepared to go through what he did. It also carried on through to his 30s which I wasnt going to put up with. I did accutane when I was 14 for 9 months and it fixed me basically forever with that 1 dose..I have never gotten a blind pimple since to the level I was dealing with pre-accutane.

    There is quite a bit of internet fear mongering with accutane

    **Here is my advice/story in a non-scary way**

    Yes you will experience a high level of lip dryness, not keeping a legit lip balm on hand will result in bleeding lips.
    Get yourself a high quality super moisturising lip balm and never let it leave your side.

    Stay out of the sun! omg make sure you dont get burnt as it is the worst ever.

    Use coconut oil with a nice gentle wash cloth to remove make up.

    Stay away from harsh chemical make up and skin products and fragranced products if at all possible.

    Sleep with a moisturising oil on your face -coconut in my opinion is the best.

    I wore make up and worked while on it like normal, just get yourself into a good basic skincare routine and you will be cool.

    Clean up your diet slowly to help with recurring bouts in the future, with good fats (avocadoes/ organic meats/ nuts etc)


    **I never got the initial break out, all I got was dry lips and a sore face as the medicine was drying it out initially.
    Now every 5 years I take a little booster course for 3 months at a low doseage just to keep my skin perfect**

    Had I not gone on this, I would never have been able to do pictures or be in the industry etc.
    Holy shit my skin was sooooo bad.

    Much love for accutane! lol
    Last edited by sophianz; 03-19-2015 at 08:30 PM.

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    God/dess Vyanka's Avatar
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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    I did it ten years ago, for about 5-6 months. Never got a cyst again.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    I took accurate as a teenager BEST decision of my life. I had terrible acne and nothing helped until accurate. 8 years since I stopped taking it and my skin is still pretty clear besides acne scars and the occasions pimple. My skin was very dry on accurate. I remember using lotion then foundation and you could still see my flaky skin underneath. And to be completly honest I did feel depressed on it but in the end it was 100% worth it I would do it again if I had to.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    I'm actually on it now, I just started maybe a week ago. I've been getting dry skin and lips and I would highly recommend getting CeraVe moisturizing lotion and cleanser - they are literal god sends and my skin isn't flaking nearly as bad as before I used it.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Did it about 10 years ago. I've talked about it on the site. 100% worth it.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    I'm finishing up my treatment in exactly 7 days and it was totally worth it.

    I waited many years before making the decision to take Accutane. It was scary reading online about the horrible side effects, some people even went as far as saying Accutane ruined their lives forever.

    For several years, I was on antibiotics and tried out different prescription creams, benzoyl peroxide, pretty much since puberty, nothing really worked. My skin would clear up but it wouldn't be long before huge pimples appeared and it would take months for them to disappear. I doubted my decision when I got my prescription, because at that time my skin wasn't that bad either but I was pretty sure sooner or later my pimples would come back. The guy I'm currently seeing told me he took Accutane and pretty much his whole family, they didn't experience that many side effects, that probably helped weight my decision too (always more reassuring when someone you're close to went through the same thing), despite girls at work advising against it.

    Turned out the side effects really weren't that bad! Sure my skin and lips are dry but nothing a good moisturizer and lipbalm cannot solve. I recommend La roche-Posay Effaclar H Multi-Compensating Soothing Moisturizer (for oily skin weakened by over-drying treatments) and Carmex. Regular body moisturizer will do fine... My dermatologist was against wearing contact lenses during the treatment (he said it could scratch and damage the eye) but I still wore them to work (once or twice per week) and sometimes to go out. But most of the time I was wearing eye glasses, also make sure to carry eye drops with you.

    I was able to work during my treatment, but I felt uncomfortable sometimes. The skin dryness is much more noticeable with make-up on (outside of work I rarely wore make-up, only moisturizer and my skin didn't look that dry, it's easier to just put on more moisturizer when needed too lol). It was harder to apply foundation, concealer and powder because dead skin would fall out, on a lucky day my make-up would look perfect but after a couple of hours my skin would look flaky. Customers didn't notice, the dim lightning helps a lot! But it wasn't too pretty to look at in the girls room lol.

    I did not break out after I started my treatment, as Vyanka said, the doctor will gradually adjust the dosage, also to make sure you don't experience horrible side effects.

    Make sure you eat healthy, because Accutane can make your cholesterol and triglycerides level jump. I also had to decrease the frequency and intensity of my work outs, my doctor said working out too hard during the treatment can cause irreversible damage to the joints. You might also experience muscular pain (for me it was minor).

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Oh and I also had eczema patches appear on my hands and arms during the treatment (never had that before), my dr said it was normal and will disappear after I am done.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Thanks so much everyone!
    "There are different kinds of darkness. There is darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the darkness that is restful. There is the darkness of lovers, and the darkness of assassins. It becomes what the bearer wishes it to be, needs it to be. It is not wholly bad or good."
    - The Court of Mist and Fury

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    No, I don't think Accutane is worth it. The side effects don't usually show up until years later. I'm not going to make some long post about it, just make sure you do your research before taking it.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Quote Originally Posted by Issabelle View Post
    Oh, fuck that shit! Ask your doctor if you're eligible for spironolactone. It's a pill of anywhere from 50-200mg per day taken all at once. It takes about 3-6 weeks to build up in your system, but it completely stops my acne. For comparison, I have severe cystic acne and I've been on this stuff for just shy of a decade. I've tried going off of it so many times before only to discover that--jesus christ alive!--my acne is just as bad as it was when I was a teenager. No major side effects. Doesn't dry out your skin. Doesn't turn you bright red. Really, you just have to check your potassium levels aren't going out of whack with it using a quick blood test every 6-12 months (never been an issue for me). In conjunction with an oral birth control pill, this shit is 100% pure awesome for me. Even without the BC pills, my friends have had amazing results.

    TL.DR -- Different options! Look at this one!


    My bestie used this recently and had good results - the side effects she experienced were extreme dryness and constipation ( i'm sure due to the dryness)

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Quote Originally Posted by Issabelle View Post
    Oh, fuck that shit! Ask your doctor if you're eligible for spironolactone. It's a pill of anywhere from 50-200mg per day taken all at once. It takes about 3-6 weeks to build up in your system, but it completely stops my acne. For comparison, I have severe cystic acne and I've been on this stuff for just shy of a decade. I've tried going off of it so many times before only to discover that--jesus christ alive!--my acne is just as bad as it was when I was a teenager. No major side effects. Doesn't dry out your skin. Doesn't turn you bright red. Really, you just have to check your potassium levels aren't going out of whack with it using a quick blood test every 6-12 months (never been an issue for me). In conjunction with an oral birth control pill, this shit is 100% pure awesome for me. Even without the BC pills, my friends have had amazing results.

    TL.DR -- Different options! Look at this one!


    My bestie used this recently and had good results - the side effects she experienced were extreme dryness and constipation ( i'm sure due to the dryness)

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    It depends on your type of Acne I think. I've done Accutane twice (first time I was 11 I think, I was an early bloomer), and I still get bad breakouts some years.

    Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Just get a good lip balm.



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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Quote Originally Posted by Nikki_Fox View Post
    My bestie used this recently and had good results - the side effects she experienced were extreme dryness and constipation ( i'm sure due to the dryness)
    Yeah forgot to mention I'm having this problem too even though I drink a lot of water... Lol it's a little embarassing

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Quote Originally Posted by Nikki_Fox View Post
    My bestie used this recently and had good results - the side effects she experienced were extreme dryness and constipation ( i'm sure due to the dryness)
    Quote Originally Posted by xStacey View Post
    Yeah forgot to mention I'm having this problem too even though I drink a lot of water... Lol it's a little embarassing
    That's super weird to me since I've never experienced any side effects on spironolactone ever. I drink a fuck ton of water and am an obsessive user of Burt's Bees lip balm though, so maybe I've just always missed them? Definitely no constipation for me, but my lips are mega dry without balm. 200mg dose, for what it's worth, on a 5'7" 120 pound woman for ten years.

    But whatever you do--good luck! Acne is the worst and getting rid of it has made my life wonderful!


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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Delete
    Last edited by Ms.Belle; 09-17-2020 at 10:12 AM. Reason: DELETE

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Does Spiro or Accutane get rid of blackheads?

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    I'm 28 and still have painful, cystic acne despite seeing a dermatologist for 10 years. I've tried all the creams and antibiotics and bc pills available and just now I'm taking dapsone with few results.
    my dermatologist refuses to put me on Accutane as I have psychotic depression and it's well known for triggering mood problems.
    spironolactone sounds interesting, any ideas if they prescribe it in the UK and if so how do you know that you're a good candidate?

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    Quote Originally Posted by HoolaTwister View Post
    Does Spiro or Accutane get rid of blackheads?
    I believe it would but have you seen a dermatologist. It's not the easiest prescription to get.

    I appreciate everyone's feedback. skin issues run in my family and I already eat a very clean diet. My dr said the research on depression as a symptom is inconclusive and he's seen in less than 0.5% of cases. And I wasn't really worried about that as I really don't think I could get any worse than in department either to start with. I am excited to start it! I didn't have issues with the Retin A so I'm hoping the side effects from Accutane will be fairly mild for me. Biggest annoyance is all this pregnancy avoidance formalities. My parents are in town this coming weekend but I am planning to audition at my first choice club after that.
    "There are different kinds of darkness. There is darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the darkness that is restful. There is the darkness of lovers, and the darkness of assassins. It becomes what the bearer wishes it to be, needs it to be. It is not wholly bad or good."
    - The Court of Mist and Fury

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    ^^ I feel ya. Dermatologists, in my opinion, are so useless. All their reccomandations on products have broken me out. CeraVe, Eucerin, Cetaphil, Dove EVERYTHING breaks me out. So clog prone. Or they prescribe really harsh benzoyl peroxide which dries me out so bad that my face hurts. My face is full of red faded scars from brakouts and I've got issues with blackheads as well yuck!! I'm really interested in this Spiro thing, would love more info on it.

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    Default Re: Starting accutane

    I was really worried about what I've read online about depression and suicidal thoughts prior to starting Accutane. It was one of the main reasons I waited so long, can't believe I forgot to mention this in my initial post. My family has a long history of mental disorders, depression and suicide attempts. I had been diagnosed with Persistent Depressive Disorder (also known as Dysthymia), often had suicidal ideations. I was afraid Accutane would exacerbate my symptoms.

    My derm made me get a written permission from a psychiatrist before prescribing me Accutane. The psych I consulted asked me to go see her asap for antidepressants if my depressive symptoms worsen after taking Accutane. Maybe I was lucky but Accutane did not make me feel worse. My Dr also said he only had a couple of patients who experienced depression after taking Accutane in 15 years prescribing it. Everyone reacts differently to medication.

    Quote Originally Posted by HoolaTwister View Post
    Does Spiro or Accutane get rid of blackheads?
    I am not sure if you could get prescribed Accutane specifically for black heads, its main purpose is treating severe acne or mild but persistent acne when pretty much every option has been exhausted... But I used to have black heads on my nose before I started my treatment, now 4 days left and I no longer have pimples or black heads.

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