Any of you girls take Accutane? 😢

Mar 20, 2014

Jaden C.

I got my accutane prescribed before they made you take the pregnancy tests, so I don't know much about that. I honestly started seeing results right away & I took it the day I went to the dermatologist. All though there are some negatives, it really cleared up my acne. It didn't make it go away completely forever, but I'm also teenage girl. Acne is expected. It made my skin very dry & very sensitive, and to this very day I have insanely sensitive skin. You might notice you burn more easily in the sun, and sometimes it hurts to put on sunscreen & just weird things. But I would definitely recommend it, it saved my face.

Mar 20, 2014

Jaden C.

Yeah I definitely understand. I started getting really bad acne in like 4th grade. I didn't start taking accutane til I was like maybe.. 13? I know it sounds hard, but if you have waited 6 years I promise you those 30 days will be okay. ❤️ you just have to work with what you've got until then. You're a beautiful girl, don't stress too much about it. 😘

Mar 20, 2014

Halee C.

Jacqlyn, you are so gorgeous I can't even imagine you with horrible acne. I've never tried accutane, but my friend did and it got worse before it got better. she just used a gentle face wash and a gentle moisturizer.

Mar 20, 2014

Leamsy R.

1. You will have to take a test before they give it to! Even once after you're off it. It doesn't matter if you're on birth control or not because they can't take your word since it is really unsafe.

2. I don't remember how long it took to see results but it will very much suck while you're on it. After though I'm sure you will be very pleased :)

3. Aquaphor! (might be spelt wrong) your lips and skin become really dry while on it so it's must. My derm. Also gave me samples of cerave moisturizers/ washes to use but because of how sensitive my skin was it did not react well on me. I also did use makeup because I was far too insincere to go without it. I don't remember how well that went though lol. Also vitamin e might be a good idea as well as sunscreen

4. No! But only cause Accutane is usually a last resort type thing. They tried giving me other things first until we decided on going through with this. As stated you will have to take the pregnancy test and before and picking up your prescription you will have to take and I pledge test. Without taking it the pharmacy will not hand over the pills.

Any other questions?

Mar 20, 2014

Leamsy R.

Haha no problem <3 you're always so helpful around here so I'm glad I could help

Also since you're still so young it it very much possible that your acne could come back even after your first round of accutane.

I took accutane 3 times. 2nd was because my face still needed some works and 3rd because it did come back a little. Accutane will help with scarring as well :)
I didn't finish my 3rd round of accutane because I hate taking pills in general and I always found these pill scary cause of the side affects. I now only get one or two when it's the time of month

I wish you the best of luck 😘

Mar 20, 2014

Leamsy R.

And there's different uhh powerful levels? Lol I can't think of the word... So when they ask you questions about side affects and such answer honestly. Sometimes people can only think about how much they want to clear up their face but not realize the harm. They can always lower you :)

Mar 20, 2014

Ame S.

They gave me 30 mg pill once a day everday, and for about three years after I finished taking it, my skin was amazing! You really really have to use sunscreen though, like its never enough, I had a 30 ml bottle always with me, no matter where I went, also at home I wore sunscreen and chapstick. This is my fourth year after Accutane and my lips need 100% sheer butter atleast thrice everyday, its a really good lip moisturiser and no other balm works on me. I second Aquaphor too, sometimes my skin got mad dry, so I used cetaphil lotion for verrrrry dry skin on it overnight. And do use a safe sunscreen like coppertone sensitive faces or la roche posay with spf 30 atleast. Accutane also gets you super dehydrated body fluids wise, so remember to drink atleast 1.5 to 2 litres of water.

Mar 20, 2014

Ame S.

I started taking the pills after a few days of seeing the dermat. And it took me a little over a week to notice results but in 3.5 weeks I was transformed literally.

Mar 20, 2014

Breanna C.

^^ Awesome Idea Jacqlyn! I Would Love To See A Blog & Be There To Support You! 💜💚

Mar 20, 2014

Breanna C.

You're Welcome Gorgeous! 💋😘

Mar 20, 2014

Ame S.

Yes I agree, the blog is a real good idea. And tonnes of support will flow in from here for you. :)

Mar 20, 2014

Roz X.

I've never used it. I wish I could be of some help. Good luck at the derms, Jacqlyn. I truly hope they can help you. A great derm is a must to me.

Mar 20, 2014

Yessi V.

Wish you the best of luck (:

Mar 20, 2014

Emily W.

I never used accutane; I was prescribed minocycline (an antibiotic pill) and clindamycin phosphate (a topical gel) first. Have you tried any other treatments besides the Retin-A? Accutane is a very hard drug on the body and is usually a last resort...

Also, how did she know that if you stopped depo you would get cystic acne? Do you have a history of hormonal cystic acne? I've switched birth control types and dosages several times without cysts, and I am actually prone to them. If you don't like your birth control you should change it (with your gynecologist of course) until you find what works best for you.

Mar 20, 2014

Faith K.

Beautybaby44 has a good video on this.

Mar 20, 2014

Faith K.

Also I've heard drink tons of water if you go on it.

Mar 20, 2014

Emily W.

Is there a planned parenthood clinic near you? They can go over birth control options with you if your gynecologist isn't discussing it with you properly.

I'm not a doctor by any means, but my gynecologist said that implants are actually one of the worst for blood clot risk because it is difficult to adjust the dosage of hormones. I am at risk as well. :/ I would try and get a second opinion, but I understand how hard that can be when your options are limited.

Hopefully your dermatologist will help and the accutane will work!

Mar 21, 2014

Lauren M.

The implanon!(arm implant) Gave HORRIBLE cystic acne when I got off. I guess side effects are different for everyone though.
& please track your progress, I will definitely read it!! I needed accutane a year ago, but no health insurance :(
I didn't even care about the side effects cuz having a clear face meant confidence for me. Good luck when you get it! You should track it every week! & do before & after pics! I think if my cysts come back like before I will definitely have to get some insurance & get on it.

Mar 21, 2014

Lauren M.

Oh dang. Well we don't want that!
But yes I love reviews on things like this. I hope it works for you side-effect free. 😊

Mar 21, 2014

Rylee N.

I might have to go to accutane if my prescription doesn't work! Right now I'm taking oral medication, and topical Biacna. 😭😢 I've tried everything and am SO desperate!

Mar 21, 2014

Rylee N.

The Biacna burns and I'm at a point where my skin is SUPER dry! Around my nose, spots on my chin and lower cheeks, on my checks and forehead, everywhere! My skins just a giant patch of dry skin and red patches! Makeup just makes it look worse 😖

Mar 22, 2014

Rylee N.

Yes it is Minocyline! I also have to take medication for my eyes ( they don't know what is wrong with them so I don't know how it's effecting me! ) as well and that's for ( it's actually for rosacea but I don't have rosacea) dry flakey eyes and I think it just subsides the flakes and dryness I don't out Vaseline on my eyes*cringe* but would VASELINE on my face help?

Mar 22, 2014

Bekah S.

When you said you've tried it all, I knew accutane must be the next answer. I tried it all and that's where it lead me. I began accutane TREATMENT in May of 2013. I didn't start the medication until June. I recommend starting around the time I did. Since your skin is already so dry, you don't want the weather increasing it. I have tried everything! I am 15 almost 16 and they didn't make me take birth control. It's usually up to between you and your parents. My mom is pretty strict about all that so she was fine about saying abstinence and condoms. But, I remember you saying you have a boyfriend, so maybe they would prescribe you birthday control as well. It can cause HORRIBLE birth defects such as the child being born with no arms or missing legs. With boys, it's 100% easier to her accutane (my brother even got sample pills?) with girls it's very very hard. Without insurance it costs about 1200+ dollars, with it's about 40. There's a one month waiting period before and a lot of paper work. As people have mentioned, you make an ipledge account and every month answer questions BEFORE you pick up your monthly prescription to accutane. They won't allow you to without it. If you don't answer these questions within 2 days, you'll have to wait another month. And next thing, blood tests! This part is both annoying and eventually fun in the accutane process! They take your blood for a pregnancy test and a cholesterol and stuff check because it causes those levels to go up. Once a month. Your blood tests HAS to be 2 days before the derma app. Accutane is soo strict with everything. When you finally DO get accutane, the side effects start. Let me start by ACCUTANE DOES NOT CAUSE DEPRESSION OR WORSEN IT! Hahahaha. It's actually got a pretty bad rep because of this! It does not effect your mood whatsoever. In fact, it often makes teens happier because they're skin is getting better! The real side effects though, are hard. Let's start with the basics. It gets worse before it gets better. I didn't see results until month 4. Your skin will literally cough up everything. And then leaves a blank canvas lol. Next, dryness. I didn't really have a horrible problem with this, I kept up with it. I took vitamin E and moisturized with cetaphil from the jar. As for lips, I use dr. Dans cortibalm and vaseline. The worst for me was NOSEBLEEDS. Accutane dries out EVERYTHING. That includes nasal glands! I got 7-10 very bad nosebleeds a day. Every time I leaned over I was afraid it would just start going lol. Nasal spray clears that up. SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN SUNSCREEN! Carry it around with you! Lip balm with SPF is a must. I must say, however I still think it's worth it, it does cause slight vision problems sometimes. Just things like tunnel vision when you first wake up or dry eyes (eye drops also a must). I didn't use eye drops fast enough and I got a cornea abrasion. My scalp was also dry. And NO WAXING anywhere! Not unless you want a giant scab there. Thread always. My last two months of treatment I switched to a higher power version called absorbica which has a lipid coating for better absorption. I have been off it since December and I'm very pleased. I will get Very very very very tiny invisible pimples for about a day leading up to my period. They will disappear in literally a day. I have no scarring. I'm very pleased :)

Mar 22, 2014

Bekah S.

Btw mine wasn't super severe but it was persistent! I took 2 40 mg pills a day.