Today is my eighth day taking Claravis (Isotretinoin AKA Accutane.) I have like, 142 days more to go until the end of the five month course my dermatologist prescribed for me. So far, the side effects have been moderate. My face is getting very dry, especially around my mouth and nose – my skin is very … flaky. My lips are also very dry and chapped. If you’ve ever scrubbed your face using Stridex pads too much and dried out your skin, it’s just like that. It’s supposed to get a lot worse for the next month or so. I’m expecting a nose bleed or two — fun, eh?. Other than the dryness, I’m constantly thirsty and drinking water almost the entire time I’m at work. Hydration is good.
The good news is my face is the clearest it’s been since march (probably before that.) I have a little scarring on my forehead near my hairline and more along my temples and jawline but I haven’t had any new breakouts in three days. There’s remnants of whiteheads that have dried out and resemble pale, flaky scabs. Attractive.
The back of my head is a whole other story. I don’t feel any new pimples, but I can feel lots of scabs on my scalp. It’s gross but at least they don’t feel, um, pimply… they feel like they’re drying out like my face. The thing is I don’t just get regular old zits on my scalp, I usually get large red cystic-type acne that stays under the skin. (Diagnosed as some form of folliculitis.) It’s these large bumps that are drying out. Let’s just say I’m glad I can’t see them.
I’m hoping taking megadoses of Vitamin A for a couple of weeks before starting Claravis helped in reducing the IB (the dreaded Initial Breakout) from the Isotretinoin. I’m hoping they just scab up, itch for a while, and leave me alone. A boy can dream, can’t he?
Click more to see photos of my progress so far. It’s hard to see the stuff on my scalp, so you’re mostly spared, but you can see the redness through my hair though. (Yes, some were taken in the bathroom at work. It’s has good lighting.)
Day Two:
Day Six:
Day Eight:
Edit 7/15/09: added some new pictures.
Wow: someone else plagued by a weird folliculitis variant. (The only other person I know.) My dermatologists have repeatedly shrugged off my breakouts, like, “Eh, whatever, it’ll go away.” Except mine happen on my face, usually on my nose. Not as frequently as yours, but still, it’s really frustrating–especially having to explain them to folks brazen enough to ask. Bottom line: I feel ya.
But this isn’t about me, it’s totally about you, so CONGRATS. You’re on the road to wellville and stuff! How’s about you bring that mug back to NOLA sometime and show it off?
Came across your Twitter post! I’m really glad Accutane is working out well for you so far! I have been researching about this Accutane as of yesterday. My dermatologist recommended Accutane to me since nothing else really did the trick. Reading about it I discovered all about the side effects of Accutane and it kind of got me scared. But then again I see so much people on YouTube who had success with this product and all they really get is the chapped lips and dry skin (like you mentioned). I pretty much don’t have a choice as my acne isn’t getting any better so I’m going to give Accutane a try. All I’m worried about really is the side effects. I don’t really mind the dry skin (to tell you the truth, I love it when my face is dry) but it’s the other effects like depression I’m worried about. During your one week of using Accutane, did you feel any mood swings at all?
I am not taking Accutane as of yet as I am waiting for my blood test results to turn in. If you have any more info or tips to help me with my soon-to-be-experience with Accutane I’m all ears! Hope you get the results you were looking for!
Hello!
Love the zitcam – great pics from a phone!!!
Ali (@aliholden)
PS your twitpics are quite possibly the funniest on twitter.
.-= Ali Holden´s last blog ..I am missing =-.
wow…it looks like it’s working pretty well there actually.
I’m sometimes plagued by folliculitis too…so’s my father. It’s stress related I think.
But then what isn’t?
.-= jason´s last blog ..wacky packages =-.
@anthony:
You didn’t say how old you were but I’d say if you’re older than 20 and have chronic acne that is making you miserable and have access to health care, do everything you can to clear it up. Given the depression I’ve gone through during flair-ups, the possible depression that may occur with accutane doesn’t scare me. People with chronic acne already suffer from depression so I don’t buy into all the surrounding it. Really, I haven’t had any side effects other than dry skin, chapped lips and rock hard boogers. :) I’ve only been on it for 3 week and I see a HUGE difference. I had someone ask what I was doing because, although the didn’t want to say anything before, they noticed my face had cleared up a lot the last week. I said I was taking accutane and the told me they had taken it when they had gotten out of high school and it changed their life. I believe it. :)
Thanks for the info. I am also getting ready to start my first month of claravis 40mg a day. I am actually staring at the unopened package, a little nervous…a little excited. Just got it this evening and am waiting for tomorrow to take the plunge. Read all about it before deciding and am armed with aveeno & cetaphil creams for the dryness. I also wholeheartedly agree with the whole depression thing, we were all depressed long before we got to this point. The only way to go from here is up, right? I have also heard the life saver stories from friends that had taken it and am ready to take it on. Keep us informed on your progress, I am certainly rooting for you and for myself as well :)
~Kris
Then I notice this was months ago, so update us!
I used Accutane when I was 14(dang that was 11 years ago) any who…it did WONDERS…the only side affects I had were the dry lips, skin and hair. I didnt have any depression. You could say, I was livin the good life….until it gradually started coming back at age 21. At the time, the doctors said I would NEVER have acne again. They were wrong. Now I am 25 and have worse acne than I did at age 14. I have been arguing with dermatologists for three years. I wanted to go back on Accutane. The two different derms i saw kept saying I dont have the “right kind of acne” for Accutane. Well I finally got it right on the third derm: I went in without make up. So now im back on it….3rd day into it and Im not gonna lie….the side affects are different this time. I feel that depressed feeling they warn about and Im a little short of breath. Im not quite dried out yet and have been using chapstick and lotion like crazy to try to avoid the inevitable. I really do not care for the sad/ drowsy feeling, but I am going to stick with it anyways. I thought the same thing that was stated previously in this blog, that we have been depressed due to the acne and getting rid of the acne couldn’t possible make it worse….but damn….its kind of weird feeling this way. Anyways….to the writer of this blog….Way to go for trying the oh so scary Isotretinoin! Do you have curly hair? Because I know that can cause feliculitis when you shave curly hair….
trying it for the third time…getting extra since my insurance is about to run dry…it works wonders but you may have to take it a few times…depression, anxiety, weirdness, more sickly…went on an anti anxiety pill lexapro to counteract some of this and it’s helped a lot…but lets face it acne sucks and it’s a necessary trade off. You have to be strong to go through some of the side effects but its worth it…
I started claravis 40 mg last week and I’ve already seen improvement. My only side effects are dry skin and I get short of breath faster since I’ve started it then usual. But that’s okay, it will be worth it if my skin gets all cleared up, if it keeps going uphill from here :)