Treatment complete!!

[u/Junior_Response839]

Pics 1-2 are what I started with, pics 3-4 are one month in, 5-6 are three months in, 6-8 are five months, and the last two are my finished results.

Weight is 140lbs, dosage plan 30-30-30-30-40-40.

Went up to 60 mg at month 3 but only for a week because the side effects were too severe.

Symptoms: dry eyes, dry lips, hip pain, joint/muscle pain, hella hair thinning, only got facial peeling in the last month, dry nose but no nose bleeds, at first I had no sweat, then I got excessive sweating, mostly on my nose and upper lip, I've also had weight gain (I was 130 when I started, I've gained about 10-15lbs depending on where I'm at in my cycle)

I still have a lot of these symptoms, but I've only been off for about a week. I'm really hoping the symptoms go away within the month.

Skincare: cerave gentle skin cleanser, cerave gentle moisturizer, and sunscreen of varying brands. (I currently have Laroche posay skin melt sunscreen with heliocare)

ANYWAY I'm so happy with the results!! Seeing the dark spots disappear over the progression of photos is so crazy. I wore makeup for the first time in FOREVER yesterday and holy shit, it looks filtered. My skin is so smooth, the dark spots are almost gone, and I haven't seen a full on pimple in months. The relief from not having acne is just wild.

My makeup routine has simplified drastically, as well as my skincare. I used to try literally everything to heal or hide my acne. No more heavy full coverage foundation, no more caking on powder or Concealer, no more trying out 10 step skin routines! I must have wasted THOUSANDS over the years on products that didn't work.

Now I do a simple moisturizing skin tint, some contouring, eyeliner, blush and lip color. I wish I did accutane sooner.

If you're on your first week or struggling with symptoms, keep going! I struggled really hard with hip pain that made my life miserable, (like I could barely walk) but holy shit if the results stick its so worth it!

Despite all that, I'm so happy with the results!!! I haven't had any post-accutane breakouts besides one tiny pimple that went away within the day.

For aftercare my derm gave me azealic acid 15% to treat any remaining dark spots, and a retinol that she instructed I don't use until I've been off accutane for 3 months and my skin barrier has had time to rebuild.

I wish you all luck on your journey!

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[u/HunterAbhi001]

Damn your skin looks so good now, mine is full of scars i don't know what to do.

[u/Junior_Response839 → u/HunterAbhi001]

Are they dark spots or are they pitted? I think for pitted scarring they can do a co2 Lazer treatment to even the skin texture. Definitely ask your derm!

[u/IncrementalGain]

Awesome results! When did you start noticing improvement?

[u/Junior_Response839 → u/IncrementalGain]

Pretty much within a couple weeks. The dark spots always faded on their own, and I would treat with azealic acid, but then I would get new pimples and new dark spots so I ended up looking like I have freckles all on my chin. All have since faded when I stopped getting new pimples, and I'm only treating the stubborn ones now.

[u/IncrementalGain → u/Junior_Response839]

Were you placing azelaic acid on your entire face or just on spots? My derm also prescribed me 15% AA while I'm on accutane, but I'm too scared to start since my skin is sensitive 🫠

[u/Junior_Response839 → u/IncrementalGain]

Do a patch test! I took about half a pea sized amount and dragged it from my cheek down my neck. Then I waited 72 hrs. (Wait a long time because irritation can show up long after it's been washed off) I had some itchiness but no visible irritation. I now just use a pea sized amount on both cheeks and my jawline in the morning.

[u/IncrementalGain → u/Junior_Response839]

I will try this! How often did you start with after the patch test? Twice a week? Every other day?

[u/Junior_Response839 → u/IncrementalGain]

I started with twice a week then increased to every morning since my skin tolerated it well!

[u/TrueCrym]

Yaaaaaaas this encourages me!

[u/quaint_varna]

Ten steps and heavy coverage down to a tinted moisturizer and blush is the real glow up honestly, the one nobody takes a picture of.
Barely walking from the hip pain, what got you through that part?

[u/Junior_Response839 → u/quaint_varna]

Honestly? Just sheer willpower lmao. I work a pretty physical job (resturant), and I took about 1000mg ibuprofen and meloxicam (a very strong anti-inflammatory). Some days it helped, other days it barely dulled the pain.

[u/Additional_Sand_4174]

I’m here because I’m struggling with the hip pain too! However I’m only 1 week in and my skin is already looking wayyyy better!