I can't take this anymore, I feel so confused, and sad and frustrated

[Flames2006]

I'm 16 years old and I've been on accutane for about 40 days now. When I started, I was fed up with zits and haven't been comfortable with my skin. Ever. I've never gotten a zit on my cheek, but before taking accutane, I always had zits around my nose, forehead, upper lip, chin and sometimes on my lip. It was very frustrating and i was ready for accutane.

My first month was alright. It started off rough, but i was off school so I didn't care too much. I knew it would pay off later. One month in, once I got bumped up to 60 mg, things were looking pretty ok. My skin had cleared up a tiny bit, I still had zits of course, but i could notice a difference. My lips were dry, but not too dry. Then I got 60 MG. My lips got really dry and black and gross, but my skin was clearing and it was fine. Earlier this week, my skin was still what i considered "average" as in, zits and acne, but nothing major or too gross. However, i have really broken out in the past few days. I have broken out about 6 or 7 times, in different places, and one right on the left tip side of my nose, which is big and looks really bad. I feel like crap, and i start school again on tuesday. Perhaps my skin wont be as bad on monday night, but right now I feel like complete crap. My progress is now gone, and I'm back to square one, and possibly even worse skin. I feel like giving up and just am so confused and find myself crying about it lately.

I need help. Plz, just give me advice or something so I can have HOPE.!!

[Jamie]

Don't worry. It's common and totally normal to break out on Accutane, especially in the phase that you're in. This is called the "Initial Breakout," where your body is essentially getting rid of all the bacteria and gross stuff inside your pores, so that in a few months, your skin will be clear for a long time. The time that people see a significant difference in their skin is when they've been on the medication for 3-4 months. Stick with it! I know it sucks that you might have to go back to school with less than perfect skin, but in a little while it'll all be worth it. Read from other messageboards concerning Accutane usage on this website...it's done me a world of good and I know it can help you too! There are hundreds of people who are experiencing the exact same things as you are, so have hope! It'll get better.:)

[Kimmie]

You should be using Aquaphor ointment on your lips. Didn't your dermatologist give you any advice? Use a humidifier at home to help with the dryness. Even though you're a guy, you can consider buying some concealer to hide the major pimples.

[Flames2006]

No, he really didn't.

Aquaphor ointment? Where would I find this? I've been using vaseline. Why? Is this stuff alot better?

It's been a couple of days, and the zits that formed a few days ago, are starting to dry up so that's good. I guess that's the good thing about accutane, your zits don't last too long, since they dry up. Granted you don't pick at them, which I never do!

I feel better today.

[accutane]

yo yo, don't worry. it all turns out to be ok for sure. I was on accutane for months, and at the beginning had huge red pimples. The first month = the worst!! Dry skin, pimples and my started to fall out. I didn't stop taking it and I lost quite a bit of hair :( But i kept at it and eventually got off the stuff. Since then my acne is gone and my hair is slowly growing back. I guess my point is, it's embarassing in school and believe me, i cried too when my hair fell out. But trust me, in the end, it WILL be better! I wish you the best of luck and try not to worry about your looks. I believe you will get better!!!

[Stacy]

hey i have been on accutane for about three months one week! My skin has improved slightly, but considering how bad my skin became when i went on accutane it is not even better then before i started! I'm frusturated and wondering when this drug is gonna start to really kick in. I still have breakouts, it seems like my skin just wont run out of zits to puch out. I hear that it ones you hit three months you should see big improvement and i hear of people having perfectly
beautiful skin by three months in, i dont why this isnt working for me. Is there anyone who has experienced this and having it take a long long time, or wondering if its even gonna work at all. I really hope im not just one of the unlucky ones. I have actually taken a week of work and sports and wearing absolutley no makeup, hopefully that will help. I have also heard when it starts clearing it happens all at once, is this true?

[Dave]

I'm 22 years old and I felt the same exacty way! I was so frustrated and embaressed to go out every day. I am a manager and I have to deal with people every day so my confidence was really lacking with terrible acne everywhere. The accutane continued to furstrate me because it was only getting worse. Finally after about 4 - 4 1/2 month my face is almost completely clear. It feels great and when I look back, the frustrations were well worth the great skin now! Hang in there buddy, it gets better. I promise!!

Flames2006 wrote:

I'm 16 years old and I've been on accutane for about 40 days now. When I started, I was fed up with zits and haven't been comfortable with my skin. Ever. I've never gotten a zit on my cheek, but before taking accutane, I always had zits around my nose, forehead, upper lip, chin and sometimes on my lip. It was very frustrating and i was ready for accutane.
My first month was alright. It started off rough, but i was off school so I didn't care too much. I knew it would pay off later. One month in, once I got bumped up to 60 mg, things were looking pretty ok. My skin had cleared up a tiny bit, I still had zits of course, but i could notice a difference. My lips were dry, but not too dry. Then I got 60 MG. My lips got really dry and black and gross, but my skin was clearing and it was fine. Earlier this week, my skin was still what i considered "average" as in, zits and acne, but nothing major or too gross. However, i have really broken out in the past few days. I have broken out about 6 or 7 times, in different places, and one right on the left tip side of my nose, which is big and looks really bad. I feel like crap, and i start school again on tuesday. Perhaps my skin wont be as bad on monday night, but right now I feel like complete crap. My progress is now gone, and I'm back to square one, and possibly even worse skin. I feel like giving up and just am so confused and find myself crying about it lately.
I need help. Plz, just give me advice or something so I can have HOPE.!!

[Robert]

Listen I know you guys want your acne cleared up because of the stigma that society has put on it.
But with all drugs such as accutane there are side effects! Minimal or large these are the consequences you are going to face, so please don't jump into this thinking it's a miracle and when an initial breakout flares up horrendously covering ur face in large boils, he or she quits-just remember it's accutane working, and yes, depending on your severity it can get worse sometimes much worse before it gets better. Your lips will peel constantly too, people will think you have fungus growing!(aquaphor or neosporin helps)

i've seen many people start fretting over the achese and pains associated with accutane but this is the price you have to pay and for what it's worth it's well worth it. But if you start having suicidal and serious depressive reflections-you either have to lower the dosage or just stop the treatment ASAP.

Why am I being so austere? well, because I wish i continued the treatment back when i was 19 or so but i quit because i thought it wasn't working than when i got back on it at 21 it cleared up. Yes I had an initial breakout, it was pretty bad but i would of saved myself a lot of grief if i didn't give up. Did I have mood swings? Yes, but the correlation with accutane is moot because as i said before it could of been because of what i saw in the mirror too. Just my two cents, don't want you guys to think your going through this by yourself.

If your having problems staying motivated or feel like you really don't have much hope, don't let it consume you. I never thought my acne would be in remission back than, but i come to realize all things will pass. What kept me sane though was prayer and God. So I don't know if any of you are spiritual but He really kept me going and put things in perspective while i was on accutane. He can do the same for you. Sometimes you need more than just yourself to get through this.

Robert

[bianca_x]

I went on roaccutane && it worked for me i still get some spots but nothing you culd call acne && i dnt get any oil now
Hang in there
x

[Jonathan]

hey uhh has any1 developed memory loss on this drug?

[Need clear skin]

I hate to sound desperate or crazy, but as of now I have no insurance and could no longer afford the accutane. I am in desperate need to resume sue for a normal face, let me know if you want to discard your remaining packets??

[David]

The breakout is always really hard... I remember having pretty cleared up skin after a few weeks, then I woke up one day and had these HUGE ones on my cheeks and jawline. They were around for a while, and it sucked, but it payed off, because now i'm almost done with the treatment.

To anyone whose situation is similar to that of maker of this thread, just remember to keep your head up and think of how great the final outcome will be. No pain, no gain, right?

[sch]

Flames,
don't worry, it sounds like the mood swings (which are the side effects) are on. don't let them dominate you, we all struggle, so you are not alone.

[james]

dude why do you care. accutane is all mental.. i had mad acne a few years back still one of the leaders of my grade or the 'coolest guy' sorta thing if you wanna call it. and i didnt have a problem with girls really i was more worried about them myself then they were of it. relax man ive just started acutane but theres more to life than some zits.

[james]

i meant acne is all mental....

[Shelly]

James, acne affects people in different ways... One person may have their face covered in cysts and large bumps... maybe even more acne than clear skin itself.. but it won't bother them at all. Another person may have 2-3 pimples that are barely noticeable and it could put them in a state of depression or social anxiety. It all depends on the person. Flames2006, just hang in there. Not everyone clears that fast... some people need to the entire 6 months... and some don't even start to clear until once they're off the Accutane. It'll all be worth it in the end.

[robby]

Need clear skin wrote:

I hate to sound desperate or crazy, but as of now I have no insurance and could no longer afford the accutane. I am in desperate need to resume sue for a normal face, let me know if you want to discard your remaining packets??

you can buy accutane online. go too chemoneresearch.com for liquid or iwantmeds.com for the pill version

[Chikadee]

Stacy wrote:

I have also heard when it starts clearing it happens all at once, is this true?

I've heard this too and am also wondering. Is it usually pretty gradual or over mainly just a week or two?

[Sean]

Iwantmeds.com doesn't sell accutane anymore and I don't want the liquid do you have any other sources? Thanks

robby wrote:

<quoted text>
you can buy accutane online. go too chemoneresearch.com for liquid or iwantmeds.com for the pill version

[Chikadee]

Thanks John! That sounds like an accurate explanation. What about the shrinking pores that people talk about? It seems like smaller pores would just make them clog MORE. Or are they just a result of the decreased sebum production?