Day 100: complete.
 I just finished my 1st 10 day pack of month 4 (about 2 days ago)
about a week ago I noticed a significant difference in my skin. I only have 2 pimples on my chin. the rest of my face was clear ( minus the iritation post acne marks under the skin) but no bumps!
I was so excited. well a day goes by and I broke out again.. actually a pretty bad breakout compared to what I was seeing the last few months, all around my chin. and even had 2 cystic type bumps.

things are starting to heal again but the redness is still there ( I havent started using the cream for the redness yet because I am still breaking out) want to tackle one challenge at a time. once I see my skin clearing and staying clear for a good length of time I will start the redness cream.

I only have 50 more days left on the medicine and I really hope I start seeing the clear skin longer than just for a day. I have my next appt with the dermatologist on 1/10. maybe mention it to him and see if he plans on keeping me on the 40mgs for the last month or if he would suggest going to 60mgs.
I know it will dry me out a bit more, and maybe even worse because it is winter time. but if its what i need to do to get my skin clear.. i will do it.

Day 90: Month 3 Complete!

Sorry I am a little overdue on a post. but I finished Month 3 about 5 days ago. This week at work has been crazy and just didnt have the time to post.

But on to the end of Month 3...
I have been repeatedly getting complements on my skin and the changes that have happened.
My mom even said everytime she sees me ( usually about every 3-4days) she notices my skin getting better and better.
I wish I noticed it like that, but I guess looking at my skin every day in the mirror i wouldnt notice the changes as much as someone else would.

Surprisingly, still no other side effects besides the dry lips.. my skin isnt even as dry as it normally is in the winter without being on the medicine!
I am still using a gentle cleanser, toner and moisturizer with SPF during the day and a thicker night cream in the evening. which seems to be agreeing with me,

Going back to the Dermotologist, he said I am doing good on the 40mgs so he is keeping me on that prescription, as well as gave me a sample of a topical to help reduce the redness I am seeing.

I am pretty fair-skinned, so the acne is leaving some marks. eventually they would go away however the topuical should speed it up. looking into the product he gave me, it is something prescribed for those with rosacea. I didnt quite start using it yet, I plan to soon once some of the newer breakouts go away.
( yes still getting breakouts- particularly around my chin now; which I never had before. but they do not take very long to go away.)

Otherwise everything is so far so good! and below are the ending my month 3 photos!

Day 80: Complete

I just finished my 2nd- 10 day pack of month 3.. officially a little over half way done.
My lips are still dry, and im pretty sure I'll suffer from painful dry lips for the duration. otherwise I feel great!
I really am not having any other side effects that can happen while on this medication.

My Skin is definitely changing. and those around me have been noticing the difference.
I am still red and slightly blotchy but the bumps have drastically been reduced.
Some days I look in the mirror and very impressed with the changes and other days I look in the mirror and just see all the blotchy redness and get frustrated again.

To see the difference from the begining to now from looking back on my pictures is definitely an improvement. but I still am a little impatient I hope the changes bring continued improvement throughout the remainder of my treatment.

Next post will have pictures of my skin progress moving into month 4!

Day 70: Complete

I just finished my 1st 10-day pack of month 3!

Almost half way there.
Definitely seeing changes in my skin. Even my mom and dad(yes my dad even noticed and commented on it)
Some days I still feel like i have a long long way to go.
I am still breaking out (not as severely as before and the cysts go away pretty quickly now)
but make up is really covering up all the redness and irratation so when i do where it my acne is almost unnoticeable.

I do have to say that my nails have never been so healthy, strong and long! I never had nails, they alway tore and peeled.. now I have beautiful nails.. so that is a plus.. definitely attributing that to the medicine.

My lips however are still very dry and peeling everyday. they hurt. but the aquafor lip balm is fantastic and does help out quite a bit with it.
I have not had problems with dry eyes or super dry skin, but the winter is just starting so I am assuming the dry skin will be right around the corner.

The only thing that is concerning me is that my skin/ acne is coming out (to a white head) drying up and scabbing and pealing/ falling off, when I wash my face put lotion or a toner on it or apply makeup. when it scabs sometimes it looks like it is leaving a little hole in the center of the pimple and I just hope this isnt going to scar.
I am NOT picking at anything and washing my face and applying products and makeup gently but it is still peeling.
This is something I will definitely be bringing up to the dermatologist on my pre-month 4 appointment!

only 2.5ish months left to go until my "clear skin" fingers crossed it all works because right now i am not seeing the progress i was expecting at this point but I know I am impatient sometimes and I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Day 60 and Month 2: COMPLETE!
Tomorrow I start month 3. almost half way there and seeing more and more changes.
some days I see improvement and others I see more breakouts.
It is frustrating to think "woohoo its working!" and then a day later look in the mirror and go "omg my face is a mess". I do have to say  that now, make-up is holding up better on my face. covering up better that the redness and irratation is nearly invisable when i wear it.

I had my before month 3 appointment with the dermatologist 2 days ago.
we discussed how my skin is feeling and any side effects I am experiencing on the 40 mgs.
Really my lips are the only thing that are dry. really painfully dry. just about 5 days ago it hit the worst its been. I am able to peel full layers of my lips off. and its getting to the point with deep cracks and bleeding.
not to mention how gross they look.
I told the dr. I was using vasoline because normal chapsticks were not cutting it. and his P.A suggested Aquafor. since they came out with a new lip balm... LOVE IT! it stays on way longer than vasoline, and just after about 2-3 days of using it.. my lips are flaky any more.
definitely suggest getting this product. its amazing.

After looking at the progress my skin has made, very very very rarely getting the cystic type acne, even when I get one it breaks the surface and comes out very quickly, (about a 5-7 days as opposed to 2-3 weeks before the meds) the Dr has decided that 40mgs would be good for me. and I wont need any higher dosages throughout my treatment. this is great knowing that I can handle the side effects i currently have and knowing they shouldnt get any worse.

SO starting month 3 tomorrow and hopefully continuing improvement throughout the rest of this process!
Below are the end of month 2 pictures.. not as bumpy still pretty red and irritated though.

Day 50 Complete : a few days ago.

I didnt quite get time this week to update my blog but I am currently 3 days into my last 10-pack of month 2.

I am starting to see some changes in my skin. especially in my cheeks (where the cystic acne was the worst)
where my cycstic acne would stay under the skin for weeks at a time, it is now breaking out and scabbing up within a week.
that being said I still have quite a bit of redness and acne on my face but its not as bumpy and definitely not as soar.
good news is that make-up is covering up my acne much better than before isotrentonoin treatment.

I know i still have a long way to go and it is a lengthy process. and from what i hear month 3 is where i may see significant differences.
ie I could have my most major breakout before the clearing up starts or i could just clear up without that major breakout...
7 more days of month 2 and then we shall see what month 3 brings.

with increasing my dosage, the dermotologist expected me to have dry nose( nose bleeds) and dry eyes to go along with my forever miserable/ annoying dry lips.

yes the lips just keep getting worse and worse..i think its almost to the point where i am used to them.
but i did start noticing a little bit of bloody nose.. not bad by any means but it could also be because it is getting colder and the heat is starting to kick on.. and just making the air dry in general.

I really haven't experienced any of the other side effects / the normal & serious ones. which is good. meaning my body is tolerating it.

I have changed my skin care routine up a little bit to make it a little more gentle.
i am just using a neutrogena gentle foaming cleanser, the neutrogena non-alcohol toner and their night cream at night and a Mary Kay Timewise with SPF 15 moisturizer during the day.. SPF is huge!
making sure i am staying out of the sun or have significant SPF protection when I am in the sun is my biggest concern.
your skin is super sensitive to the sun and will burn very easy while on this medicine. sun burns could even lead to scaring.. definitely don't need scares after having this acne for so long!

looking forward to continuing the treatment and really start on seeing my skin clear up!
next post will have pictures of my progress!
 

Day 40: complete
I just finished my 1st 10-day pack from my 2nd month @ 40mgs

I havent really noticed any changes or increases in side effects. My lips are still super dry and cracked and are starting to be more painful, but nothing that a little blistex/ carmex/ vasoline/ chapstick/ whatever i can get my hands on wont help.

My acne breakouts havent really slowed down yet and my face is a lot more red than before I started but i guess that comes with the skin sensitivity.

my boyfriend had to point out to me that i am not even through month 2 yet when I was complaining and upset with the way my skin is looking. I guess I am just a little bit impatient.
I have also heard from his co-workers that have used the product that "yes, it sucks.. but, boy does it work"

So off to start day 41 and my 2nd 10-day pack tomorrow. and keep waiting for it to get through the sucky part and start working.

Month 1- COMPLETE!

Just finished by 3rd 10-day pack.

I went to the dermatologist on Monday for my monthly check up and to see how the treatment is going, AND get prescribed month 2

Each month you have to go for blood work to check your Triglecerides/ Lipids because the drug can have an effect on your cholesterol. (and if your female.. you have to go for your monthly pregnancy blood test before you get prescribed your next month's treatment)
My bloodwork came back normal with no changes.. so the 20mg of Isotrentenoin was handled well by my body.
My month 2 prescription went up to 40 MG.
so more dry lips (i just started to get used to it and it wasnt so annoying anymore) but its about to get worse,.. and the doctor said potential dry eyes and nose.

I will be starting my 1st 10-day pack @ 40MG tomorrow.

within the first month I have noticed differences in my breakouts.. definitely have been more breakouts but i am not sure if it was my "initial" breakout you can get from going on this medicine.. it wasnt as bad as i was expecting.. but i still have 4 months to go. so only time will tell..

below are my first month pictures:

Day 20: complete.

Just finished my 2nd, 10day pack and on to the last one for this month.
All I can say is DRYYY LIPS
I feel as if I can peel layers of my lips off right now and no amount of Carmex/ vasoline/ chapstick is making it better.. its not super painful chapped lips just annoying.

also I've noticed that when I would get few pimples that hurt, my face is breaking out more ( maybe that initial breakout phase the doctor warned me about) but all of them on my face hurt.

I have 10 more days to go in my first month and so far the dry lips and increase in breakouts are the only side effects I am experiencing. My next Dermatologist appointment is next week. so getting ready to get my blood work done and see if my body is handling this drug ok.

Next post will include a monthly photoshoot

Day 10: complete.

The medicine comes in 3, 10day blister packs. I just completed Day10 on the 20mg strength.
Few things I have noticed in the last 10 days.
My deep red sore LARGE under the skin acne is starting to come out, turn to white heads and drys out/ scabs pretty quickly.
I am left with red marks a little smaller than before. these redmarks are just starting to come to a head ( white head) again and are drying out and becoming smaller.
My cheeks and chin which is where most of my acne is the worst are still pretty "active" my cheeks are getting itchy ( probably from my skin drying out) but the acne also hurts pretty back to the touch.. hoping the white head/ dryout/ scabbing part happens a little quicker..

Another side effect, which the doctor warned me about is the drying out of your lips.. my lips arent chapped to the point they hurt... yet but they are just annoying dry. no matter how much blistex, chapstick, carmex etc. i put on them they still are that annoying flaky dry.

On to my 2nd 10-day pack!
more updates to come when I complete that.

Month 1: Week 1: Day 1

Today I recieved my prescription for Isotretinoin. ( MYORISAN)
I was a little worried once I got it home since this name was NOT listed in the iPledge materials I recieved.

I called the Pharmacy and also called the iPledge hotline to confirm this was an FDA approved Isotretenoin product I should be using... and both confirmed it has been FDA approved since 1/19/2012 and was just added to the iPledge list less than 2 months ago.
So I have offically started on my path to clear skin.

I will be posting once a week, brief blurps about my progress. I will also be posting pictures once a month of my progress.
HERE WE GO~ Day 1: Before pictures/ Sans makeup- the true form my skin is in...

I am a little skeptical but after all the reviews/ blogs/ and doctors I have talked to I really think in 5 short months after over a decade of acne, I will finally be able to look in the mirror and see a clear complexion, and feel confident and pretty.

why?

Hi,
My name is Holly. I am not much of a writer so most of my posts will be short and sweet and yes I will be posting pictures.
As you can see by this Blogs name, I will be posting updates along my path to clear skin.

Isotrentenoin is the reformulated generic name for what was once Accutane.
Accutane- yeah that scary, serious drug, that was used to clear acne but also caused some serious side effects.
WHY?? would I chose to be put on this drug.
Well....
I am now 26 years old, I have NOT had one day in the last 10 years with clear skin.
and its not just annoying to look at every day/ a pain in the butt to cover it up. it is also the painful, deep, red, acne.. the under-the-skin kind.
I have been to dermatologist(s) regularly over these last 10 years and have been on "FDA Approved" for acne birth control ( yeah.. that made my face break out in even more painful acne than before) but I gave it a good chance I figured after 6-7 years without seeing a difference.. just a waste of money...
I have also been on about 4-5 different antibiotics.. for months and months at a time.. ( no luck just another waste of money)
I have also been prescribed more topicals than most can imagine.. and every 3-6 months I would be back at the dermatologist getting it switched because it wasnt working.
I have put up the money and gave the PROACTIVE thing a try.. woohoo thought i had a winner there.. things were starting to clear up a bit.. at least not as red and swollen.. WRONG month 3 rolled around and my skin revolted.
same with Neutrogena Skin ID..... yes tried it to..
lets not forget the excess amount of money on Vitamins/ Supplements; Spa Facials; dermabrasion; and all the various skin care lines that gave a little glimmer of hope to one day have clear skin..
I kept hearing " o you'll grow out of it.." I'm 26! news flash I am way over puberty.. been there done that; years and years ago.
My former dermatoligist would just ask to see me every 3 months and prescribe something new.. or maybe try something ive already tried again.. and proceed to tell me.. some people just dont outgrow acne and it can be a permanent thing.. not what I want to hear, so i decided to try a new dermatologist. couldnt hurt right? I tried just about anything and everything out there.. o yea forgot to mention my "TRIA BLUE LIGHT" (couple hundred dollar)purchase.. hugggeee mistake.
The new dermatologist looked at my file and came right in talked a little with my looked at my face and asked if any one ever suggested Isotrentenoin.. I didnt even know what that was.. and he said it used to be called Accutane.
big red light started flashing.. I've heard stories and read and have seen the tv commercials for the lawsuits on this drug.. I politely said i would look into it and see what i think. and walked out of the office ( with another antibiotic and a topical.. woooo $$$ more money to acne treatment)
The longer I waited the worse my skin got and the more frustrated I was becoming.
I reached out to my family care doctor( the one who has been my doctor since age 3) he knows me and any adverse reactions i may have to any drug. after a discussion about the drug and an office visit. he agreed my skin has gotten worse as I have gotten older and backed up the decision and told me I shouldnt see any severe side effects based on my current health.
He told me right now that is the best option for curing my acne.. CURE! 2 doctors had given me what i wanted to hear.. it can CURE my acne (like 90% chance I will never have an issue again) after I complete the 5 month treatment.
 My next trip to the Dermatologist I started the process of getting registered to be on Isotrentenoin...
its a lengthy one.. I needed to review and sign paperwork. be put back on birthcontrol ( women of child bearing age need to be on birth control or the FDA will not let you be on the drug) ; i needed to be on the birth control for a minimum of 30 days and produce 2 negative pregnancy tests ( one blood test- which has to be completed once every month i am being treated and one month after i am done taking the isotrentenoin) as you can see its pretty serious stuff. but its all to make sure my body is handling it well enough to continue to my cure.
so now I am clear and i have my prescription ready to be filled to start MONTH 1: cure for my acne- TOMORROW!
a little nervous about the seriousness of the drug.. but pumped it has such a success rate.. and both doctors called it a cure for acne..
keeping my fingers crossed im not that 10% that nothing seems to work on.. wishing hoping and praying that my first clear skin day in over 10 years is a short 5 months away.