Day 110: complete.

Sunday I finished my 2nd 10 day pack of month 4. So far i have not noticed any changes since ending month 3 and it is frustrating.
I started breaking out again around my chin pretty bad. almost everyday there is a new pimple.
I have a dermotologist appointment in 2 days so this is something I am definitely going to be bringing this to his attention.

Originally the Dr. said 5 months at 40 mgs will be my course on this medication but right now, I just cant see this being cured in another 40 days. I have a feeling I will either be upping my prescription to 60mgs, or increasing my time on this one.. who knows.. maybe even both.

I really have not experienced any new side effects (except a little drier in the skin, but it is January and the weather is very cold, snowy, and I do participate in winter activities that can attribute to the extra dryness)All my bloodwork I have gotten has come back good. no increases to any of my levels of lipids/ triglecerides etc. so my body should be able to handle increased prescription or increased time.. but we'll see on Thursday.

Next post will have updated pictures and I will keep my fingers crossed for a miracle to happen in the next 10 or so days with the status of my skin.

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!