Day 130- Complete.
I just finished my first 10 day pack on month 5 of 40mgs. during my last visit the dermotologist also gave me tazorac cream to use.. i have been using a very small amount of that twice a day for the last 10 days. My skin is SOOOO DRY! it went from being oily on just the pill to being super dry and flaky on both the cream and the pill.
like stings/burns when i wash my face, put lotion on, put make up on.. i have to fan my face until the lotion and makeup dry completely for it to stop stinging. but its working.. i only have 2 little bumps on my cheek and some scabing from the ones around my chin (in the last picture i posted) left on my face. however my face is flaky and red and irritated.
I am no only applying the tazorac cream once a day and will probably tier it down to once every other day once I go back for my next months prescription ( the derm is going to bump me up to 60 mgs this "last" month).. not sure if it will really be my last month or if ill have to go longer.. we'll just have to wait and see.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Day 120 : Month 4 Complete!
I went to the Dermatologist last week to get started on my month 5 prescription.. what was supposed to be my last month on isotrentenoin. but unfortunately my skin condition is not where they expected it to be.
plus I started getting cystic acne again.
during my appointment, we discussed increasing the time i would be on 40 mgs. so he is extending my treatment 1 month. during this appointment he also injected a few of those cysts with cortizon to bring down the swelling. which actually works pretty quick... and he gave me some aczone cream samples to try and help with the redness that appears to be scaring my skin.
I have been using that cream for about a week and yesterday I woke up with 5 more cysts all over my face from my chin line, mouth, nose and to my forehead. all very swollen and soar. I called the dermatologist up and got an appointment that day to see him and show him what is going on.. He also doesnt think i should be breaking out like this, this far into the game... and thinks that my body has gotten used to the dosage and it just kinda stopped working. he injected all the cysts i had with cortizon and suggested that next month we are going to bump up to 60mgs and see how that goes.
Its just very frustrating right now that i thought i was done with all my painful breakouts and... they came back.
The pictures below are from this morning. (less than 24 hours after the cortizone shots ) and the swelling came down significantly. however the breakouts are still there..
I must say looking back on my pictures, my skin has gotten better.. but just not in the amount of time it was supposed to. I am hoping maybe another month or even 2 on this medicine i will be clear.
Got the pics uploaded!
I went to the Dermatologist last week to get started on my month 5 prescription.. what was supposed to be my last month on isotrentenoin. but unfortunately my skin condition is not where they expected it to be.
plus I started getting cystic acne again.
during my appointment, we discussed increasing the time i would be on 40 mgs. so he is extending my treatment 1 month. during this appointment he also injected a few of those cysts with cortizon to bring down the swelling. which actually works pretty quick... and he gave me some aczone cream samples to try and help with the redness that appears to be scaring my skin.
I have been using that cream for about a week and yesterday I woke up with 5 more cysts all over my face from my chin line, mouth, nose and to my forehead. all very swollen and soar. I called the dermatologist up and got an appointment that day to see him and show him what is going on.. He also doesnt think i should be breaking out like this, this far into the game... and thinks that my body has gotten used to the dosage and it just kinda stopped working. he injected all the cysts i had with cortizon and suggested that next month we are going to bump up to 60mgs and see how that goes.
Its just very frustrating right now that i thought i was done with all my painful breakouts and... they came back.
The pictures below are from this morning. (less than 24 hours after the cortizone shots ) and the swelling came down significantly. however the breakouts are still there..
I must say looking back on my pictures, my skin has gotten better.. but just not in the amount of time it was supposed to. I am hoping maybe another month or even 2 on this medicine i will be clear.
Picture from end of month 4 begining of month 5
As you can see, the acne on my left side of my face ( on the right in the picture) is still pretty active around me chin. however my right side of my face (left on this picture is starting to clear up ( even the red, under the skin "scaring" is starting to clear)
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
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.
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.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
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!
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!
Friday, December 7, 2012
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!
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!
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