Week Twenty Eight
Day One Hundred and Ninety Two – Wednesday 11th September 2013
I am absolutely amazed! Look at my before and after photos today. I have been on an incredible journey! 3 more days to go, 3 more doses of Roaccutane and I am 6 weeks spot free.
In terms of side effects I am still experiencing some redness on my face, some dryness around my nose and a bit on my chin, and the skin on my arms and legs is still very fragile, peeling and scabbing.
I have found that my face is not quite ready for me to wear make up yet because if I try to put any on it shows up the dry patches more. I would maybe say that I feel my face looks healthy and natural without it.
Day One Hundred and Ninety Five – Saturday 14th September 2013
Today is the final day – my final dose of Roaccutane!
How do I feel? Excited? I am pleased and proud of myself for doing it!
It has been a journey of total commitment. Six months is a long time but so worth it. I am glad I kept myself healthy throughout and followed all the advice I was given. I took each day one at a time. My daily diary and taking photos certainly helped me to see my progress and kept me focused in my success.
I would like to thank Allan for supporting me every day and keeping me happy (I Love You!). It is thanks to him that the low days were only odd days and didn’t snowball into a week or more of feeling low. Thank you to my family (I love you all too!) who have been there for me and have been following my website! I feel very blessed to have lovely people around me.
One more person to thank is you! Whoever you are, wherever you are and for whatever reason you are reading my blog I hope you have found my experience helpful in some way. If you would like to get in touch with me personally then feel free to use the comment box below and I would be happy to hear from you.
Even though my medication has now stopped my journey will continue over the coming months as the Isotretinoin works it’s way out of my system. I plan to pop back every so often to update you on my Post Roaccutane page.
Click here to read my Post Roaccutane page
Dear Andrea,
I am so glad that you don’t have acne any more. I suffer with acne for the last 7 years, mild-moderate, I for the last 2 years I am contemplating whether I should go onnit or not. my dermatologist prescribed me 10 mg per day, but I am scared of initial breakouts and hair loss, since I have experienced hair loss last year due to antibiotics for acne. Every day I read stories about accutane, but I am si scared to go on it. I am glad that you don’t have acne anymore, because I know how you felt. Acne ruined me horribly, physical and mentally. I hope you are still acne free. Thank you for your story, you are such a brave person, and inspiring too.
Wishing you all the best 🙂
Hello Mirna
Thank you for your kind words and apologies for not being around the last few months. I’m back now 🙂
I totally get your being scared, I was too. Have you started treatment or still considering the options?
Andrea x
Hi Andrea,
I’ve just started my roaccutane journey today. I am 39 and all my life since 17/18 i have battled with spots/acne. I have been on different type of acne drugs and it helps for a short while and then comes back. This is a reoccuring pattern over the last 20 years. I just wished they offered me this drug sooner as now i have scars from over the years of picking. I’m also scared as i would like to have children in the future and dont want it to be an side affect on my body/fertility when i decide to have them. I will be 40 in 6mths time. I also suffer from joint pain and im really scared at the same time but feel i dont know what else to do. my skin knocks my confidence alot and makes me feel really low as it is.
What i wanted to ask you is – how is your skin now after ? do you regret taking it or would you do it again? I’m just scared of the 6mths being so tough. meaning does it mean i cant exercise, i cant partake in fun/outdoors activities etc. if i dont do it now, will i look back and wish i had if im still getting acne when im like 42? recently ive hit depression as i spilt from my boyfriend of 3 years so that has hit me hard and also the fact i have to find someone new and having horrible skin means it will put me off on going on dates for the next six mths.
Did you take any supplements/vitamins to help during this time?
Thanks so much for reading my comments. I hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Hi Naila, to answer your question first. I do not regret taking Roaccutane and yes I would do it again, only sooner! I suffered since the age of 12 with acne and started my Roaccutane journey at the age of 43. I had suffered long enough and in my mind this was a miracle cure that had to work. I didn’t take any supplements / vitamins, I let my body do what it needed to do to cure my skin. I was warned about the risk of high cholesterol from Roaccutane so I did make the decision not to drink any alcohol or eat any high fat or high sugar processed foods whilst taking the treatment. The side effects I experienced were all well worth the outcome at the end. I have had clear skin ever since and am grateful every day. It is quite common for me to go out without any make up on at all, whereas in the past I used makeup to cover up my terrible skin. So, well done you for starting your own journey! Try not to worry about the what ifs and see this as a new start. I met my now husband when I had bad skin, before Roaccutane. I truly believe when you meet the right person they love you for being you. Of course you’ll have more confidence once your skin is spot free to find a new partner. It can be a long treatment but worth the time it takes when compared to how long we’ve suffered without it. Good luck, stay positive and do message me again for support if you need it. Andrea x
Hi,i ve been taking this treatment since the end of july,it s now 25th of november and last week i started getting a very big pimple with pus,is that normal at this stage?and also,after the treatment finishes i would like to get pregnant,is it true it increases the chances of deformity?
Hi Nicoleta, I hope your treatment is going well. I wouldn’t worry about the latest pimple. Progress during treatment can be changing but the end result is what matters. In regard to your other question, I know that pregnancy during treatment is a complete no-no. I was told that a baby would almost definitely be deformed while you are taking Roaccutane. You will need to check with your own dermatologist to see what the situation is after the treatment has finished. I wish you well, Andrea x