I have taken a very long time to write this post...eight months to be exact.
That's not to say I've used this as a draft for that long, but the research has taken me that long. We are back from a nice family vacation and I'm ready to spill the beans of my "new life" that has me bursting at the seams with confidence.
First of all...what is isotretnoin? Isotretnoin is the drug name for what some of you probably know as Accutane. Actually, accutane was a brand name that was used many years ago and, due to it's bad repuation, they no longer make that brand.
I have had acne for a long, long, LONG time.
I dealt with it mildly in high school and brushed it off because I thought every high schooler went through it.
I dealt with it in college, writing it off as my "late blooming".
But now, two years after my college graduation, I was sick of it. I was sick of having to buy heavy, thick makeup to cover up redness and giant bumps on my face. I was sick of having to wait until the very last minute to was my face before bed because I didn't want anyone to see what was under that cakey makeup. I was sick of letting something so out of my own control have control over how I felt about myself.
I wanted to deal with it before engagement pictures and wedding pictures. Many a dermatologist had recommended this treatment to me, some after looking at all of my skin care products and routines and trying lots of other options, and some with just one look at my face. I had heard the risks of this drug. I knew the side effects and the possibilities of this treatment. I heard it could make you infertile, that the long term effects outweigh the clear skin. I heard that it doesn't always clear up your face, and worst of all, I knew you had to have monthly blood tests-something that terrified me to my core.
In November of 2013, I finally gave up and gave in. I was sick of it. I was ready to kick my acne to the curb.
I saw the dermatologist in November, went back for my pre-test in December, and started the drug on January 1st.
During my seven months on isotretnoin, I was on two different brands of the drug: Claravis and Absorica. Claravis required that I take it twice a day, each time with a high fat meal. This was troublesome for a gal trying to lose a bit of weight for her wedding. So in the last two or three months, my dermatologist switched my to a newer brand called Absorica. With Claravis, if I didn't take it with a high fat meal, I would only absorb 1/3 of the drug. But with Absorica, I got all of the medication, even if I took it on a empty stomach. It worked well and it worked fast.
Let's talk side effects. First of all...they emphasize over and over that you cannot get pregnant on this drug or your children will have cone heads, and other more serious birth issues. This is one of the reasons for the blood tests each month.
Then there is the main side effect: dryness. Your lips, arms, legs, eyeballs, pretty much everything will be dry. I never had issues with my scalp, but I've heard it from other patients. The dryness is definitely significant, sometimes almost unbearable. I lived with a tub of aquaphor and a bottle of lotion nearby. Other minor issues were mood swings and lots of muscle soreness, none of which were nearly as bad as I expected them to be.
There was also the issue of sensitivity to the sun. I had to wear sunglasses while doing anything outside. If I was outside for more than about ten minutes, I would get red and my skin would physically hurt. Luckily, I always wear an SPF so I never actually got burned from that but I did experience heavy sensitivity to the sun.
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super chapped lips! Yuck! but worth it! |
So where am I now?
I took my very last pill on July 13th. There is still a bit of redness, but that will fade as time passes. The dermatologist says it should be gone by October at the latest. I also have a few dry patches that are healing, just from the sheer dryness left from the medicine. Symptoms like dry lips, mood swings, etc. are slowly fading as well. I haven't had an actual pimple in MONTHS.
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NO makeup! What is this life?! |
How do I feel?
I feel...amazing. My confidence is through the roof. I love the option to wear makeup...or not! I love how soft my face is, because there aren't bumps. I love that I feel confident taking pictures. My skin is no longer oily or painful. It's calm, clean, and I feel pretty.
Maybe this picture doesn't show a lot of change to you, but it's a world of difference for me. I plan to do another update when the redness is completely gone. I'm thrilled. The rough journey was worth the final destination.
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Top: Before
Bottom: After |