i'm going on accutane
it’s been almost three years since my first big acne outbreak. it took me by total surprise, as I had only experienced the occasional stubborn pimple up to that point in my life. it was almost an overnight switch - i had always had clear skin, then one day i woke up with my entire face broken out.
since that day, i’ve been riding the roller coaster of emotions that having acne is. i now actually understand the toll it can take on a person. my camera roll is filled with pictures documenting my skin (iykyk) and i feel like that just reflects how insecure it has made me.
i don’t love feeling this focused on my looks. i hate it, actually. when my face is red, painful, and swollen from acne, i sometimes feel like I can’t help but ruminate on it. i long for the day i can leave the house without needing makeup & forget about what i look like. for right now, i put on makeup to cover the imperfections then said makeup creates new imperfections - haha.
after plenty of dermatologist visits, medications prescribed, and even taking a stab at natural remedies, i had one option left - accutane. the side effects are scary to me, but after years of having acne, it’s worth it to me. *it’s a serious drug so do your research, i’m not necessarily encouraging it - just sharing my experience
i will keep you updated with my accutane journey. for now, know that if you are experiencing acne, you are not alone. ♥️
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what has helped your acne?
I had acne as a teenager. Thankfully, it miraculously went away when I went to college at age 18. My daughter sadly also acquired it. She started breaking out when she was 11. We tried creams, lotions, potions, serums. No dairy. No gluten. Head n Shoulders shampoo. Vitamins. Clean eating, etc. etc. etc. It just got worse and worse, spreading to her back and her chest. It was awful. After three years, we finally decided Accutane was probably the best call for her (she just could not tolerate the acne; it was causing so much emotional and psychological distress.) The Accutane was a really good call. It took about 6 months, but it totally changed her skin and cleared her acne. She now has really beautiful skin but still breaks out a little bit here and there. It did really help with her self-confidence. If I hadn't gone through the same turmoil, I'm not sure I would have been as on board with Accutane as I was for her. But gosh, while the process of being on it is not awesome (the lip dryness is no joke) it's only 6-9 months, and then you're clear. I wish I had gone on it because even now, my skin is rough and pink from all the things I used to try to get rid of my own acne many, many years ago. Because of taking the Accutane, her skin absolutely glows and looks healthy and normal. Anyway that is my story. Keep us updated on your journey. xxoo
Thanks for sharing such a tough experience. I really hope it helps and you get results you want.