You guys. Seriously. Accutane = miracle. (I'm sure the new-found dedication I have put towards a diligent new beauty routine is a contributing factor, but STILL.) My pores are smaller than they have been in years. I haven't had a true cyst in a couple weeks. My skin FEELS tighter and smoother to the touch. This isn't in terms of the actual number of zits I have, but in the sense of the actual texture and feel of my skin (plugged pores, blackheads, large pores, etc.) even when actual cysts aren't there. There are some visible yucky spots, but I suspect what I once thought were just especially enormous pores are actually some pitted scars, and Accutane can't fix that. No blackheads left on my nose, and the pores are shrinking too. The #1 mantra is DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE, but sometimes I just can't help it. It feels so damn good to have skin this smooth, and I literally cannot even remember when my skin has ever felt this nice. I do know that pore shrinkage isn't a permanent effect (they'll probably enlarge back to some degree when I'm off the Accutane) but it will HELP, and in theory I should be able to work on the pores later without new acne making them even worse. In short: AMAZING. Just amazing. I think that the rumors are correct, that Amnesteem really is a little more gentle on your body and easier to deal with than the other generics. Ask your doctor though, don't quote me on it. It's still an unproven claim.
I actually had two days last week when my skin was 100% clear. Not a single zit or cyst or scab or emerging zit under my skin or anything. I got compliments on how nice I looked, my makeup sat amazingly, it was just awesome. I'm looking forward to more days like that. I got a little lazy about washing my makeup off this weekend and I also didn't drink enough water. Now, I have some small ruddy irritated spots and a couple tiny scabs, and it kind of looks like little bits of skin are peeling off in a couple places, probably from dehydration. I truly have not had an actual cyst in a couple weeks, but I have had smaller, close to the surface zits that clear up very, very quickly. I am dead sure that drinking copious amounts of water prevents the initial breakout and just prevents the side effects in general. I'm talking like, one or two enormous glasses per hour. I spend half my life in the bathroom now, but it's worth it.
The side effects are SO bearable as long as I drink water, and I'm on 80mg, and probably going to end up on 100 or so next month. (Fact: my derm is extremely aggressive when it comes to Accutane. I love it.) When I get lazy about keeping up with it and start feeling thirsty, that's where the problems start. My knees and feet might start aching, I get incredibly itchy and visibly dry, a little tired, my lips just revolt, my skin starts looking flaky and irritated, some new zits start popping up, etc. None of this happens when I'm hydrated enough, and even my lips are 100% fine. I haven't had to deal with a nosebleed yet, and (again with the water!) have not yet had to go out in a public with a visibly flaky face. Just... drink water. Eat healthily, avoid overly salty/greasy foods (it'll dehydrate you) and have a lot of yogurt so that your stomach won't get irritated by the Accutane, especially at higher doses.
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