57 days in...

With flash

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Shower

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Get dressed

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Settle in at work

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and here's my face

30 days into Accutane & Chill

I MADE IT and it hasn't been that bad,

Of course there was dryness, the initial breakout, me popping some of the pimples more than i should of... but other than that things seem to be improving.

From June 14th(day of my 1st follow up) until now, I have been on 40mg of CLARAVIS.

I went on vacation and made a decision to enjoy it fully and carefree. That means I went out without covering up, I didn't wear additional or reapply sunscreen. I drank water, but not enough. I even missed a day and freaked out for about 2.5secs. I noticed drying out happened more often and in patches here and there. Crossing my fingers, that it doesn't get much worse than this.

Returned from vacation and within 24hrs, I slid right back into my routine. Sleep & work, that's it. Since starting my Accutane journey, I posted progress pics every Thursday night. I missed last week because I was on vacation. This week, I chose not to post on Thursday because the very next day 6/30/17' marked my 30 days into this journey.

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Thursday night before work.

With flash

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Shower

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Get dressed

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Settle in at work

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and here's my face

14 days in

With flash
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Shower
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Get dressed
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Settle in at work
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and here's my face

On 6/14/17, I went to my Dermatologist for a follow up appt.

I informed them that even though I picked up my pills on 5/22/17, I didn't start them until 6/1/17.

The nursing assistant asked how have things been going and I shared with him the

■Dry lips
■Dry Scalp
■Losing eyelashes daily during days 1-7
He had me give another urine sample. No blood work was done.
He advised that going forward I'll always be 2 weeks ahead of the usual 30 days before a new Rx is written and dispersed.

Dr. Bellamy came in and we chatted it up as she analyzed my face.
She made me aware that I am in the "initial BREAKOUT" phase, then advised to start doubling up.
Instead of taking 1 20mg CLARAVIS capsule, I should start taking 2 20mg CLARAVIS capsules.
Here's where I start to experience more of the drying out of my skin.
The next Rx she writes will be for 40mg CLARAVIS.
She didn't specify if to take 1 in the AM and the other in the PM or both at the same time.
I'm choosing to take 2 at 1 time, because I'll forget, especially since my sleep pattern isn't consistent.
I made her aware that I'm an avid pimple popper and of course she advised against doing so as it leads to scaring. With that being said, she suggested a facial cleanser caller AVAR.

I'm to use on the areas with prominent puss filled bumps. This will help dry them out so they won't get to that stage where I'd usually have the urge to pop them.

The nursing assistant came back in to check me out and I picked his brain about it being SUMMERTIME and what my options are regarding pools and beaches and just being out in general
He advised to cover up as much as I can and to use SPF 30+ with ZINC and sunscreen that were labelled waterproof & sport and provided me samples of different brands of sunscreens:

7 days in

With Flash

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Shower

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Get dressed

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Settled in at work

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and here's my face

With Flash

Without Flash

A couple of things I've noticed/experienced within these 7 days:

■Days 1-4 while at work, I noticed my eyes felt more tired than usual.
{Could be an onset symptom of the dry eyes, but we'll see as time progresses}

■Days 1-7 I'm losing eyelashes.
■Day 4 I picked at my face after waking up and seeing larger than normal puss filled bumps
{I'm going to minimize picking at the bumps with time}

■Days 1-5 I'm applying the Aquaphor Lip Repair{ALR} more frequently.

■Day 6 I applied ALR when I was leaving home. I got to my hair appt at 9am and wasn't able to reapply until close to 1pm. My lips felt very dry and wilted.

I did not get my gallon of water in on a daily basis nor did I eat as clean as I could have.
I have been keeping away from dairy 98% of the time. I've also been reading labels in search of soy in foods/items that appeal to my eye. Trying to keep that to a minimum as well.

Kiehl trip

So a few posts back, I mentioned going back to Kiehl's to get some more products.

Accomplished that Sunday morning.

I got off work at 8am, headed home to have breakfast then headed to the mall around 930am. Thinking the mall opened up at 10am on a Sunday, i was surprised when no one was in there except for some old people walking laps. Then I noticed not one store was open. To google I went and opening time was 11am on Sundays.

I joined the oldies but goodies and got a few laps in as well. Then I sat at a charging station across from the Kiehl's store and waited.

1059am, the door was unlocked. I walked in and was asked "what are you looking for?" I said "Ultra Facial Cleanser" and was pointed in the section where it was shelved/ Grabbed it and advised that it came in a travel size as well. Pleasantly surprised, I grabbed that too coming to the conclusion that it would be good to carry in my handbag. Lastly, I grabbed the small Ultra Facial cream with SPF 30 to have in my handbag as well.

Got checked out and was asked "were there any samples I'd like to try?" I declined as I still had samples from my first visit, thanks to Arthur.

She smiled, I paid and was outta there.

Start: June 1st

After picking up my RX on May 22nd, I decided to start taking Accutane on June 1st.
Memorial Day weekend was approaching and I had wine I needed to finish.

With that time in between, I thought about what time of day I'd take my pill, because it's suggested that it be taken at the same time every day.
730pm worked out best for me. It's the time I wake up to go to work and on my days off I'm usually going to bed later than that.

So date and time set

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Thursday, June 1st 2017, I woke up at 730pm, walked into the kitchen, grabbed one of these

because it's also suggested that you take the pill with fatty foods such as avocado.
Seemed like regular avocado aren't in season and I hate HAAS avocado, so this will do for now.
Walked back into my room and on my night stand, there it was, ready to be taken:

Before getting in the shower, I took pics of my face {bed hair included}, so I can compare later on.

With flash

Without flash.

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Shower
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Got dressed
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Got to work
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Here's my face

after using Kiehl's Ultra Facial cleanser and then applying the Ultra Facial Cream with SPF 30

Product HAUL

I finished up most products I already had at home.

The timing of me starting Accutane and this product haul was on point.

Every product I purchased emphasized HYDRATION, MOISTURIZER & SUNSCREEN.

Going into this battle strong with:

On my nightstand

In the bathroom

 {I plan to return to Kiehl's and purchase a travel size supply of the Ultra Facial Cream with SPF30 as well as a bigger supply of the Ultra Facial Cleanser}

In my handbag

The Derma-E Hydrating Facial Wipes I have yet to use.
I bought it in the event I feel the need to refresh my face during my 10hr night shift or if I'm not going straight home after work.

At my desk at work

These I had prior to prepping for Accutane.

I'll continue taking Biotin daily. A vegetarian soft gel with Cold-pressed organic coconut oil that supports nail growth/strength and fuller/healthier looking hair.

The Flurandrenolide Lotion is a milder version of the Clobetasol Propionate Cream.
They both aid with itchy skin, which I'd been experiencing since I came back from Ft. Lauderdale intermittently.
No visible signs as to why my skin itched, it just did.
I use it as needed and not daily, because I realized only when I'm HOT do I start to itch.
So staying cool and taking cool showers keeps me from having to slather up constantly.