1/4 year

Had an interesting month for my skin... I'll talk about it later... progress photos to come.

Here's to day 120 (4 months of #accutane&chill)

90 days in & 90 to go

Made it this far. 

My follow up with Dr. Schaen was on 8/23 and things are going as expected. I have redness that needs to subside. I asked the Dr what her guesstimated endtime would be and she suggested another 3 months. I'll need to come in for a follow up and she'll need to see no pimples at all on my face, neck, chest, back and or shoulders before she can end my treatment.

YAY

{INSERT SARCASM}

Improvement is all that can take place from there. Still looking way better than day 1, so here's to clearer skin

With flash

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Showered

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Got dressed and headed to work

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settled in at work

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and here's my face

Here's to another 90 days...

60 Days...

Bihhh...I MADE IT.

60 days ago I started my #Accutane treatment. Brand: #CLARAVIS - 6/1 20mg > 6/14 40mg > 7/26 60mg. No alcohol, direct sun, waxing or sex. Upped my water intake. Ate kinda clean. Still indulged a few times. Most treatments are 4-6 months long. Hoping to be off it by October... Skin clearing up. Glow up soon come.Documented my progress via pics with and without flash. 

Day 1 vs day 60...

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

With time

So, I've been gone for a while......

Readjusting after vacation. Working crazy overtime hours. Trying to rest in between. More recently, I've been doing all 3 in addition to trying to have somewhat of a social life. It's been interesting to say the least.

July 19th, I went for my follow-up visit. It wasn't a good visit for me due to the fact that the dermatologist office that I've went to for the last 2 yrs was bought by a new company. My dermatologist that started me on my treatment was no longer there. I saw a new dermatologist and it was very off putting to me, because I wasn't not familiar with her. 

Needless to say, she advised that I'll be going up to 60mg CLARAVIS, taking a 30mg capsule twice a day. In addition to upping my dosage, she Rx'd me a topical ointment called SEBUDERM to minimize redness. 

I did not like that at all. I feel like the treatment can become harsher and to add in another Rx would be too much. I left feeling MEHHHH, for a lack of better words.

The weekend came and went and I had so much going on, that I missed taking the last 2 of my 40mg capsules on 7/22 & 7/23. On 7/25 I finished off my last 40mg capsule and started taking 2 30mg a day on 7/26. Today, 7/28 marks 57 days I've been taking CLARAVIS and with each day that passes I feel more and more like my old self. Is my skin 100% clear? NO, but it's that it's been in months and I am happy with the progress.

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:

Onto the next...

1 booklet, first 10 days down

Onto the next...

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.

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.

SKINtimate with Kiehl's

The other bird I killed(no birds were actually harmed} on my trip to the mall, was a trip to Kiehl's.

There was one person working and I was the only customer at the time.
I asked him (Arthur) if he was familiar with Accutane and he said "a bit, yes."
I then filled him in on the possible side effects I could experience, related to skin/skincare:
■Dryness/Itching
■Redness/Soreness
■Peeling
■Increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight

I then asked him to introduce me to products that kept skin moisturized, hydrated as well as protected from the sun.
I also asked him to introduce me to a product I can use at night(for me whenever I go to sleep).

Arthur got me familiar with the look, feel and smell of the following products:
■Ultra Facial Cream: A 24-hr daily face moisturizer
■Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30: A 24-hr, light textured daily hydrator with SPF 30
■Rosa Artica Lightweight Cream: A powerful lightweight anti-aging cream for younger-looking skin
■Ultra Facial Moisturizer: A 24-hr mositurizer
■Super Multi-Corrective Cream: Multi-targeted advanced anti aging moisturizer

After testing out the 5 products above, I went home with 2:
Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30: A 24-hr, light textured daily hydrator with SPF 30

{I chose this for daytime use over the moisturizer because it already has the SPF in it and would work better for being that I'm outside often}
&
Rosa Artica Lightweight Cream: A powerful lightweight anti-aging cream for younger-looking skin

{I chose this for nighttime use over the multi-corrective cream because the texture was lighter, where I wouldn't have to wait for it to set in before going to sleep}

Arthur was nice enough to give me samples of the other products to try at home, including a cleanser he felt I would like.

Thanx Arthur {Kiehl's Associate}

Outta here

So pretty much from the very first day the word Accutane penetrated my eardrums I took the Internets to see what other people have had to say about their experience.

Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter and even Facebook kinda sent me over the deep end.
I was super nervous about this treatment and 2nd guessed my decision before even starting.

I critiqued the products I was already using at home and began throwing things away.
One day on Facebook, I came across an article from XONecole on Jacq's Organics and how the company came to be.
In the article one part stood out to me:

“I already shopped at farmer’s markets because I was a very conscious buyer, but the more I researched, [I realized] everything in my refrigerator was soy. I learned that it mimics estrogen and that was feeding my thyroid.” From hummus and chickpeas to chicken and white rice, Barbara learned – and spread the word – that her food choices were killing her... “And then I look, and I have this make-up artist display of products in my closet,” she continued. “I have bags of MAC make-up, Estee Lauder, Clinique…it was crazy. I just started throwing my stuff away, and that’s when, for me, when I felt that sense of calmness.”

Those products – the ones she placed in her hair and on her skin – were causing equal amounts of damage to her health. And just like over 70% of all beauty products catering to Black women, they included “the dirty dozen”. “The dirty dozen is basically a list of 12 common ingredients that you will find in, not just skin and hair products, but also in food that are a no-no,” Barbara explained. “They’re linked to cancer, birth defects, ovarian issues, stuff that has harmful side effects. But it’s ingredients, preservatives, and products that are basically in everyday [items] that we don’t even think about. Everything from toothpaste to clothes, canned goods, sugar, milk – everything.”

Once I finished the article, I took to my fridge and bathroom and was like

Why? Because cystic acne is commonly referred to as hormonal acne, I felt it was a smart move to look for products with SOY in it and not purchase them and or not use them if I already had them at home.
My trusty Aveeno products had soy in it... I didn't throw them away, I placed them under the bathroom sink.
Out of sight, out of mind, right?

The day after I picked up my Rx, I made a trip to the mall and killed two birds with one stone.
I got my eyes brows threaded happily as it's one of the few things I CAN do during my Accutane treatment.
I love my eyebrow threading lady and I had a chat with her about what I'd be putting my body thru.
She was very understanding and gave me a little advise.
She asked "Do you have an IUD?"
I said "YES, Mirena." She then said "that's your problem.
Mirena affects your hormonal levels."

Two different ways of being informed about hormones, just set me up on a better path to be mindful of the products I use on and in my body.

Hide NO MORE

If this acne was anywhere else on my body I'd cover it up quick, fast & in a hurry. 

Unfortunately, it's on my freakin face. 

Unless I wear a hijab, there is no way I can literally hide my FACE on a daily basis.

So here it is. 

The ugly side that I've kept to myself for the most.

When I say to myself, I mean away from social media.

Outside in natural light, after picking up my Rx

Do your OWN research!!!

This blog documentation of my skin prior to, during and eventually after Accutane all started because  it was kind of difficult to find women with complexions other than white to fair.
There were a few women of color who shared PARTS of their Accutane journey mainly via Youtube.
They however didn't get into much detail, or didn't show their skin without makeup or just talked about how they maintained the dryness they experienced with makeup.

They all emphasized ONE thing though: protecting your lip from severe dryness.
Their recommendation:

AQUAPHOR Lip Repair Immediate Relief

{They advised to use it often, especially when going to sleep}

I bought enough to have one at my desk at work, on my night stand, in my bathroom and in both handbags I'm currently alternating between.
{On the hunt for Aquaphor Lip Protectant + Sunscreen}
Coming from someone who was an avid Carmex user and from someone who has never had dry/chapped lips I decided to by one and try it...I LOVED it.
Even after my treatment, I'll continue to use it.

Due top the fact that Accutance is going to halt oil production in your skin, mainly your face where the acne is most prevalent, you don't want to invest or continue to use facial cleansing products that will strip you skin of oils(that aren't there).
Sooooooooo...

HYDRATION ■ HYDRATION ■ HYDRATION

To Pinterest I went for all my visual aids and I immediately saw a trend.
I noticed a couple of brands that others who were on or are on an Accutane journey being used:
Eucerin
Aquaphor
Aveeno
Kiehl's

from TheMRSandTheMomma

from ThisYouNeed

from PrettyLittleGrub

I eventually made up my mind on a combination pf products to use.

iPLEDGE allegiance to ACCUTANE

The process involved with starting Accutane:

■Urine sample to rule out pregnancy. 

■A blood sample that same day but my veins kept rolling, so NO DICE.

■Was given a booklet titled The iPLEDGE Program
ISOTRETINOIN EDUCATIONAL KIT 

FOR FEMALE PATIENTS WHO CAN GET PREGNANT"

{The Importance of Avoiding Pregnancy on Isotreatinoin}

Inserted in the booklet, were two sets of documents that I had to sign multiple times signifying that I understand I can not start Accutane if I am pregnant nor can I get pregnant during my treatment.

■Dermatologist filed copies of my signed documents.
■In the booklet, I was provided my iPLEDGE number.

■Dermatologist office registered with iPLEDGE and started the process on their end.
■Returned 30 days later{Wednesday May 17th, 17} gave my blood sample & was given my Rx.
{I was told to wait until Friday before registering & dropping the Rx off}
■Dermatologist office completes the iPLEDGE process on their end.
■Register myself with iPLEDGE online and answered a questionnaire that once again signified that I understood I can not start Accutane if I am pregnant nor can I get pregnant during my treatment.
■Dropped my Rx off Friday morning.
■Pharmacy registers and completes their part of the iPLEDGE process.
■Picked up my Rx of CLARVIS{brand name version}of Isotretinoin on Monday May 22nd, 17'

Being that Memorial Day weekend was approaching, I made a decision to not start immediately.

Wrecked but HOPEFUL

(Clears throat) 90% of my life I had not a worry in the world when it came to acne.
My fatter, ate whatever I wanted self had no worries and as of 2 years ago, my healthier, ate cautiously self had not one worry either.
Turn 30 and WHAMM
  ACNE came in like


I've tried over the counter acne solutions.
I've been Rx'd a combo of Retin-A Mirco, Onexton & Solodyn, which worked for a few months then stopped.
After getting the chemical type burn on my face from applying my Rx'd acne medication immediately after using a spin brush, I ventured into natural remedies:
■Vitamin E Oil
■Tea Tree Oil
■African Black Soap
■Coconut Oil
■Baking Soda
■Tumeric
They all provided short lived relief but no permanent fix.

I've revisited Dunwoody Dermatology and saw Dr. Sonya Bellamy.
She strongly advised to go the Accutane route.
She warned me of the excessive dryness and other major & minor side effects.
So many questions came to mind:
■face product suggestions❔
■daytime routines❓
■nighttime routines❔
■do's & don'ts❓
■sunblock suggestions❔
■pros & cons❔
■would this interfere with my gym routine❓