Week Thirty-Two (8 months)

Well, I have been back to the hospital and told to stop treatment. I just need to finish off my remaining tablets (about a month's worth) and then I'm done! Very pleased with the results, a tiny bit of acne remaining on my left side and scarring on both cheeks. I've been told to be careful with my skin for the next 6 months as it will be delicate and no scarring treatments or chemical peels during this time.

I will add photos again after I come off the treatment.

Comparisons

Click on images to make them larger...

Week Twenty-Four (6 months)

Well I have finally reached 6 months. My dermatologist has always given the impression though, that she will continue treatment as long as she can see improvement - the whole "6 month course" thing is just a guideline really and so they can pretty much prescribe it as long as you need it.

Went back to the derm again this week (it comes around so quickly!). Saw a registrar this time who was actually very good and my proper dermatologist also came in on the session and gave her opinion, looked at my skin etc with 2 student doctors (a roomfull of people all looking at your skin is slightly daunting!).

The good news is that she thinks it is "glowing" and that I have fantastic colour in my skin. The improvement around my lip and chin is dramatic and she agreed that the acne on the sides of my face is definitely becoming less deep and coming to the surface of the skin. She prescribed 20mg dosage again but this time also suggested a lotion called "Dermal 500" - I am to use this instead of my Simple Light Moisturiser everyday and it has a natural antiseptic in it which she thinks will help improve the final problem areas. She thinks I am not far from the end of treatment!!!

The registrar and derm also both agreed not to worry about the scarring as apparently this will disappear over time/stuff can be prescribed etc etc to help it go down.

I have used the Dermal 500 lotion for a few days now and its really really nice - it seemed very thick at first but soon rubs into the skin - it feels very smooth and hydrated without being greasy.

Overall very pleased this week :D

Week Twenty-Three

I moved house this week which put me under a bit of stress and made me feel generally knackered and run-down. The styes have continued to appear regularly and this week I suffered conjunctivitus for the first time (a well known side effect). My eyes were so itchy and sore, I tried Optrex Infected Eyes drops which seemed to make the condition worse. I also had a water infection this week so my immune system must still be incredibly low. On antibiotics.

Skin seems to be continuing good work and improving greatly - its a shame about the big bags under my eyes from being so tired! :)

Week Twenty-One and Twenty-Two

Feeling great on 20mg. My lips have started to become less dry, my nose has completely cleared up and has stopped scabbing inside. The depression and low mood has left me completely so I'm feeling much better and more positive.

Also I feel that my skin is improving more! There seems to have been a shift in the condition of my skin and it has now started to look more healthy, I'm using less makeup and feel the sides becoming less deep acne-wise.

I feel like the break in my dosage (by taking the drug every other day) has helped greatly.

On the negative side I'm still suffering from styes (about one every week) and my eyes feel pretty sore and itchy. I'm trying to bear with it :)

Week Twenty (Five Months)

Went back and saw the dermatologist on Wednesday of this week. Since dropping the dose down to 20mg after last week's awful week, I have felt much better and slowly feel like myself again.

Dermatologist said that dropping the dose was completely the right thing to do. She was very thorough discussing exactly what symptoms I had etc and decided as a precaution to give me a small "break" by taking a 20mg dose every other day for a week. So not completely stopping the drug but simply reducing the dose to allow my body time to recover. After the week I'm to start taking 20mg again daily. She said that this might mean that the treatment goes on longer but not to worry as this is quite common.

Felt much more positive after seeing her and that she agrees, and despite everything that I get to stay on the drug as she believes that the improvement is brilliant from when I started - still some acne on the sides of my cheeks though and scarring.

Week Nineteen

Really bad week :(

My moods have gotten ever incresingly worse this week. So bad in fact, that I kept breaking down in tears for no reason, I was irritable and generally felt completely unlike myself. The crying is the worst part, once it started I couldnt stop. It got so bad towards the end of this week that I ended taking Friday off work - I cried all through the night and again in the morning. I phoned the Dermatologist's secretary and she immediately instructed me that the best thing to do would be to drop the dose from 40mg down to 20mg. I had no problems with this, dropping the dose I didnt mind, but coming off it altogether would not be a good idea. I am due to see the Derm next week anyway so dropping to 20mg for now wont hurt me.

All in all a really bad week on Roaccutane. Not one I want to remember in great detail.