accutane question

I'm currently two weeks and two day into my first ever acne course (im taking 40 mg once a day in the morning, moving up to twice a day at the end of first month). in the past i've gone through all the normal things, from all sorts of cleansers, topical gels, and supplements. just recentley i was on solodyn (minocyclin), which didnt do the trick for me, so i had to stop it a week before started accutane.
          After going through all these different methods, i was half hoping accutane would be a miracle cure that would clear my acne in just a few weeks. sadly im wrong. i dont have that much, just some inflammatory lesions right above my cheeks and a few whiteheads along the jawline, but so far it seems like it hasn't done much. some of the acne comes and goes, but its generally the same. all i've experienced so far is dry skin and chapped lips.
     so basically im pretty nervous right now and wondering if its normal to see no results for the first few weeks...

[loiloi]

Don't worry. The side effects such as chapped lips show your medicine is working. The acne can get worse in the first few weeks, then as you say you will be monitored after 4 weeks and probably have the dose increased. You should have no new lesions after about 12 weeks, and your total course will last between 16 and 24 weeks. Accutane will then continue working after you stop taking it. For a large percentage of people one course is enough to result in a complete remission, although some people need to take further courses. Please do get back to me with any questions or concerns. Love loiloi x

[NeverAgain4Me]

I was on 80 mg a day for six months twice.  While on Accutane it worked like a miracle but a couple of months after treatment my adult acne came back.  After 15 years I finally figured out that caffeine was the cause of my adult cystic acne.  I removed all caffeine from my diet and I no longer get cystic acne.  However, if I were to drink a cup of coffee today, tomorrow  I would break out.

Try this yourself and give it a few weeks to see if caffeine is the cause of yours as well.  No more coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, etc.  Also, try the glycolix pads which Contains 10% ultra-pure glycolic acid in combination with the proven keratolytic ingredient 2% salicylic acid.  Get them at Havegreatskin.com.  

These are the same pads that my very expensive dermatologist sold me for $35.00 a pop with his label on them.  They are only $16.00 at Havegreatskin.com and I think this is where he got them from before putting his own home made label on them.

I have tried every remedy under the sun and I have spent thousands of dollars at some of the best dermatologists that I could find.  This formula works for my adult cystic acne and it probably won't work for any other kind, but if you suffer from this type of acne give it a try.  

The only other thing that ever worked for me was Accutane while I was on it but once I stopped my acne slowly returned.  My night vision was permanently damaged from Accutane.  My lips and eyes are dryer than before treatment with Accutane and I was last on Accutane many years ago.  

That is my experience and take from it what you will but I do not believe that there is a acne sufferer that has spent more money and time getting treatment for and also researching adult cystic acne than me.

I have tried the herbal route and it did not work for me.  I was on so many like: Magnesium, Omega-3 Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, B-Complex, Yellow Dock Root, Saw Palmetto, Chromium, Sarsaparilla Root, Guggul, Tee Tree Oil, Burdock Root, Silica, and Ashwagandha.  My cabinet is full of these herbal remedies which did not work for me.

[S729]

Keep taking the Accutane!  I had very mild acne, but the Accutane did eliminate it completely.  Also, if you have oily skin, the Accutane will help modify that as well.

Some of the side effects I had while taking it were extremely dry, chapped lips & chapping around the sides of my nose.  My hairline would also dry out.  These symptoms will go away around your 3rd month.  But Loiloi is right..... this is just a sign that the medication is working.  It dries out your acne from the inside and dry skin on the outside is nothing to worry about.

Definitely keep getting the monthly blood tests.  One of the side effects of Accutane is liver damage.  Also, Origins makes a FANTASTIC moisturizer that will help w/ your chapped skin.