Monday, May 03, 2004
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day forty-seven, week seven
I've updated my lists over there, in case you're interested... namely the "Products I Swear By" and "Products I Swear *At*" lists. I've got a bunch of em.
current medications/supplements:
- accutane 40mg (80mg every other day)
- Erythromycin
- Yasmin
- vitamin e
current products:
- Neosporin cream with pain relief
- Visine Original and Visine for contacts
- St. Ives 24-hour lotion
- cetaphil moisturizing lotion
- cetaphil face wash
- blistex lip balm
- lots of water
current symptoms:
- bloody nose
- dry, chafed skin and rashes
- sunburn
- red, blotchy skin all over
- dry, irritated eyes
- dry lips
- dehydration
diet changes:
- switched to 1/2 gallon jugs of milk instead of full gallons. That way I don't drink as much. That stuff is cholesterol LOADED, dude!
WEEK SEVEN REPORT: I was getting all set to complain about how awful my skin looks and how miserable I've been for the past week, but this morning I woke up and my skin looked pretty decent. A total miracle, considering the blotchy, cystic mess I was when I went to bed last night. I was a little more than overjoyed to look in the mirror today. I *am* peeling like a herniated rattlesnake though, kinda gross. I really recommend a mild toner to help clear up some of that peely skin. The bad news, however, is that you keep peeling all day long and it never ever ever stops! Something else I've started doing is re-applying makeup during the day. Not my favorite way to spend an extra half an hour during the day, but it does wonders for my self esteem.
RECOMMENDATIONS: If the way you look is getting you down, there *are* a few things you can do about it. Don't just assume that you're ugly and there's nothing you can do about it! Here's some of my advice: - Don't forget lip balm! Sometimes just feeling kissable can perk you up a bit. It's girly, I know, but try it. You'll like it.
- Re-apply your makeup in the middle of the day. Guys, splash some cold water on your face and put some moisturizer on after lunch. Helps you feel a little fresher and ready to face the rest of an otherwise acne-plagued day.
- If you're feeling really red and blotchy, try wearing more greens and blues instead of oranges, pinks, or reds. Cooler colors help to neutralize the appearance of redness, while warm colors highlight them and draw attention to the fact that you're redder than a drunk Swede. Trust me, it works.
- Exercize. It makes your blotches look more like a healthy workout glow, and the endorphins help to combat the depression and frustration we know all too well.
- When all else fails, avoid mirrors. They really are the enemy, and will be until your 5 month sentence is up. Take them off the wall, cover them up, turn them away. I've started brushing my teeth in the dark, it really helps. Try to look at yourself as little as possible, and think about other things.
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The Guinea Pig |
My name is Allisan, I'm a 21-year-old college student with very bad acne and a chip on my shoulder. I'm taking Accutane to kick the thing in the butt once and for all, and documenting the experience for the benefit of anyone else considering giving it a shot. Read on, fellow acne sufferers!!
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About Accutane |
In Laman's terms... Accutane limits the body's production a natural oil called Sebum that builds up in your pores and causes acne. Generally you spend 5 months on it, and most people see results within 2 months. It has a 75% success rate after the first round, 85% after 2 rounds - that means that the acne never, ever comes back for most people. During the course of the therapy, the most common side effects are dry flaky skin, chapped lips, dehydration, irritation while wearing contacts, and backaches. Basically it makes your body tissue really sensitive to EVERYTHING. Some people also experience moodiness and, in rare cases, severe depression. It also causes some nasty birth defects, so they make absolutely sure you can't get pregnant while you're on it.
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Products I Swear By |
- Mary Kay medium coverage foundation
- blistex original lip balm
- neosporin cream (not ointment)
- St. Ives 24-Hour body lotion
- Cetaphil moisturizer & face wash
- Generic vitamin e supplements
- Visine original eye drops
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Products I Swear *At* |
Blistex Complete Moisture lip balm - Jackie recommends it, but I disagree! It's really thin (heavy petroleum-based ointments are the best) and makes your breath smell funky.
Victoria's Secret lotion - Love the smell, but it stings like a mofo. Same goes for Bath&Body or any other heavily scented lotion, accutane makes your skin VERY sensitive to that kind of stuff.
Proactiv products - great for semi-problematic skin, but totally useless for severe acne. They *do* give your money back, so it *is* worth a try. But if you're serious about dealing with your acne, try something else.
erythromycin - if you get this, make sure they prescribe the capsules, not the tablets. This stuff is powerful, it can really upset your stomach.
Yasmin birth control - makes acne *worse*, turns you into a hormonal one-woman soap opera.
Chapstick brand lip balm - nothin but glorified ear wax. Buy the medicated stuff, folks.
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