Hey,

I know, I know – my blog is fast becoming like a bus, not one to be seen for an age and then what do you know, twice in one day!  I had debated whether to post about this at all, but I think that it will help me to keep a log of it and following many-a-search online for information for myself, I do hope that it may help others who are part of the same story.  So, let me explain….

The significance of this post’s title comes from the fact that I have acne.  So far, so mundane except for the fact that I am 30 years old, and I feel that to be suffering with what is usually seen as a teenage condition when those years are long behind me, is royally unfair.  Actually maybe it is nature’s way of getting back at the fact that my formative years were spent with clear-skin and the ol’ spotty demon didn’t possess me until I hit my mid-20s.

My acne is mild-moderate, affects only my chin/lip area though sometimes my forehead ever-so-slightly (hurrah for a fringe!)  My skin would suffer breakouts whether I cleansed meticulously or not, whether I ate healthily and organically or not – in other words, I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t.  I have always been able to cover it well, so much so that people are often surprised when I mention how much make-up I have to apply in order to get through my days or even that I have acne at all.  I must give a huge shout-out to MAC at this point, whose foundation and concealer have enabled me to tackle the most persistent of outbreaks with relative ease, and hopefully avoiding that less-than-beautiful, orange sheen!

So, despite all this, I was unwilling to live with the condition if it could be solved medically.  I was becoming tired of it being the first thing on my mind when I awoke, and then the last thing on my mind before sleep.  The constant checking of my skin for new beastliness and the fretting about trying to cover it and the hammering my self-esteem was taking meant that a trip to my GP was the only way.

After several years (we’re talking since 2008 here people) of trying several different antibiotics and topical lotions and potions – as well as every over-the-counter remedy that you can think of – nothing seemed to work for a prolonged period of time and it seemed that my skin was resistent to such treatments.  I was then refered to a wonderful dermatologist who after a battery of tests to make sure I was fit, healthy and ready to go, prescribed the dreaded Isotretinoin.  For those of you not in the know, this particular unpronounceable is better known as Roaccutane or Accutane.  You may have heard about in the news or more likely the Daily Fail, as it is often inaccurately associated with incidents of depression and even suicide.  What such reports fail to realise is that having your face falling off on a daily basis could lead to such results without even adding medication into the mix.

It is a rather beastly drug, and deciding to try it came with many warnings from my dermatologist about the ride that I was in for.  It will not be a fun one.  Side effects are profuse and can be nasty including but not limited to: an initial breakout (the whole worse-before-it-gets-better deal) extremely dry lips, very dry skin, headaches, nosebleeds, aching muscles and joints (making exercise potentially damaging – which if you know me, has me fretting somewhat!) fatigue, hair thinning, skin sensitivity……it goes on and on, and on.  Add to this the fact that alcohol intake has to be at zero and I can take absolutely no other medication whatsoever, not even a paracetamol, and I repeat, the ride will not be a fun one.

So as the title of this post suggests, I am currently on day 19 of my Isotretinoin course and so far my skin story is thus:

IN THE BAD CORNER:

* The dreaded initial breakout has hit, and hit hard - they were not joking when they warned me that every potential spot hiding under the surface, waiting to form, could make an appearance!  Thankfully, this is supposed to be a relatively short burst of breakout and I’m hoping that is true as I look a sight right now, really I do!

* My lips are extremely dry and were so from almost the first day of taking the drug.  I am practically eating lip balm to stave it off and quite frankly I should be sponsored by Carmex!  Any suggestions as to good lip balms to try would be most welcome, as I know I’ll be getting through more than my fair share.

* The first week or so came with quite a few headaches, though this could be entirely psychosomatic knowing that I couldn’t take anything for them.  Also, they could simply have been ‘just headaches.’  I’m noticing that the temptation is to label everything my body experiences as being Iso-related, where in the fact the opposite could be just as true.

IN THE GOOD CORNER:

* I exercise regularly, and have exercised throughout the treatment so far and am not noticing any added aching or muscle fatigue.  My knees are always a bit twingey but that comes from them having carried around my former heft for all these years!  I am looking into venturing into yoga though (as a dodgy hip injury is making my usual cardio routines a bit tentative) so any suggestions on which dvds are worth a go, would be so appreciated.

* My hair seems its usual untameable self.  I am a fully paid-up member of the GHD addicts club so am quite used to abusing my hair on a regular basis, so am continuing my usual routine of conditioning etc, and trying to look after my hair and keep it in as good a condition as I can.

* My skin is not drying out at all so far.  I have combination skin on my face and have been washing with a prescribed ointment that literally looks like lard (yikes!) but makes your skin incredibly soft, I am such a convert to it; and moisturising as normal with an oil-free mosituriser.  I always use body moisturiser anyway and just want to continue the good routine.

So there you have it.  This will hopefully be a regular series of posts over what is likely to be a somewhat difficult time, with updates for those who may be dealing with the issues about my progress or otherwise along the way.  I have been assured that a 4-6 month course works for the vast majority of people, and if I am fortunate to be among that lucky number then I can start a new skin story.

Amy at Wonderland Boutique x.