Bruises :(

I forgot how easily I bruised last time I had Roaccutane, and it looks like it's going to be the same this time. I have quite a few on my legs already... not a good side effect to have when you're as clumsy as me!

Friday 27th

I'm still seeing the same rate of progress in my skin, and I think I've found a good routine of keeping the dryness and redness at a minimum.

The main side effect I'm noticing at the moment is my hair - it isn't getting greasy AT ALL! I'm not usually one to wash my hair that often anyway, but I used to have to rely on dry shampoo. However this week I had washed it last Saturday night, and didn't need to dry shampoo it at all. I washed it yesterday but with just conditioner because I'm a bit worried it will get horrible and straw-like. I'll make sure to take extra care with it from now on.

I've also been feeling really tired, and I think this must be a side effect too. I read the booklet that came with the tablets again but that lists almost every side effect under the sun so it's hard to tell from that, but I did some googling and it seems like a lot of other people had the same experience. I had an afternoon nap today and feel much better so think I'd better make them a regular thing.

Anyway, last day of term today - no lectures here for aaaaaaaaaages seeing as I'll be in Sweden for Autumn term!

Xxx

Wednesday (Day 10)

Still have a bit of redness, but I've got a lot of the dryness under control by moisturising a lot and only using oil to wash my face (I switched to cool water instead of hot as it's more gentle). My lips are a bit sore, but Blistex is really helping. One big plus side is that my hair hasn't been getting at all greasy - I last washed it on Saturday and it still looks completely fine!

Week 2 Photos

Here are this week's photos - skin definitely looks worse than last week, and the redness shows on my cheeks especially. My forehead doesn't look much different though.

Day 7 - Week 1 Progress

Well it's now been 7 days and I'm definitely started to see/feel the side effects... my lips have been getting really dry so I've been using the Blistex cream I bought the other day a lot. It's better than the other lip balms I have and isn't too greasy so I'll keep using it and hope it will stop any peeling too.

As for my face, it is feeling a bit dry in places so I'm moisturising whenever I remember (just Simple so it shouldn't cause any problems). I have put the factor 50 I got on my face and chest the last couple of days, but I think it's a bit too greasy for my face as it hasn't really sunk in very well and has made me look really shiny, so I'm going to either try mixing some with my moisturiser or putting it on soon after I get up so it has longer to sink in... or maybe I should have bough some face-specific cream. Who knows.

The redness has also started, mostly across my nose and cheeks, but I think it looks a bit worse from being a bit burnt earlier in the week. Makeup is covering it fairly well though so it's fine at the moment. Haven't noticed any dryness on my arms or legs yet, and my eyes and nose seem fine too. I think my scalp might be slightly drier already but not a huge amount.

Going to take photos tomorrow for my visual progress, although I think at the moment I actually look worse than last week!

Xxx

Day 4

My lips are definitely drier today, seem to need lip balm all the time so might buy a medicated cream one tomorrow to see if that lasts longer. Hopefully that might stop any peeling too, because that was pretty bad last time.

Had a few new spots today but they aren't really that bad so still no major outbreak so far. Patches round my chin seem to be drying up already which is good, I wish it didn't take so long for the marks to fade though... but at least they're fairly easy to cover up.

I haven't felt as tired today so maybe that wasn't actually a side effect. Quite glad about that because I didn't want to feel really tired all through revision and exams. I remembered to buy some factor 50 sun cream today so I'll use that on my face (and maybe chest) from now on to make sure not to get sunburnt, double checked it's non pore-blocking so fingers crossed it won't cause any trouble.

Xxx

Week 1 Photos

I took these on Monday before taking my first dose, these are the two worst areas of my face but they don't look as red here as I think they do in real life but oh well. I'll try to remember to take photos every monday to keep track

First entry...

I only just had the idea to keep a blog of how things are going, so here is this week so far...

Day 1 Monday 16th March

Had my appointment at the hospital, very annoying because of waiting ages and the nurse not really telling me what she was doing but at least I've had it before so know about what's going on... Collected my prescription and took first dose after lunch (2 x 20mg once a day)

Day 2 Tuesday 17th March

Nothing much to report yet, expect it will be a few days until I notice anything. Was quite sunny today and I think I might have a slight sunburn on my face, but not sure if this is normal or increased sun sensitivity already...

Day 3 Wednesday 18th March (today)

Have decided to take the medicine after breakfast each day because I'm always in then so won't have to carry it with me. Face seems a little sunburnt again so will definitely need to buy sun cream asap. I think my lips are a bit drier than usual already, although definitely not as bad as they got last time I took Roaccutane.

Got my follow up appointments in the post today: had to rearrange 2 (one clashed with an exam and the other had been booked way later than it should have), but it's good to know when they are and think about how good my skin should be by the time they come around!

Xxx