Accutane 7 Years Ago at 21. Winnipeg, MB

I did a course of accutane when I was 21 and had severe nodulocystic acne.

My acne was so bad that it could not be covered with makeup. I tried EVERYTHING. Name an acne treatment - the pill, every prescription and non-prescription cream, vitamins/supplements, home remedies, fasting, diets, literally every freaking thing. Nothing worked.

It was extremely embarrassing to go to work and notice that people were unable to look at my face while they talked to me. Several people gave me unsolicited advice regarding skincare, even recommendations for specific dermatologists. Not only was it an emotionally painful experience, but it was physically painful as well. The cysts were so large and deep that my whole face throbbed and ached. I was very depressed at this time and never left the house except to go to work.

My dad suggested I take accutane because he used it over 20 years earlier and it cured his severe acne. Apparently his was even worse than mine.

I remember feeling sick while on accutane, losing my appetite and having joint pain. I also got very depressed...even more than before. My skin got worse initially. I actually took 2 weeks off work because the acne got worse than it had ever been and it was so disfiguring, I was too embarrassed to show my face. Then my skin started to get extremely dry, red, and peeled/flaked like crazy. My skin actually got so dry that I had to use a tiny spoon to eat because I couldn't open my mouth wide enough without the corners of my mouth cracking and bleeding.

By the end of the course of accutane my skin was clear, though still very dry. I used a line of skincare products by laroche posay that was specifically designed to be used in conjuction with accutane. That helped reduce the flaking and redness and made it easier to apply makeup. I also used coverFX cream foundation to get through the final weeks of the accutane ordeal. It was the only thing that could cover the redness.

Within weeks of discontinuing accutane my skin was clear and radiant. It was an unbelievable transformation. I looked and felt so great and started going out more and met the man who is now my husband.

My perfect skin lasted about a year. I could use any moisturizer and wear any makeup without breakouts. It was amazing.

Since then, however, I have developed moderate rosacea. I also ended up with severe chronic gastrointestinal problems. I am suspicious that accutane may have triggered these conditions. Even so, I was very happy with the results at the time, and really don't know how much longer I could have dealt with such severe, disfiguring acne. For me it was worth it...but if my acne had been less severe, or could have been treated in any other way I wouldn't have taken accutane.

It is a serious drug with serious side-effects. But it did get rid of my acne.