Tuesday, October 07, 2003
I'm done with Accutane!!!!
Well, technically I have 5 more weeks to go before I finish my full 6 months, but I've decided I don't want to take Accutane anymore since I'm shredding like crazy. And 2 nights ago, my mom actually leaned over during dinner and asked whether I was losing my hair. That's where I draw the line. It's one thing to notice the hair loss myself, but it's quite another to have someone else notice it. I can't deny it anymore. So, I quit.
That was 2 nights ago. Yesterday, I washed my hair and left the conditioner in my hair for at least 5 minutes before I washed it off, and so much hair fell off!!!!!!! Oh my gosh! It was scary!
I went out and bought Vitamin E, C, biotin (H), and Calcium with Vitamin D and started taking all of them yesterday.
Vitamin E 400i.u (twice a day)
Vitamin C 500mg (twice a day)
Calcium 250mg (twice a day)
Vitamin D 100i.u. (twice a day)
Biotin 5mg (once a day)Biotin or vitamin H is supposed to be very good for hair. According to some websites, it can prevent baldness. A deficiency in biotin can lead to baldness. And it's water-soluable, so it's very safe.
I went to see my derma today and he wasn't totally against me stopping the medication when I brought it up. He told me that the hair will grow back, but I told him I can't even afford to have a few months of temporary hair loss since I have very little hair to begin with. Plus, my hair is fine and flat on normal days, so I really can't afford "accutane hair."
So, now I'm off and I'm sooo relieved; I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I guess I didn't realized how stressful Accutane was to me; how I was unconsciously stressed and worried by the medication. Now, I just want it to leave my system as soon as possible. I want my hair back. My derma explains that hair has a resting stage; while on accutane, the medication can keep the hair at the resting stage, but after the medication leaves, the hair should grow back. Well, I have read some horror stories on accutane hairloss and I just don't want to risk it.
Anyway, he prescribed me an antibiotic. When he just said "antibiotic," my first thought was "no, I don't want another oral medication," but it turns out that it's a topical antibiotic called Klaron and my derma said that it's very gentle. He told me to use it twice a day, but I will only use it nightly now and only on active zits.
By the way, Accutane has really scared me, because of the side effects. I mean, the dryness isn't so much of a problem, even the occassional exhaustion was dealable, but the hair loss was TERRIFYING!! I don't think I want to put my body through this again, so would I use accutane if my face blow up again? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! In fact, I won't ever use oral medications for my acne anymore. Not even minocycline, which I didn't have any problems with, but it never helped either, so what's the point in using it again?
As for my face, it has a lot of redness and red marks. I still have a few small active zits on my face. I hope Klaron will take care of this.
Is it worthed it? Yes and no. The deciding factor is my hair. If my hair grows back completely, then it'd be kind of worthed. If my hair (God forbid) don't grow back, then it'd be the WORST mistake I've ever made in my life. If my hair grows back and my skin continues to stay smooth and clear, then it'd be COMPLETELY worthed it.
However, I am glad I went through with Accutane, because I don't have to wonder what would my skin be like if I took accutane, because now I know. On the other hand, there's the part of me that wish I've never gone on it because of my hair. So, please, please, please grow back.
Do I think other people should take it? Yes, but only if they know all about the side effects and is willing to deal with and can handle them. Otherwise, they should absolutely NOT take it.
Accutane CAN do wonders for some people and can change their lives. I've read a lot of Accutane journals and lots of those accutane users rave about the medication. Unfortunately, not this user...but I'm NOT against the medication either. I wonder if I wasn't losing my hair and I went ahead with the 6th month, would I have baby-smooth skin and raving about the medication right now? Just wondering.
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