<p>Nothing lol. It isn't like a medication, it's just a set of three bottles. This weird scrubby stuff, this green liquid toner solution, and lotion. All three of them work together pretty well. After it all gets absorbed into your skin, you're good to go. Never had any side-effects.</p>
<p>I use these two products religiously with pretty good results:
<a href="http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=424507&deptid=2496&catid=2507&subcatid=2510%5B/url%5D">http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=424507&deptid=2496&catid=2507&subcatid=2510</a></p>
<p>I used to use Proactiv. It had great results after two weeks or so which lasted a few months. It stopped working gradually and my dermatologist said that some people just "build a resistance" to it. I was like "Umm...okay?" I've been through so many different meds and programs with Accutane looming in the background as a last resort.</p>
<p>Proactiv was great. I still use the lotion.</p>
<p>I take Tetracyclin pills for acne. It's not as strong as Accutane, but it helps.</p>
<p>i used ProActive once, too. It worked very well, and it was a great exfoliator for my face the first time I used the scrubby stuff. Be careful with it, though. It irritated my poor sensitive skin:(</p>
<p>I agree with quicklikecat. When I first got procativ my skin didn't change. Within two months, my skin got clearer and felt cleaner. However, my body built resistance to it within a month. It's just basically benzoyl peroxide. You could get similiar products at your local drugstore.
I know this sounds like a stupid question, but it is college confidential right? will taking accutane decrease concentration therefore further decrease sat scores?</p>
<p>Umm I think that is just speculation, but you can find more credible information if you just google some articles.</p>
<p>yeah - all the depression talk is a load of crap. No cases of depression were ever proved to be caused by accutane. I've also talked to several doctors who have said they've prescribed accutane for well over a decade and have had no remarkable side effects.</p>
<p>Oh, proactive issues, I forgot. The facewash irritated the skin on my eyelids to the point that they were flaking. I had to take steroid pills to fix it. (Now I just cortisone cream whenever they get dry.)</p>
<p>I've probably used every single prescription acne medicine made, and I'm not even out of high school yet! I used accutane when I was in 9th grade, for me it was good just because ever since then I have never gotten really big red pimples. Though I'm sure you know this, the best thing to do would be to talk to your dermatologist about it, he/she will know whats best.
as for side effects, yea there was the case of that one guy who got depressed and suicidal, but that's extremely rare. it just makes your skin dried out and your lips chap, as long as you put on sunscreen and chapstick it should be ok. also if you're a girl don't get pregnant because your baby would have a lot of mental/physical defects, but they may require you to take birth control because of that....</p>
<p>anyone used retin a? i'm using it right now.</p>
<p>Accutane is amazing. It gave me back pain, dry skin, horrifically chapped lips, and some general muscle aches, but it was totally worth it. My skin has gotten a little greasy again, but it's mostly because of the summer. If you've tried other things (I went through everything my dermo could think of), and they haven't worked, then you should try Accutane. It WILL work, no question. I never experienced any depression, but I wouldn't scoff at the reports of it causing depression. I think it's more likely that it's just a coincidence, but it's still definitely something to think about before going on the drug.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if Accutane could have any academic side effects? </p>
<p>I used ProActive. It worked for a while. Then I also "built up a resistance" and the acne came back and worse. I've heard similar stories.</p>
<p>Both my kids used acutane and since then both have beautiful complexions and have never had to worry about acne or a single pimple. The dryness is more of an initial month issue and if you use the right creams you will be fine. My D however was extremely emotional at the end as was her girlfriend who did it, almost a personality change, snappy, more emotional. Her friends all noticed it too but it wore off when she stopped. Both are glad they did it.</p>
<p>who has used retin-a!!!!?</p>
<p>Ultima, I have.
It was mehh. I started it at the same time as tetracycline and my skin cleared up all right, I guess, but I think the credit may go to the antibiotics. Are you having problems with it or anything like that?</p>
<p>I know I probably shouldn't, but I'm sort of ignoring the Accutane linked to suicide thing. Accutane is mostly being perscribed to hormonal teenagers or 20 somethings with bad skin who may already have depression (a serious problem with many people that age). My bad skin makes me feel awful about myself a lot of the time. It has seriously messed with my confidence and self-esteem and my general mood (I know it shouldn't...but it does) and sometimes I do feel depressed because of it. I'm not going to generalize, but maybe others have felt the same way about it. </p>
<p>arizonamom, that is interesting about the personality change. Was that only with one daughter or have you heard of other cases?</p>
<p>ExRunner, I've read up on it, and I don't think it makes you smarter/dumber or allows you to focus more or makes it harder to focus. I have heard that it can be an appetite suppressant though.</p>
<p>My D has been on a course of accutane twice within the past 3 years. Her skin is gorgeous. Both times no mood problems. Both times fairly serious dry lips. She recommends it w/o reservation. Several of her friends whose acne was to dramatic stages have taken it and all have experienced the same thing she has (although one parent complained of mood and irritability problems she felt were out of character, she still felt comfortable).</p>
<p>Don't continue to suffer. See your doctor. Girls , the pregnancy avoidance is serious stuff. D felt the birth control "shot" was much easier than the pills. The process of clearing up your face seems to consist of a period where all the possible pimples are pushed out of your skin within a short time. It does seem to be worse BUT this period is VERY short, a few weeks total. Good luck.</p>
<p>I really want to thank everyone who has posted here. I've been thinking about Accutane for a while, and while the success stories sound great, the depression stories sound awfully scary. However, the most important thing to me (this year) is academics, and I really want to make sure that the odds of it affecting anything like my memory, concentration, or focus are pretty low. I know depression can affect academics, but as a teen, I've kept depression in check in regards to academics before, and hopefully can do it again.</p>
<p>ExRunner, D did not have any of those symptoms. She maintained and improved her average during this time period. I know that's a study of "1" , but that's all I've got. Sorry.</p>
<p>Yeah, thanks for everyone's input. I'd still love to hear any more personal stories if you've got them or Accutane alternatives that have worked for you (only if you seriously considered Accutane though--I want the cures for heavy duty acne).</p>
<p>ExRunner, if you want to read more about Accutane and skin care tips while you are on Accutane, I would try <a href="http://www.livejournal.com/community/accutaneusers%5B/url%5D">www.livejournal.com/community/accutaneusers</a> . You don't have to have a livejournal to read it, but it's interesting just to browse. Most of the people are extremely happy Accutane users.</p>