Accutane permanent cure?

[wldb33rz]

About 8 months after finishing treatment, I started 5mg / daily Accufine with excellent results.

Derms in the US prescribe 10mg off label, every 2nd or 3rd day for anti-aging, but that’s because 5mg doses aren’t available in the US any more.

Isotretinoin sides (like most drug sides) are associated with peak levels, so 5mg / daily is the way to go imo.

I pay less than $10 / box (100 gelcaps) for 5mg Accufine. ~$25-30 for a “cosmetic” treatment this effective is surreal.

Try to take it with some fat / food though. It’s already a minuscule dose, so you want to make sure you’re absorbing it well.

I havent had an acne issue really but apparently that's more common with older guys anyway. However, for anti-aging purposes I did start on the 5mg/day daily microdosing schedule for some systemic issues. Really hoping to tackle skin health and elasticity from massive weight loss over the past 2 years (110lbs and counting) I do have some crepy skin and enlarged pores on face, so I'm using the topicals to address that. Only one month in at the moment, so not really seeing much improvement as of yet other than I'm seeing fewer breakouts on my thighs and butt from simply just sitting and in clothing. I do like the combo so far of systemic and topical, seems to pair nicely and i'm doing a low enough dosing that the medical advice against combining the two shouldnt be an issue. No sides thus far other than the expected chapped lips about one month in.

I do have 2 boxes of the 5mg dosing, and ordering another 4 just to be sure i'm stocked up through the year. Unsure if i'm supposed to take a break after 6 months or not, all the studies I've read only study out to 6 months of low dose treatments.

 

[Ghoul]

I havent had an acne issue really but apparently that's more common with older guys anyway. However, for anti-aging purposes I did start on the 5mg/day daily microdosing schedule for some systemic issues. Really hoping to tackle skin health and elasticity from massive weight loss over the past 2 years (110lbs and counting) I do have some crepy skin and enlarged pores on face, so I'm using the topicals to address that. Only one month in at the moment, so not really seeing much improvement as of yet other than I'm seeing fewer breakouts on my thighs and butt from simply just sitting and in clothing. I do like the combo so far of systemic and topical, seems to pair nicely and i'm doing a low enough dosing that the medical advice against combining the two shouldnt be an issue. No sides thus far other than the expected chapped lips about one month in.

I do have 2 boxes of the 5mg dosing, and ordering another 4 just to be sure i'm stocked up through the year. Unsure if i'm supposed to take a break after 6 months or not, all the studies I've read only study out to 6 months of low dose treatments.

I don’t see any reason to take a break at 5mg. It’s so small there’s really no risk of even the rarest things that can happen with Isotretinoin. Some indications it reduced the rate of skin cancer.

If we’re talking significant skin slack, like folds, not just micro wrinkles, nothings going to fix that but surgery, unfortunately. Whatever hasn’t “snapped back” within 2 years isn’t going to.

 

[wldb33rz]

I don’t see any reason to take a break at 5mg. It’s so small there’s really no risk of even the rarest things that can happen with Isotretinoin. Some indications it reduced the rate of skin cancer.

If we’re talking significant skin slack, like folds, not just micro wrinkles, nothings going to fix that but surgery, unfortunately. Whatever hasn’t “snapped back” within 2 years isn’t going to.

Yeah, this is new, within the last 6 months. It's still tight enough to really not be noticeable unless I pinch and pull. I still have the 2 years to go, trying to address it as I'm losing the weight though as opposed to waiting until i'm in the final stage and waiting for it to do something. I do realize it's likely going to require surgery to fix fully, but trying to minimize as much as is possible.

 

[SnowyMiami]

Hey Ghoul I noticed in another thread you are a big fan of aromasin. I was wondering if it was enough to control acne or you found you still needed accutane?

 

[GreatOak]

@Ghoul Every now & then & non dependent on androgen load i get a break out of pimples / white heads of which 95% are on my glutes , hamstrings & around my waste band. I personally can't help but squeeze those fuckers of which leaves minor scaring for a while.
I recently purchased some accufine 5mg & i think was a little naive. Do you think it's jst worth low dosing 10 ish mg for couple months to help clear this up ?
Or ; is it worth hitting the big boy protocol of 180-220mg / kg . in my mind it jst seemed like over kill & i'm grateful & lucky that i'm not experiencing full on acne like some of you guys & never have but what would be your advice in my scenario.
I mean the pimples etc i have are of plenty but i'm luck i guess they can pretty much be covered.
Thanks.

 

[Ghoul]

@Ghoul Every now & then & non dependent on androgen load i get a break out of pimples / white heads of which 95% are on my glutes , hamstrings & around my waste band. I personally can't help but squeeze those fuckers of which leaves minor scaring for a while.
I recently purchased some accufine 5mg & i think was a little naive. Do you think it's jst worth low dosing 10 ish mg for couple months to help clear this up ?
Or ; is it worth hitting the big boy protocol of 180-220mg / kg . in my mind it jst seemed like over kill & i'm grateful & lucky that i'm not experiencing full on acne like some of you guys & never have but what would be your advice in my scenario.
I mean the pimples etc i have are of plenty but i'm luck i guess they can pretty much be covered.
Thanks.

I wish I could say it would, but no. At best if you took 20mg for a month or two you might get some temporary relief but it’ll be back.

I also had them at my waist band from time to time (the worst, because the irritation / sweat meant they could easily become infected).

Body acne requires the high dose protocol for a “cure”. That’s true for woman with “boob acne”, and it’s true for us with back, chest, and ass acne.

I’ll say this. If it’s not something you want to deal with for the rest of your life, the sooner you get it over with the better. The cycle is going to suck as much 10 years from now as it is today, but waiting means 10 years more of dealing with the breakouts.

 

[GreatOak]

I wish I could say it would, but no. At best if you took 20mg for a month or two you might get some temporary relief but it’ll be back.

I also had them at my waist band from time to time (the worst, because the irritation / sweat meant they could easily become infected).

Body acne requires the high dose protocol for a “cure”. That’s true for woman with “boob acne”, and it’s true for us with back, chest, and ass acne.

I’ll say this. If it’s not something you want to deal with for the rest of your life, the sooner you get it over with the better. The cycle is going to suck as much 10 years from now as it is today, but waiting means 10 years more of dealing with the breakouts.

Ok , appreciate it & your thoughts were pretty much inline with what i thought you'd say after reading the thread!

Like you say i'd rather address it now because it it a quarterly occurance , i've jst done my best to ignore it up until now.

I'll get on to my indian contact now then whilst the weather suits & get started early in the new year.

Thanks mate.

 

[BendigoShafter]

Any advice on starting dose and titration schedule? Something like start at 20mg/day and add 20mg/week until the sides become too rough?

 

[adrenalytic]

@Ghoul I'm having real bad sinus issues since I started two months ago. Is this a known side effect? I feel like I constantly have a cold. I even had my GP get me a course of Augmentin in case it was viral. It did nothing. I'm trying to pinpoint the cause of this. It's becoming unbearable. It's worst in the morning and seems to fluctuate on and off all day.

Could also be my Cialis but I've been taking that for 4 months now and I haven't had the issue that long.

 

[OldGHGuy]

@Ghoul I'm having real bad sinus issues since I started two months ago. Is this a known side effect? I feel like I constantly have a cold. I even had my GP get me a course of Augmentin in case it was viral. It did nothing. I'm trying to pinpoint the cause of this. It's becoming unbearable. It's worst in the morning and seems to fluctuate on and off all day.

Could also be my Cialis but I've been taking that for 4 months now and I haven't had the issue that long.

Do you take your Cialis before bed? You could easily eliminate the Cialis for a few days to determine if it is the culprit

 

[adrenalytic]

Do you take your Cialis before bed? You could easily eliminate the Cialis for a few days to determine if it is the culprit

No I take it AM and I have missed a day or two here and there. Since it only has a 17 hour half life I would think that the symptoms would have stopped on those days but yeah, that's my next move. Just d/c the Cialis for like a week or something.

 

[OldGHGuy]

No I take it AM and I have missed a day or two here and there. Since it only has a 17 hour half life I would think that the symptoms would have stopped on those days but yeah, that's my next move. Just d/c the Cialis for like a week or something.

If you take it at night you can sleep through the stuffiness. Good luck with it

 

[Ghoul]

@Ghoul I'm having real bad sinus issues since I started two months ago. Is this a known side effect? I feel like I constantly have a cold. I even had my GP get me a course of Augmentin in case it was viral. It did nothing. I'm trying to pinpoint the cause of this. It's becoming unbearable. It's worst in the morning and seems to fluctuate on and off all day.

Could also be my Cialis but I've been taking that for 4 months now and I haven't had the issue that long.

I had this when I was in very dry (winter, heating season) environments.

It’s not uncommon. It’s dryness that feels like congestion.

I first used a nasal moisturizing saline spray a couple times a day, and switched to a gel you put just inside your nostrils (this is the better choice). You should find them easily in drug stores.

It improved over time even as I increased the dose, and resolved completely after stopping. In fact I seem to breath easier through my nose in all conditions now, as if It permanently shrunk some obstruction.


EDIT: now I remember I got a couple of nasty nose bleeds as well. It might’ve been from trying to “clear” what wasn’t there. Any way, It happened early on never returned, even though I took the dose to moon later. (180mg/day, briefly).

 

[k710]

No I take it AM and I have missed a day or two here and there. Since it only has a 17 hour half life I would think that the symptoms would have stopped on those days but yeah, that's my next move. Just d/c the Cialis for like a week or something.

Any chance you changed cialis dosage or brand?

I got a variety of int./domestic cialis and theres one of the indian ones that for the first time in my life caused the stuffiness. Idk if it was dosage, or some outside variable that day but man it sucked. I couldnt imagine trying cardio like that, much less performing well in the bedroom without being able to breathe properly lol

 

[Ghoul]

Any chance you changed cialis dosage or brand?

I got a variety of int./domestic cialis and theres one of the indian ones that for the first time in my life caused the stuffiness. Idk if it was dosage, or some outside variable that day but man it sucked. I couldnt imagine trying cardio like that, much less performing well in the bedroom without being able to breathe properly lol

I got that on just 5mg/daily, and some back ache. Both resolved after about a month and never came back, which is par for the course with tadalafil.

The Indians definately knew how to make quality ED pills, it’s an industry to itself. The only problem is this is the one med you can count on them always overdosing. I think it’s “dose inflation”, so competitors don’t seem like they’re more effective.

 

[adrenalytic]

I had this when I was in very dry (winter, heating season) environments.

It’s not uncommon. It’s dryness that that feels like congestion.

I first used a nasal moisturizing saline spray a couple times a day, and switched to a gel you put just inside your nostrils (this is the better choice). You should find them easily in drug stores.

It improved over time even as I increased the dose, and resolved completely after stopping. In fact I seem to breath easier through my nose in all conditions now, as if It permanently shrunk some obstruction.


EDIT: now I remember I got a couple of nasty nose bleeds as well. It might’ve been from trying to “clear” what wasn’t there. Any way, It happened early on never happened again, even though I took the dose to moon later. (180mg/day, briefly).

That's good to here. I'll pick up some saline tomorrow. I'm only up to 80 mg and the dryness isn't terrible as long as I moisturize my face and aquaphor the insides of my nostrils.

Any chance you changed cialis dosage or brand?

I got a variety of int./domestic cialis and theres one of the indian ones that for the first time in my life caused the stuffiness. Idk if it was dosage, or some outside variable that day but man it sucked. I couldnt imagine trying cardio like that, much less performing well in the bedroom without being able to breathe properly lol

Nah, same brand since I started using it. Vidalista 80 mg crushed and suspended in vodka for easy accurate 5 mg dosing.

 

[2ndchancesNK]

@Ghoul is there a mechanism of action where accutane will decrease hyperpigmentation from acne? And do you have any rec’s for anything that may speed that process that are worthwhile taking while on accutane?

 

[Ghoul]

@Ghoul is there a mechanism of action where accutane will decrease hyperpigmentation from acne? And do you have any rec’s for anything that may speed that process that are worthwhile taking while on accutane?

Yes, it greatly speeds up skin turnover (almost leaves “snow” on dark fabrics at higher doses), so post inflammatory pigmented skin gets cycled through in months that would normally take years. It may appear to worsen in the short term, but one of the reasons for continuing at least 50 days post full clearance of acne is to allow this process to maximize the elimination of hyperpigmentation leaving behind much more even skin tone.

 

[raytwo]

Just to be clear, the cumulative timeframe isn’t infinite. Much more than a year and the “memory” effect drops off, so you can’t stretch out 10 rounds of microdosing over 5 years and get the equivalent results of one continuous period of treatment to reach the same cumulative dose.

Do you have a study on this time frame? Or is it just speculation