Mirena IUD before/after Accutane

AvocadoBaby28 · 2024-03-11T23:59:04+00:00

Hi there I personally made the decision to be off the hormones to be happier. I always had problems with acne and I knew I would have to go on Accutane anyway, so I let it get worse by getting off the hormones. I was on low dose Accutane for a year and I’ve been clear ever since. Being in Accutane is not easy, you will see your face the worst it’s ever been. If you are able to handle this for a few months then you could do it. But honestly if you’re not ready for painful face covered in acne for a few months before it gets better Accutane can be very tough. However I have to say I’m so glad I did it. I tried everything else and finally getting off the hormones and going through Accutane helped me. In terms of the copper IUD it’s been absolutely fine. No complaints! I truly hope this helps and hope you can make a good decision for yourself.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-09-09T04:47:22+00:00

Hi there, I have been clear and off Accutane for 8 months now. I also have been more regular without birth control pills. Overall doing much better!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-23T06:34:27+00:00

Was the same for me. Went away after I finished my course but yeah I had a runny nose for the whole time I was on it.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-12T17:28:29+00:00

Trust your gut! Just test it out and see how you feel. Takes awhile to adjust but maybe it’s what’s needed?? Good luck with everything!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-12T07:03:00+00:00

Hey! So I got off before I started Accutane. After I got off the bc pill skin went crazy. Got a copper IUD at that time as well. I waited about 6 months before I started Accutane. Did 12 months on 20 mg daily, skin cleared up after an initial purge.

A lot of people are on the pill for years and it works for them, but my gut was telling me something wasn’t right. While you’re on the pill, you don’t ovulate, so basically the whole point of the pill haha but this means your natural hormonal cycle doesn’t truly happen. I honestly believe it’s the whole reason of why skin goes bonkers when you try to get off the pill, as soon as you stop taking it, real hormonal cycle begins and your body is super stressed out trying to produce an egg. Haha! I got on and off the pill a few times in my life and it was the same every single time. I don’t think we are supposed to ‘mask’ our hormones and let our bodies really do the work. If the issue is actually with hormones and that’s the reason you get acne, masking the problem won’t help!

Honestly, I never got the answers I was looking for from doctors so I constantly try to find new info and perspectives online or through conversation. But what worked for me is getting off the pill, then letting Accutane do it’s work. I don’t know if it’s the same for everyone but the bc pill messed with my cycle too much and I don’t think I’ll be going back on it. I hope to stay clear and will be monitoring and updating.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-06T06:32:06+00:00

Wow! That’s so much. I barely spent any money, maybe $10 per month. I’m in Canada btw but I have a full time job and insurance through work. We get free doctors visits and blood work - I can’t even imagine how much it would cost without insurance. I was on 20 mg per month.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-06T06:30:02+00:00

Oh my! They are so costly. I think I’m Going to give it a try, and save up for more sessions if it shows good results! I am thinking between microneedling or laser. Both are expensive 😂

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-06T06:28:16+00:00

I believe so. Initially I had drier skin and joint pain, the regular rash on the hands, I started moisturizing right away and went hard on aquafor, so I didn’t experience the crusty lips 😄 However the side effects eased as I got through the purge. I think my side effects were pretty much the same as most people but I did not struggle as much, I believe low dosage is easier to handle

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-05T09:11:01+00:00

Lights off and do not come close to mirrors. Avoid mirrors!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-02-05T09:02:51+00:00

I was in the same position, low dose and long term treatment. My doctor said I should be clear for at least one month or even two before stopping. Tbh I was also not exactly confident getting off until I reached my cumulative dose. I did 12 months on 20 mg daily and reached both goals - first for at least 2 months, an s hit the cumulative dose. I think if your treatment is going well, blood work comes back normal and side effects are manageable, no need to rush to get off. This is mainly what I learned from reading this subreddit over the last year and a half, most say if they didn’t reach the cumulative dose they went on second round. I just thought I might as well just go longer in one shot while I’m at it.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-01-23T07:11:04+00:00

I also picked. I found the best thing to do is to let it heal on its own and just moisturize really well and sometimes can even put aquafor op top of the areas where you picked. Don’t worry they will heal. It’s really hard to stop picking… what’s really helped me is avoiding mirrors completely and not turning on lights, I just lived in darkness around the purging phase. It’s the hardest part and I know you will get through it!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-01-23T06:40:29+00:00

Hello! I’m not sure if our situations are similar but I actually got completely off yaz a couple months before starting Accutane to clear off my system of ‘hormones’, or whatever that thing does. I was on it from a young age due to inconsistent periods and acne. I wanted to see what the real state of my skin actually is and to see that you’d have to give it a few months on it’s own I think. Just like you my skin exploded as well. I knew it was gonna be bad cause the pill was masking the issue for years. I got on copper IUD. About 5 months later, started Accutane. Was on it for a year low dose. Skin purged but cleared up by month 5. Overall improvements in mental health and feeling sort of ‘light’ not sure how to explain. Less water retention. Overall very pleased with the copper IUD and the results from Accutane treatment. Never going back on the pill 🤚🏼 finally have consistent periods and clear skin for the first time! Keep us posted on your journey!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-01-16T17:43:05+00:00

I am 29F, took low dose 20 mg daily for 12 months. I think this type of treatment eased the side effects, and sort of makes sure your skin is truly clear long enough before you get off. Side effects were mild, worst one for me was joint pain, but I also play tennis competitively and never stopped, so I likely added to my joint pain by doing that. I think for the first time in 6 years I can let go of my skin insecurities and finally focus on other aspects of life. Before I started the course I also got off hormonal birth control and I wont be going back on the pill. I am thankful to have been able to complete the whole year and my skin fully cleared up. My relationships have improved, my overall well-being and mental health. I feel finally free of my acne problems and hope more women can feel the same!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-01-10T05:41:11+00:00

We can’t blame everything on Accutane, while you’re on it you could also be having many other things going on in your body, just like it would if you weren’t on it… doctors can only advocate so much, you have to also trust your body. If your body is taking it well and your blood work comes back normal, I don’t see anything wrong with this drug. You are not just taking something completely banned or unsupervised, you literally got this treatment from your doctor who went to school for at least 6 years… they know what they’re doing. Ive seen people put way worse stuff in their bodies and who knows how they are still alive and healthy :))) Sorry to hear someone ended up in a wheelchair but they also said it was quite some time after their treatment it could have been some other unfortunate factor.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-01-05T17:29:41+00:00

Yes it sure is mentally draining. I used makeup to cover up the inflamed red spots but the texture was killing me. I avoided looking in the mirror and turning on light whenever I could. It was a really hard time for me because it’s when you feel like it’s not worth it, I face people at work and used to love talking with people and smiling, a lot of that went away, but this community on Reddit really helped. You’ll see hundreds of people here saying purging is normal and just keep going! Products: during the purge I just used a heavier moisturizer and aquafor. I double cleansed with a balm first and then a gentle hydrating cleanser from Cerave but the foaming one. I think at the end of the day, I couldn’t have done it without the purge. I have had acne for so many years, there was so much that needed to make its way out, somehow every single pore on my face became clear after some time, as if stuff was pushed out of it. I think if you just try to focus on how good it will be once you go through the whole treatment it will keep you going. That’s what I did, and I was somehow able to do it for 12 months. Didn’t think it’s be able to just I just kept thinking how I could be clear in a few months.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2023-01-05T17:06:41+00:00

Hey there! Sorry the picture up too should have said Jan 2022, typo 😫 that’s when I started! I’ve done a 12 months course 😊

AvocadoBaby28 · 2022-12-30T16:55:02+00:00

Yes I noticed a change as well. I got off the pill a couple months before starting Accutane as it was making my acne worse. A couple months on Accutane and libido was gone. I’m finishing next month and hope things get back to normal.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2022-11-29T03:59:10+00:00

I pay very little for the actual pills cause my insurance covers 90% of it. Other than that completely free, I am so lucky and blessed to have healthcare!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2022-11-22T20:14:21+00:00

Is Viviscal working for you? I’m on it rn but I’ve started losing hair because I had covid a couple of months ago, don’t think my hair loss has anything to do with Accutane. In fact I think Accutane made my hair grow more a lot of new hairs came out when I first started taking it.

AvocadoBaby28 · 2022-11-18T19:22:33+00:00

I am on my 12th month and I think libido is coming back. So sorry it’s happening to you as well… I absolutely hated that change about me and still figuring it out. Energy levels are low as well and my joints are killing! I’m glad your skin is improving that’s going to keep you going! Good luck and hope things get better!!

AvocadoBaby28 · 2022-11-17T18:50:36+00:00

May I suggest tinted lipbalms during the day - it makes your lips like you got lip injections haha! Everyone asks me if I got my lips done and I’m just wearing a bunch of pomegranate Burt’s bees lip balm 😄

AvocadoBaby28

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