The only thing you can do is let it run it's course. I've done accutane 3 times. The first time I had that purging, it was aweful! It's the medicine working from the inside and pushing all that crap out...so try to see it as a good thing. I know it's REALLY hard but if it doesn't work it's way to the top you won't get better. If I recall, the bad part lasted 2-3 weeks.
Use a super mild cleanser, at the time my derm suggested Cetaphil. Always moisturize and be very careful of too much exfoliation, your skin is very fragile while on accutane.
I don't know how long you've been on or what you know about the whole deal so I'll list some tips I had to learn the hard way
STOCK UP ON:
*Refresh Lubricating Eye drops. They are kind of expensive but they put a coating on your eye...and you WILL need it! I tried cheaper ones and they just didnt work with the level of dryness accutane causes.
*Vaseline type Lip stuff. I seriously probably had 10-15 of them. One in every jacket, one in the truck, several at the house, one at work. Your lips will crack and peel REALLY badly.
*Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream or other heavy moisturizing CREAM, not lotion, for your body. Lotion won't even begin to combat the dryness your body is going to get.
*Aveeno Oatmeal Bath....really helps the itchy dryness.
*Neutrogena T-Gel, your head will flake like crazy too. This actually dissolves the flakes. Use it once a week or so. Lather and let it sit while you shower...the sitting is when it dissolves flakes.
Other tips
*Shower, don't bathe. Spend as little time in the water as possible and use as cool of water as is comfortable. The heat and water suck all the moisture out of your skin.
*Get a loofah. It'll make your legs & body feel a lot better...getting the dead skin off.
*Bathe once a week (again NOT HOT water) with the Aveeno. It really helps cut the itchy dryness.
*When you get out of the shower, dry and IMMEDIATELY apply your moisturizing cream....neck to toe. Don't be stingy...really lay it on thick. Moisturizers are to HOLD IN your moisture. If you let yourself air dry you are letting vital moisture escape.
*If you're still finding yourself flakey...when you get out of the shower, apply a coat of baby oil...BEFORE you dry off. Slap it right onto the wet skin. Then dry off and slather on the cream. This is what I had to do.
*Your nose will also crack and peel on the inside. I was forever looking like I was picking my nose....I used the Vaseline lip stuff...put on a finger/qtip and on the inside of my nose, especially the septum.
*Try and make yourself a reverse water faucet! You can't drink enough water! Water will help to re-hydrate what the accutane is taking out.
*I had really bad headaches...it was due to dehydration.
*One really wierd thing that also happened....my eyebrows would sweat ALL the time...even in the winter when the rest of me was freezin. How weird is that!?
*Don't be shocked if your hair starts to shed like crazy. I lost a ton of hair but I had a ton to start so it was ok except for the mess and the clogged drains.
Thats all I can think of for now. Hop over to acne.org tons of great info and others to talk to who've been thru it.
Hang in there! It sucks but not near as bad as the acne. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Your poor thing....I just read your post on the other accutane thread. This is the beginning of the end of your acne....it WILL all be worth it. Try and keep your chin up and DO go over to acne.org so you can talk with others who have had to deal with the same thing.
If your still having trouble laying down due to pain....try some ibuprofen. It's an anti-inflamatory as well as pain reliever.
