Accutane Before and After: 9 Women on Their Isotretinoin Side Effects.
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My isotretinoin journey. My 8-month Accutane journey with side effects and results
My isotretinoin journey
Talk to your dermatologist if nothing has been working for you. You deserve to feel beautiful and confident in your own skin.
Ellyn Sinicropi is an entertainment professional who has worked on several TV series in various roles. This page may contain references to products from one or more of our advertisers or affiliate partners. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products, which help us pay our writers and team.
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Here, we like to talk and write about things that are interesting for anyone looking to live a life that is authentically yours.
We are not experts, but we are on the journey with you and know what the path to wellness entails. Within week 3 and 4, breakouts were going down, no new spots, not too much dryness. I had my first appointment with a dermatologist who discussed upping my dose next month. As dosage depends on weight, you can go up as long as a doctor suggests so. Comparing my starting point with the end of month 1: my skin might not look clearer, but it certainly is.
After that the blood tests need to be done every 3 months, or sooner if the dose is increased. The reason for that is the liver processes the medication and it needs to be monitored to ensure everything works well. Month 2, I developed acute dermatitis itchy rash on the side of my arm. The cold in London does not help the situation here! Every sebum gland will dry up so taking care of your body is essential. My eyes have felt watery for weeks and I put drops a couple of times during the day.
This month I saw the derm who upped my dosage to 50mg. The higher the dose, the worse the effects — so a little more drying than before etc. After spending hundreds of dollars on new skin care routines, countless amounts of new makeup, exfoliates, body wash, checking my water, not using any chemicals to using literally every chemical.
If you are someone who does struggle everyday with breakouts and painful acne blemishes that seem to be so out of control, I want to share my story with you. Happiest Day of my life! The reason I am bringing this up? And guess what. I spent a solid hour layering my makeup that morning to cover the painful pimples that were forming on my neck and jawline as well as along my chin and around my mouth. And honestly?
For me, that was it. Which brings me to returning from my trip and let me fast forward for you so that I can spare you boring details because when I got back I made an appointment to see the Dermatologist. I did so much research and educated myself and saw good and bad reviews of it.
I also spoke with my cousin who was on it at the time and she has good and bad things to say. After having multiple conversations with her I decided that I needed it and so that is what happened.
First let me show you a picture of my acne when it was bad. I am embarrassed but it needs to be seen. Looks painful right? It was. I was in so much paint that was honestly unbearable for long periods of time. The reason I am showing you this is because it is real and people struggle with way worse than me.
I want to be a voice of help to those who are trying to get their acne under control and this is raw and as real as it gets. So long story short I go to my first appointment makeup free terrifying, truly thinking I was going to walk in to my appointment, she would see how horrible my skin was and I would walk out with a prescription and info to obtain my Accutane drug to fix this.
I have to live like this for 4 more weeks. Are you kidding? I need to fix this acne NOW. Four weeks went by and I am of course just breaking out the normal times per day during the high of my breakouts and feeling not great. I actually had to be prescribed a cream for it. I got terrible sores on the sides of my lips that hurt when I ate or opened my mouth at all.
I always said to have ChapStick on me, and it had to be Aquaphor or Vaseline, or it didn't work. I had multiple nosebleeds a month because my nose was so dry.
I would groan getting up from a chair or a couch. I had constant lower back pain and it was really hard for me to work out.
One of the most terrible symptoms that I had never heard of before was sweating. I swear I have never sweat more than I did on Accutane in my entire life. My upper lip sweat, my eyebrows sweat. Even though I was having all of these symptoms, I was seeing results. So that made it worth it for me.
I actually haven't had a pimple in about three months. My skin is doing great. I was just so happy. Like, if you've had acne before, you know that it really is a struggle, and it definitely takes a huge toll on your mental health. So I'm just really happy that I saw a difference with something.
And I feel, I just feel really good. A post shared by Belle all things positivity barefacedbelle. I honestly had almost every side effect in the book: dryness, eczema, rashes, body soreness, fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, nosebleeds, stomach problems, hair loss, irritability, and brain fog.
Even my vision was still a little blurry until this past summer. If you do decide to go on isotretinoin, I have two words of advice: 1 Take progress pictures! I tried to push myself over and over again, and I ended up worse off in the end.
Use this 2 percent salicylic acid serum all over or as a spot treatment to keep pores clear of acne-causing sebum and dead skin cells. This retinoid gel treats acne in two ways: 1. It boosts cell turnover to keep pores clear and 2. It reduces inflammation associated with breakouts. It's strong though, so use it only every three days for the first few months. For best results, apply it on clean skin for 10 minutes twice a week. BP is gold when it comes to killing acne-causing bacteria.
It's used here in a 2. Sofia Grahn isotretinoinwiths. Before Accutane, I used to have severe acne—mostly concentrated on my cheeks and forehead, but also along my neck, chest, and back.
For the first month of treatment, my skin also went through the initial purging period, meaning my acne got significantly worse like, it doubled in severity before it started to calm down again. Those first few months were percent the hardest to endure, but I look back at it all with gratitude. When my acne was at its peak severity, my mental health truly suffered in all ways imaginable.
So if my skin ever came to affect me the way it did prior to isotretinoin, I would probably go on it again. Before isotretinoin, I had severe cystic acne on my face, chest, arms, and back.
Every time my skin bumped against something, it felt like somebody had poked the most sensitive blister. My acne would then form keloid scars , which I still have all over my shoulders and back.
I decided to go on Accutane in the fall of I started with a low dosage twice a day, then was upped to a stronger dose once a day after a few months. The strongest side effect I had was dry skin: My scalp and nose were always dry and itchy, and my lips were constantly cracked. The second side effect was a lower alcohol tolerance.
I remember going out with friends early on in my Accutane journey, drinking just a few drinks, and getting a terrible hangover and headache that lasted way longer than my usual hangovers. Thankfully, these were my only two big side effects, and they went away on their own within two months after treatment. Because my body tolerated Accutane so well and the results were so excellent, I finished after six months rather than the anticipated nine.
But, hey, I get it—you want details. Which is why I chatted with nine women about their before-and-after experiences with isotretinoin, from a few who finished their doses just a year ago, to some who finished theirs a decade ago, along with expert commentary from dermatologists.
Isotretinoin, commonly referred to as Accutane note: Accutane was a brand name for isotretinoin and is no longer manufacturedis a vitamin-A derivative that, when taken orally, minimizes the oil production in your skin. Basically, isotretinoin slowly shuts down the party in your pores, so acne has a hard time setting up shop on your face. That being said, many patients tend to take mg of Accutane a day for six months —though, again, how many milligrams you take each day and for how long is based on your weight and health.
For people with adult female acne AFAi. Again, it all super depends. Ideally, yes, Accutane is a permanent fix to major acne breakouts. But in reality, even the best-adhering patients can still get the occasional tiny zit because we're all human, and humans sometimes accidentally sleep in their makeupor stress out too much, or partake in a bit too many cocktailsthough they'll rarely experience acne as severely as before.
But does isotretinoin deserve the scary reputation you see on the internet? Definitely not except, of course, when we talk about its known risk of causing birth defectswhich is why regular blood tests, pregnancy tests, and birth control is required while taking the drug.
But in terms of the other out-there side effects you hear about, I once polled a handful of dermatologists who, collectively, had written more than 2, isotretinoin prescriptions in their careers. They said out of all their patients, fewer than 15 of them had serious problems while taking Accutane—the effects of which were resolved with a lower dose or stopping treatment altogether. Now, ready to get into those before-and-after photos and first-person stories?
Thought so. Let's get into it:. Mariah Pearson mariah. A few months before I decided to start isotretinoin, I developed a very rare, very severe type of acne called acne conglobatawhich left my face covered in deep, itchy, leaky, and incredibly painful cysts. It affected every aspect of my life, and I honestly felt like a victim to my own skin. I ended up going on isotretinoin for a little over eight months, and for the majority of that time, I was on 30mg: a lower dose than the usual mg, but the perfect dose for me.
Thankfully, all of my side effects started to subside a month after I finished Accutaneand I noticed my energy levels rising after about two weeks. I still have dry eyes nine months later, and I still break out before my period. Still, all of the side effects were so worth it to me, because isotretinoin saved my skin—it genuinely changed my life. Another common, yet annoying side effect.
My dermatologist ended up starting my Accutane dosage at 20mg the first month, then bumped me up to 40mg for three months, then had me on 60mg for the last two months.
The only remaining side effect I have nine months after stopping Accutane is the eczema. As for my acne, I do get the occasional cyst or whitehead now, though nowhere near as severely as before. I do feel really proud of myself for going on it despite my fears, though, and if I needed to, I would probably do it all over again.
Infused with hyaluronic acid a humectant that draws moisture to the skinthis non-stripping face wash helps hydrate skin while you cleanse. Slather on this moisturizing cream both morning and night to minimize dryness and flaking.
The gentle formula is free from potential irritants, like synthetic fragrance and dyes. Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen, but if your skin is red or sensitive, opt for a broad-spectrum mineral formula made with zinc like this one —it's less likely to irritate your skin. When your lips are chapped and cracking, only Aquaphor will do. The combo of petroleum jelly, shea butter, and chamomile is intensely moisturizing and soothing.
Christina Yannello barefacedfemme. I got my first breakout when I was 12 years old, and for the next five years, I was in a constant battle with my skin. I tried everything under the sun to treat it: antibiotics, topical creams, chemical peels, veganism, hormonal pills, spironolactonecortisone shots, lasers—everything.
I was eventually diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, a hormonal disorder that can cause—among other things—persistent acne. I knew then that I had to take the leap and try isotretinoin. A post shared by bare faced femme barefacedfemme.
I was on it for eight months total: For the first three months, I took 40mg, then 60mg for the last five months. I had dry everything —face, lips, eyes, scalp, body—and my hair started shedding a bit, too. It was all an emotional roller coaster for me.
About two months after I finished Accutane, I saw the severity of my migraines, dry eyes, and dry scalp decrease. After four months, my emotional health evened out and I felt back to my old self. It sounds weird, but I really think I was meant to get severe acne. My journey taught me so much about myself: to love myself and be confident, no matter the condition of my skin.
And I would percent consider going back on isotretinoin again if I needed to. Belle Hubbard barefacedbelle. I suffered with severe acne for three years before deciding to try isotretinoin.
My breakouts were super oily, sore, and red no matter what I put on them, and kids at school would call me Braille face. The first two times, my acne slowly got worse over six months, then came back as bad as before. My dermatologist even switched up the dosing each time: My first course, I slowly reached 60mg a day; my second course, we took the approach of 10mg a day for a longer period of time; and my third course, I slowly reached 60mg again.
But after my third round, my skin was still incredibly oily and broken out. He apologized and said there was nothing else he could offer me. I cried the whole way home. But then, strangely, my skin began to clear up a few months later, almost like a delayed effect. A post shared by Belle all things positivity barefacedbelle. I honestly had almost every side effect in the book: dryness, eczema, rashes, body soreness, fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, nosebleeds, stomach problems, hair loss, irritability, and brain fog.
Even my vision was still a little blurry until this past summer. If you do decide to go on isotretinoin, I have two words of advice: 1 Take progress pictures! I tried to push myself over and over again, and I ended up worse off in the end. Use this 2 percent salicylic acid serum all over or as a spot treatment to keep pores clear of acne-causing sebum and dead skin cells. This retinoid gel treats acne in two ways: 1. It boosts cell turnover to keep pores clear and 2.
It reduces inflammation associated with breakouts. It's strong though, so use it only every three days for the first few months. For best results, apply it on clean skin for 10 minutes twice a week.
BP is gold when it comes to killing acne-causing bacteria. It's used here in a 2. Sofia Grahn isotretinoinwiths. Before Accutane, I used to have severe acne—mostly concentrated on my cheeks and forehead, but also along my neck, chest, and back. For the first month of treatment, my skin also went through the initial purging period, meaning my acne got significantly worse like, it doubled in severity before it started to calm down again.
Those first few months were percent the hardest to endure, but I look back at it all with gratitude. When my acne was at its peak severity, my mental health truly suffered in all ways imaginable. So if my skin ever came to affect me the way it did prior to isotretinoin, I would probably go on it again. Before isotretinoin, I had severe cystic acne on my face, chest, arms, and back.
Every time my skin bumped against something, it felt like somebody had poked the most sensitive blister. My acne would then form keloid scarswhich I still have all over my shoulders and back. I decided to go on Accutane in the fall of I started with a low dosage twice a day, then was upped to a stronger dose once a day after a few months. The strongest side effect I had was dry skin: My scalp and nose were always dry and itchy, and my lips were constantly cracked.
The second side effect was a lower alcohol tolerance. I remember going out with friends early on in my Accutane journey, drinking just a few drinks, and getting a terrible hangover and headache that lasted way longer than my usual hangovers.
Thankfully, these were my only two big side effects, and they went away on their own within two months after treatment. Because my body tolerated Accutane so well and the results were so excellent, I finished after six months rather than the anticipated nine. I'm so happy I did it, and I wish I hadn't been so scared in the first place.
The best part is that my skin isn't constantly inflamed anymore—I can wear makeup, bras, and whatever clothes I want without being in constant pain. And now, whenever I do get the occasional pimple, I'm not worried that I'm about to face clusters of inflammation for months. Not only does Accutane already put a bunch of stress on your liver which is the same organ responsible for processing all those White Claws you drinkbut it also dries your body out.
I grew up in a beach town and would wear a full face of makeup to the beach, or beg not to go to school because I was having a particularly bad skin day. I ended up doing two rounds of isotretinoin about four years apart. Over time, though, my acne came back even worse and more painful than before, so I ended up doing a second round of treatment.
I have no residual effects from the medication, and all of my deep acne scars have gone away, too. For me, the biggest side effects I dealt with were an extremely dry nose and lips, and I had large patches of cracked and scaly skin. But all of it started to go away within a few weeks after I finished the medication. As Dr. Gohara said, very few five percent, if she had to guess of her patients go on Accutane a second time, while the vast majority never see a major breakout again.
Again, your results will vary, but rest assured most patients see life-changing improvements with a course of isotretinoin.
My journey taught me so much about myself: to love myself and be confident, no matter the condition of my skin. Yes, it was so hard, but I. I can only speak for myself and share my personal experience. Roaccutane is a VERY powerful drug. It makes your skin dry, your joints painful. "The Zit Fix" has followed Celia Skvaril's journey with acne for over a year. She went on Accutane in October to get rid of her. The journey began smooth. Month one was typical as in the first month on the medication you take the smallest dosage (it increases as you go). I. Get bloodwork panel done (this is for your pregnancy. Each year, lost productivity due to the inherent debilitating effects of acne amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars. Email icon An envelope. Gohara and many others disagrees. In November ofmy skin got really bad, and I could not figure out why. These side effects were MY side effects personally. Over time, though, my acne came back even worse and more painful than before, so I ended up doing a second round of treatment.I can only speak for myself and share my personal experience. Roaccutane is a VERY powerful drug. So monthly blood tests to check your liver is working well and pregnancy tests are essential. These are normally administered by your doctor depending on where you get this prescribed.
I got it prescribed in Greece but then had to do my blood tests, so my GP in London referred me to a dermatologist via the NHS, which is normally a very long process. Thankfully I have the support to take these comments lightly. As I mentioned in one of my monthly updates below , my mental health was seriously affected.
If you need support please speak to someone. If I can help, message me. Lip balm! The only thing that ended up working for me was nipple cream pure lanolin.
I mention a lot of Cerave, because they are gentle, non-irritating and get the job done! A good thing to remember: spots get worse before they get better. A bit of peeling and itching started after 7 days. I somehow thought it would be a good idea to fake tan! Patchy skin hello. With some extra layers of my face cream the peeling was under control.
By week 2, I was itchy all over my arms, legs, and thinking it might be connected to the medicine. I ensure I use body cream nightly to combat this.
I have also started to get dry eyes, which can also happen. Within week 3 and 4, breakouts were going down, no new spots, not too much dryness. I had my first appointment with a dermatologist who discussed upping my dose next month. As dosage depends on weight, you can go up as long as a doctor suggests so. Comparing my starting point with the end of month 1: my skin might not look clearer, but it certainly is.
After that the blood tests need to be done every 3 months, or sooner if the dose is increased. The reason for that is the liver processes the medication and it needs to be monitored to ensure everything works well.
Month 2, I developed acute dermatitis itchy rash on the side of my arm. The cold in London does not help the situation here! Every sebum gland will dry up so taking care of your body is essential. My eyes have felt watery for weeks and I put drops a couple of times during the day. This month I saw the derm who upped my dosage to 50mg. The higher the dose, the worse the effects — so a little more drying than before etc.
But you also finish the course quicker. No major issues with the 50mg dose. Nostrils and eyes are good. I still apply eye drops but not as religiously as last month 4 times a day.
My muscles and joints especially around my ankles are still sore every day, constantly, but I feel it the most the moment I wake up and take the first steps. I randomly found out my collagen protein helped me with my muscle pains!
I know he probably has hundreds of patients, but I feel like I should have been informed at the end of March and not mid-April, a week before my current prescription finished. He said private derms can still give prescriptions, otherwise I should split up my medicine and make it last longer. So instead of 50mg a day, I should do 40mg.
After a lot of stress I managed to receive some from my mum from Greece. While waiting I had to split up the pills I had, so for about a week I was taking 20mg and the last few days 10mg a day. My nose has been unbearably dry!! Some days it was so painful and dry that it was bleeding. Applying cream every night helped. Because of the prescription issues last month, I was on 20mg for a few days before going back on 50mg.
Going back on 50mg made my joints and muscles more sore for a few days. He never showed up for my monthly appointment done over the phone but in the meantime I had an appointment with a different doctor at another hospital. I now have to apply lip balm even more often and you might be able to see my lips have bled. Fun times. As I said last month, my lips were suffering!!
You can see the blood on the left photo From July. The only thing that helped was pure lanolin from the pharmacy which is often used for sore nipples!!! Well it worked a treat. I had someone ask me about my joints and I think they are much better, not as sore and painful as in the past few months. They still hurt a bit especially my ankles when I stand up after a long period of sitting.
Try it! As you can see in the close-ups my pigmentation around my mouth is getting better. JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.
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