Well here is my side of the story. My brother and I struggled with acne all through middle school. We went through tons of drugstore brands, proactive, neutrogena, (there's some popular brand that starts with a C that I can't think of), I even went through straight scrubbing with rubbing alcohol and peroxide. One summer I even combined a bunch of brands which gave me chemical burns. I was in and out of the dermatologist's office every time thinking this new product would fix my acne. But nothing did. I used around fifty prescribed topicals like retina (I think that was what it was called) and other very tough products. All of these made my skin incredibly dry, but if I used a moisturizer with them it made my acne worse. So I dealt with flaky skin for around two and a half years. I first got doxycycline, a pill which did nothing. My brother had also been on it and decided that last December he was ready to try Accutane (the generic brand is actually Claravis which is what everyone takes). His skin improved dramatically and I was begging everyone to let me try it. So eventually I got my first prescription. I had been depressed a couple months before and the year before that too. I did not mention this to my doctor throughout my entire prescription. I never once noticed a change in becoming more depressed, it was the same as before- falling into ruts just the same. I started on 40mg once a day for one month. My acne did get worse (the accutane has to draw out the acne in flares). After that I stayed on 30mg twice a day for 3 and a half months. My acne would flare up and die down often but less and less each time. Mine was not completely gone by 3 months but after four I was clear.
I did get the normal side effects-dry skin and lips (seriously get Aquaphor chap stick if you go on it, my lips never showed any wear because of it, I also used Vaseline on them at night). I used Cerave moisturizer cream morning and night. My only other side effect was back pain. It started about two weeks after my first pill right around the time that I was playing softball 7 days a week and riding horses 7 days a week and being thrown from a horse I was training. So I chalked it up to that and didn't bother mentioning it. On my last meeting with my dermatologist she said it was from the medicine and takin a fish oil supplement or eating fish would make it better (I did notice eating fish made it better but I didn't take a supplement).
If anyone has any questions I'm happy to answer them!
Allison, I recently started accutane and I'm noticing mild dryness. Aquaphor works wonders for my lips. But, I am noticing that my makeup (foundation and concealer) are not wearing well. It seems to settle into my skin and look flakey. Any makeup/ face cream suggestions?
I was on accutane for about 8 months. I really does work! It cleared up all my acne! Yes it is a very very strong medicine and you have to be very careful on it. You have to take blood tests and pregnancy tests every time you go to get a new prescription. I was on it almost 3 years ago and I haven't had a bad breakout since. I mean I break out but nothing compared to what I use to get!
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Aug 07, 2012
Allison W.
Well here is my side of the story. My brother and I struggled with acne all through middle school. We went through tons of drugstore brands, proactive, neutrogena, (there's some popular brand that starts with a C that I can't think of), I even went through straight scrubbing with rubbing alcohol and peroxide. One summer I even combined a bunch of brands which gave me chemical burns. I was in and out of the dermatologist's office every time thinking this new product would fix my acne. But nothing did. I used around fifty prescribed topicals like retina (I think that was what it was called) and other very tough products. All of these made my skin incredibly dry, but if I used a moisturizer with them it made my acne worse. So I dealt with flaky skin for around two and a half years. I first got doxycycline, a pill which did nothing. My brother had also been on it and decided that last December he was ready to try Accutane (the generic brand is actually Claravis which is what everyone takes). His skin improved dramatically and I was begging everyone to let me try it. So eventually I got my first prescription. I had been depressed a couple months before and the year before that too. I did not mention this to my doctor throughout my entire prescription. I never once noticed a change in becoming more depressed, it was the same as before- falling into ruts just the same. I started on 40mg once a day for one month. My acne did get worse (the accutane has to draw out the acne in flares). After that I stayed on 30mg twice a day for 3 and a half months. My acne would flare up and die down often but less and less each time. Mine was not completely gone by 3 months but after four I was clear.
I did get the normal side effects-dry skin and lips (seriously get Aquaphor chap stick if you go on it, my lips never showed any wear because of it, I also used Vaseline on them at night). I used Cerave moisturizer cream morning and night. My only other side effect was back pain. It started about two weeks after my first pill right around the time that I was playing softball 7 days a week and riding horses 7 days a week and being thrown from a horse I was training. So I chalked it up to that and didn't bother mentioning it. On my last meeting with my dermatologist she said it was from the medicine and takin a fish oil supplement or eating fish would make it better (I did notice eating fish made it better but I didn't take a supplement).
If anyone has any questions I'm happy to answer them!
Nov 22, 2012
Kenzi S.
Allison, I recently started accutane and I'm noticing mild dryness. Aquaphor works wonders for my lips. But, I am noticing that my makeup (foundation and concealer) are not wearing well. It seems to settle into my skin and look flakey. Any makeup/ face cream suggestions?
Nov 22, 2012
Krissy S.
I was on accutane for about 8 months. I really does work! It cleared up all my acne! Yes it is a very very strong medicine and you have to be very careful on it. You have to take blood tests and pregnancy tests every time you go to get a new prescription. I was on it almost 3 years ago and I haven't had a bad breakout since. I mean I break out but nothing compared to what I use to get!