Roaccutane ^^

Sep 12, 2011

Yasemin O.

Hi ladies!

Well I'm super-excited because I will be starting a 4-5 month long, low dose Roaccutane course tomorrow.

I would love it if those of you with experience could tell me the best way to deal with it. For example, how should I handle my skin, should I pretty much leave it alone during the course or should I use gentle products? I know I should always use sunscreen etc of course! I know that I will most likely go through a purging phase, what should i do during that? What are the best products to use during these times?

After the course, should I use scar-fading products or get a chemical peel or two?

I know that there's tons about it's potential side effects on the internet but I'll be using a very low dose so I'm hoping to avoid that and go on to finally have clear skin for the first time in 10 years! 

XO
Yasemin

Sep 12, 2011

Jane A.

If you really need a gentle cleanser and sun screen and PM lotion, check out CeraVe. It's a drug store brand that has the same type of ingredients that higher end department store brands have, but it's cheaper.

I say that because I suffered from horrible break outs, and I switched my entire skin care line to that (along with the acne topicals that was prescribe by my dermo), and my face cleared tremendously! I was on a pill (Minocyclene... sp?) but I suffered from horrible vertigo (room spinning headaches), so I stopped with the pill.

Anyway CeraVe is very gentle (roscea sufferers love this brand!). The ceramide in it will help to regerate your skin (ceramide is a regenerating ingredient) while you're on this process.

Just wanted to share my thoughts on products you could use for this process... good luck. =)

Sep 13, 2011

Courtney C.

@yasemin: isn't is a great feeling? (to know you'll not have to worry about acne after the treatment starts working) I am too, under the care of a dermatologist and was also on minocycline for 2 or so years. It's been over 10 years now since my first visit to my derm when my skin was horrible and I'm still under his care for maintenance. I never worry about my skin anymore - it's always clear. That.....is priceless.


So, like I said, i never did accutane. but, i would ask your derm for suggestions for other skin care. mine told me a specific OTC face wash to use when my treatment started (neutrogena oil free acne wash) but i do'nt think a salicylic acid treatment would be good while your on accutane - it would probably irritate your skin way to much. My guess would be to use a cleanser like cetaphil. You'll be seeing your derm frequently during treatement so that they can monitor for those side effects. I know many people that did accutane and had clear skin after that, no problem. I also was told by my friends the only real side effects that were bothersome for them was the skin dryness. One of my friends on accutane never left the house without chapstick - i would def. recommend that. good luck!

Sep 13, 2011

Yasemin O.

@ Jane: Thank you so much for your advice! I've seen the name CeraVe mentioned by a couple of women on this website, I guess it really is something I should check out! I live in Turkey but you can get most brands here, worst case scenario I can order some from the US or from the UK! I'm also going to look up ceramides, I DO need something like that since my skin is going to thin out and get even more sensitive/reactive when i use this.

@Courtney: Yes I'm so excited, I feel like fast forwarding 4 months into the future and imagining a day and night without applying 5 different creams to different areas of my face and still ending up with horrible cysts! I will research CeraVe and other gentle brands such as Bioderma before I get the dry-out so I can be fully prepared :)

@Terra: You know what's so funny? Chapstick broke me out just yesterday :P Well I know what you mean though, I have this 6-year old LaMer lip balm that's never broken me out, I guess it'll be my best buddy from now on!

Thank you so much for your responses! I feel really supported and positive :) Have a great day!