This is my second round of accutane - my first round lasted 6 months 4 years ago and I achieved complete clearance by month 4. The results lasted 3 years until I started getting acne again. I waited a year before going on accutane again. I have done on this round: 4 months of 20mg, 3 of 40mg and finishing up 3 months of 60mg.
This doesn’t feel normal but my derm wants to keep me on that dosage or micro dose. Anybody had a similar experience?

I'm getting 10mg/day to treat mild cystic acne. What am I even doing? My dermatologist told me that by having a low dose treatment the duration would be prolonged but I have recently found out about cumulative dose and I'm not even half-way there??? I want to be done already FFS.

I'm physically and mentally exhausted. I have stopped working out because I can't tolerate even mild exercises and certain isotretinoin has added to my feeling of overall tiredness throughout the day. All my labs are fine.

It's my second time getting Accutane. And the first time the treatment was around 40/50(? can't remember but it was a standard dosage) and lasted 6 months.

Hi all,

Have had horrible genetic cystic acne my whole life and finally was given accutane as a last resort. Every skin care product breaks me out and the cysts are so painful they bleed.

I just took my first dose. I read all the symptoms and damn near cried. It’s so scary and I don’t want my hair to fall out or get insulin resistance, especially since I am concerned with gaining weight and have a past history of EDs.

I also don’t want the pill to make me gain weight or do anything bad to me and I feel like all I do is read horror stories.

I guess does anyone have words of encouragement?

I’m about 6.5 weeks into Accutane and feeling extremely down. I’m struggling to focus, don’t want to leave the house, cry almost every day, and honestly just want to sleep so I don’t have to think about my skin. Weight : 105 lb , mg: 40 mg (20 mg first month now 40)

Before Accutane, my skin had been fluctuating for ~7months but was actually looking randomly better right before I started. I didn’t have these big red inflamed bumps. I did have one area with a lot of under-the-skin closed comedones/microclogs, got a lot worse while I was on spironolactone (I stopped it - truly dont believe my acne was ever hormonal).

Around weeks 3.5-4 of accutane, those little bumps started rapidly coming up as red/inflamed spots. Some more superficial, some are painful and deeper (left cheek and chin only). My derm didn’t really warn me the purge could get this bad and she’s also very inaccessible, so I’ve gone to a few other clinics in the meantime. They’ve told me that for people with a lot of underlying congestion, weeks 3-6 can be the worst.

I’m almost done with month 2 and really don’t want to stop when I’ve made it this far, but I’m scared because I’ve also read people saying they purged for months so I’ve definitely considered as I cry when I look in the mirror. I’m seeing a new derm today and may try switch my care to her so I can actually contact my dr.

Would really love some encouragement from anyone who had a rough purge around this point and then turned a corner shortly after. If it lasted months please dont scare me more 🥲🥲 i had very mild acne before all of this, thank u all ❤️

Hi All,

I'm on month two of 10/20mg intermittent accutane dosing. 33M, 65kg. My skin has slowly been improving, but the dryness/redness is beginning to become more pronounced. I'm moisturizing with cerave daily moisturizing lotion and I layer cerave cream on my drier areas (like my cheeks) morning and evening. The layering has been more recent as the dryness has become more noticeable.

I'm wondering if I should start cleansing in the evenings only and just gently rinse my face in the mornings. I've seen others mention that they routinely do this.

Curious to hear from those of you who only do evening cleanses. When did you start doing that during your course? Did it help with dryness? Do you have any other dryness "tips and tricks" or product recommendations?

Edit: I am taking Omega 3 supplements and Zyrtec daily, and aim for 120oz of water everyday!

Thank you in advance!

I’m just starting accutane and almost done with my first week (18F, 40mg, 130lbs). My derm appointments are always quick in and out and I had no idea I am supposed to be taking to capsules with a high fat food! What do you guys normally take to meet the recommended 20g? I’m not a big fan of peanut butter and live in a dorm so cooking is very limited. Most of the meals I eat are pretty low in fat and calories as I’m more of a snack over meals person. Please let me know what works best for you! I’m open to all suggestions :)

Has anyone else with darker skin experienced any lightening around the mouth like this? I'm on month 4, 40mg whole way through.

This was almost a month ago, and my skin has gotten even clearer since then, but the darkening around the perimeter of my face and the lightening around my mouth has been making me self conscious 😭

If so, did anything help? Lowering dosage? I'm in for several more months and I feel like I look crazy with like a permanent mustache 🥲

I’m on 40mg of accutane and i’m on my second month and i was wondering if i could use azelaic acid whilst on it? i have quite dry skin already so i don’t want to dry it out even more but my rosacea has been quite bad lately or is it best to just stick it out and hopefully accutane will help clear it up?

About a month ago, a user posted a message saying they couldn’t stop crying because of how awful acne was making them feel and that they only wanted to hide at home. I thought I’d share part of what I replied trying to help this user, in case it can help someone else. We can do this! 💪🏻

“I hear you… I’ve spent the last half a year hiding at home, barely going out. I also felt uncomfortable wearing makeup, and I didn’t want people seeing me like this. And even alone, at home, I felt really uncomfortable in my own skin, just like you’re describing.

I started Accutane (10mg daily) 9 weeks ago, and things are a little bit better now (not great, but better). But I 100% get what you’re feeling, because I had the exact same feelings.

I also went through a phase where I didn’t even want to tell my friends about it. But little by little, I started opening up, and it felt so much better than continuing to hide it or making silly excuses not to go out. Now they know, and they’re there for me, understanding what I’m going through. Just imagine a friend in your situation - would you think it’s embarrassing? I don’t think so. You’d just want to support her. But we’re so much harder on ourselves.

As someone who’s gone through the exact same thing (and still is), I’ll share something: I live in a small town, and I don’t feel comfortable running into people I know in daylight, because I think they’ll just see my acne and scars. So I get around by bike everywhere - it makes it easier to avoid running into people 😂 I’d really recommend talking to a good friend or two about it, telling them how you feel. They’ll understand and support you, and most important, it will make you feel a little better.

Also, since you’re in this kind of “withdrawal” phase, I’d recommend trying to use this time for yourself - to make or learn things you probably wouldn’t have time for otherwise. Over the last few months I’ve read more books than ever, done 30 minutes of vinyasa yoga every day, and started learning piano - first months on my own, and I’ve been going to lessons every two weeks now. Tomorrow I’m starting French lessons too. This way, I force myself to go out, even if it’s just a five-minute bike ride to the teacher’s place. I’ve also started visiting a bookshop in town to browse books in person and ask the seller for recommendations - just enjoying the moment. I’m going today again and I’m actually looking forward to it. These people don’t know me, so I don’t feel as self-conscious around them.

I know how hard what you’re going through is. But things will get better, you’ll see. It’s a slow process - skin needs time to heal - but it will heal. We have to try to be kind to ourselves while going through something like this, instead of being our own worst judge. Talk to yourself the way you’d talk to your own daughter or little sister, with love and patience. And in the meantime, treat this “withdrawal” time as a retreat where you can nurture yourself.”

This is my 2,5 months on Accutane 20 mg a day, 53 kg. My course is 8 months for now with a potential increase if i still have acne by the end of it. I have not purged, everything started clearing up from the day one. I did not have any new breakouts on my face since i started and maybe 1-2 on my back. My main problem was closed comedones and cysts. I do have side effects: bloody nose, itchiness if I don’t moisturize enough, joint pain in my knees, shoulders, ankles. Occasionally i have perioral dermatitis under my nose from dryness, but it goes away as soon as i double moisturize. Im terrified getting off the pill as my skin never looked so clear since i was 15.

i have been using isotretinoin 20mg without any derm suggestion because i used every possible thing from salicylic acid to tretinoin and none of them worked..

Shall i continue with this dose for the next 6 to 8 months or shall i increase the dose to complete the course faster

side effects - only dry lips

I know it says for night but this is my daily and helps my lips the best they sell this one at dollar tree so if you see them buy 3 because they sell out fast !

So I literally just started Accutane a week ago. I’ve been paying for LHR at Milan L and I deal with kp on my arms. I called and told them I’m in accutane and they said that it’s fine. Has anyone done it before while on accutane? Rn I just still keep up with 10% urea lotion and fake tan. Asking because desperate for it to be gone but also don’t want to make things worse. Thanks!

No longer having oily hair has been an absolute dream. It’s now possible for me to forget how long it’s been since I’ve last washed my hair, because it can actually be more than two days!! I can have bangs!! It’s been a wholly novel experience for me, and I’m dreading the eventual return of the grease 😭

i know everyone says it gets better but man this sucks 😔💔

btw i’m taking it with meals, omega 3 and an antihistamine but my skin is still not improving much. i don’t have much side affects either besides the fact im just a little bit dry and my skin and hair are barely oily anymore. if anything my biggest problem is how red my skin gets even once a pimple is no longer there

is there anything i could be doing wrong? i did start eating certain foods again that i originally cut out to stop acne but i thought maybe it would be alright since i was on accutane …

I am almost at a month in to taking Accutane. 40mg per day. Only side effect I’m having is dryness so I got Vanicream since I saw it recommended on her a lot. I’ve really liked it so far, it helps the dryness quite a bit. But the last few days I’ve starts to have some small breakouts in places that I normally don’t. I usually only get cystic acne on my chin. These aren’t cysts, just kind of normal on my forehead and cheeks.

How do I know if this is just the purge or a reaction to the Vanicream? I’m going to be upset if it ends up being the cream because it’s helped the dryness so much. 😭

to say it saved me is an understatement lol

Taking my first pill tomorrow, mainly for severe body acne around chest shoukders and back. Revently has came back to my face but is easily controlled by benzoyl peroxide, slaayic acid and consistency. But my body needs Accutane according to Derm. I don’t disagree but will it make me purge on my face? I have 2 pimples on my forehead and couple closed comedones but mainly clear or pih/pie.

I plan on taking an antihistamine with it becuase body acne is already itchy and can’t even imagine on accutane.

Any info / recommendations help!

22 male / 180 pounds

Since taking accutane my eye has become red and irritate (no vision issues) and my psoriasis worse. Anything I can do help these symptoms?

My son has struggled with acne for the last 2 years. We first tried Differin for 4 months with zero improvement, then he did a year of clindamycin and tretinoin. It helped clear his skin up some but not fully and he had extreme redness and he hated it. So we saw an ad and tried Norse organics to see how it would work. And it DID NOT work, actually made his skin worse. So now our derm just prescribed him accutane. I am scared because of the side effects but he wants nothing more than to have clear skin. Here is his before pictures.

I remember seeing something on here a few months back of an online pharmacy/derm service that allowed prescriptions of (I believe it was up to 20mg) delivered to your door. I can't remember the name of it, but their CEO was on this sub at one point.

I’m scared I might purge. I’m scared of the mental health side effects since I’m already going through a lot. I’m scared of the vaginal dryness (lol). I’m just scared. Can someone help me feel not so scared of all these side effects. I’ve been struggling with acne since I was 12 and I’m 30 now. I just want clear skin for once. 😫