Accutane and Dry Lips: What Users Say

• Los...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2020

For Acne "I promised myself that if this worked, then I would write a review to hopefully help other patients out who are hesitant about taking Accutane. I have been taking Accutane (40 mg/day) for 4 months now. I am 5'5 and 138 pounds. I can say that Accutane works better than any other acne medication (the other medication I tried was Spiro, which helped my face acne by like 75% but did nothing for my back/chest acne). I have tried, and I had minimal side effects (dry skin, some fatigue, increased sun sensitivity, dry lips, dry eyes), but that is all. It was all worth it though. It not only got rid of my cystic acne but also got rid of my closed comedones and the sebaceous filaments on my nose. My ONLY regret is not taking this sooner. If you have pitted scarring or your skin scars easily, please take this. I have nothing but positive things to say about Accutane."

• All...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2019

For Acne "If you are googling Accutane and reading this, please be open-minded about the medication. My biggest problem was I googled everything before taking it and had my funeral planned. For me, Accutane has been a life changer! I’ve had none of the side effects or anything I read or heard was even true. I didn’t break out more, never got depressed, bones didn’t hurt - none of the above! Only clear skin and some dry lips at times. I took 60mg daily for 4 months. I’m 5 foot, 105 lbs... they base it off weight. My dermatologist had me try everything under the sun, and nothing worked but this. She swore by it and told me 1% of people get all those gnarly side effects and to try it, and worse case scenario, you stop taking it and we explore other options. I’m telling you, try it! Be open-minded and grateful that there is something out there for us pimple oil heads."

• ter...
• April 7, 2020

For Acne "This drug is poison. Please care for yourself. Accutane ruined my life. I took 80 mg of Accutane for 9 months at 18 years old. I had cystic acne on my back and face. I tried birth control, antibiotics, and topical creams. So my dermatologist recommended this. Side effects: dry skin all over, chapped lips, eczema, brittle nails. Vision problems, waking up in the morning with my eyes sealed shut with pus, and dry eyes. Lips were a huge scab. Normal and monthly checkups/blood tests. I had dime-sized blisters on my body from a sunburn. Six months: body aches that made it difficult to sleep, poor digestion, hemorrhoids, bloody stools, and sad. Months 7-9: my hair fell out! I lost 80% of my hair, in pain and depressed. Nine months: finished treatment, I was 'cured' of my acne. I was bald, poor vision, and in pain mentally and physically. Three months later, my acne came back worse. My dermatologist said to do round 2 of Accutane, and I told her never to recommend it to anyone. It is so toxic for your body. Please do not take this drug."

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2018

For Acne "I had to take two courses, genuinely think this drug saved my life. I had beyond severe, painful, bulging, cystic acne everywhere that nothing worked for while in high school. I had to wear undershirts because I would bleed through my shirts. I had to quit sports because any contact would cause bleeding, not to mention pain. I was essentially bullied out of high school due to the severity of my skin. I literally, to this day, have never seen anyone with as bad of acne as I had. It completely cleared up my skin after the first course. After a few months, it did come back, pretty harshly by most people’s standards, but literally nothing in comparison to what it was. I took another course, and I have clear skin to this day, 6 years later with minimal scarring. The only side effect I had was dry everything - skin, eyes, nose, lips. People say it causes depression, I think having severe acne is much more likely to cause depression than Accutane."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2009

For Acne "Today is my 11th day on Accutane, and I have already seen some major results. I had a small breakout the first couple of days, but now it has gotten so much better. I'm so happy because I finally have hope that my acne will go away. Because I don't even go out with friends anymore, and everyone at school makes fun of my acne. Yes, it's severe, and I'm glad this is working. Side effects I have are dry lips and a little bit of back pain, not much though. At school, I am so ashamed of my face, I try to hide it. All those who have severe acne, you are not alone, I understand how you feel."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2019

For Rosacea "I have been on this drug about four times in my life. In my 20s, I went on it twice for mild to moderate acne that made me acne-free with perfect skin for 20 years. Now in my 40s, I went on it twice for papulopustular rosacea. It was a total cure and leads to stunning skin. It also acts as a wrinkle eraser, which is something that the media is too afraid to talk about publicly. This drug is highly recommended. Yes, it dries your lips, so what? If you want perfect skin, it’s worth it."

• Nic...
• March 20, 2014

For Acne "I'm on my fourth month of Accutane and can honestly say this has changed my life. Four months ago, my confidence was literally non-existent. I couldn't look people in the eye, I hid away from everyone even my family as much as I could, I hated going out in public. My acne wasn't severe or cystic but when you have pimples on your face, you feel like that's all people are looking at. After reading so many scary things about this medicine I was really hesitant about going on it. But I couldn't be happier that I did. I've experienced only dry lips, skin and eyes which is pretty easy to control with a good moisturizer. I sometimes (rarely) experience minor back pain. But it's so worth it, everything is worth it. I finally have my life back!"

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2020

For Acne "I am on a 10 mg Oratane dose, one pill a day. I had very oily skin, mild pimples that would break out every third week, and lots of blackheads, which are gone and skin no longer oily. I am happy with the results so far in my second month now. The negative part about taking the meds is the side effects: sore joints, dry eyes and nose, very thin skin, and the worst, it has to be my lips, chapped, red, dry, and extremely sore. I even thought of quitting the meds."

• Jac...
• April 3, 2014

For Acne "Accutane is the best medicine in the world. I get every side effect known to man and this medicine only gave me the common side effects. The only side effects I got were dry skin (which was a blessing because my skin was extremely oily), dry lips, and toward the last two months my white blood cell count got low. I would recommend this medicine to everyone. As long as you eat right and are somewhat active you should be fine on this medicine. Also, most say depression is a factor but I have a family history of depression and when I was 12-15 (I am currently 18) I suffered from extreme anxiety and I had no emotional issues with this medicine. It is life changing."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2016

For Rosacea "Four years, dozens of approaches. ONE solution: Accutane. You name it: Pulse Dye Laser, Metronidazole, Ivermectin, Mirvaso, Doxycycline... plus dozens of 'I heard this works great' attempts. Then I got the guts to ignore the 'don't try Accutane' reviews and try it, and it's been nothing short of a miracle from the heavens. Sure, I have a little chapped lips while I am on my 6-month regimen, but that's easily fixed with lip balms. But when this 6 months is over, I will be cured PERMANENTLY. Stop everything you're doing now and get Accutane. It's a life changer."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2014

For Acne "I am 20 years old and have been suffering from acne since I was 14. I tried EVERY topical lotions, antibiotics, and face washes you can think of, and nothing worked on my stubborn skin. I was terrified of going on Accutane because of some bad reviews I read about it. After talking with my dermatologist, I decided to give Accutane a shot. Best decision of my life!! I am currently almost done with my third month, and my skin feels so smooth and looks amazing. I have so much more confidence in myself and can go out without worrying about my skin looking horrible. The only side effects I have gotten so far are dry skin and very dry lips (I carry Chapstick with me 24/7!). Other than that, all I can say is Accutane is truly a miracle."

• Laa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For Acne "I took Accutane at age 40, and I regret not taking it sooner. My skin and lips did not become overly dry. I did have blood work done every month and signed paperwork saying I would use birth control. This medication changed my life. My face cleared up almost immediately. No more embarrassing cystic acne that kept me from enjoying my life. I had read horror stories but spoke to several people who had success with this drug. For me, it was worth the risk. I tried creams, lotions, potions, multiple antibiotics, and nothing worked."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

For Acne "I've had acne since I was about 12 years old. I'm now 21 and on my last month of Accutane (month 4). I can't believe how good my skin looks, and it's even helped with some of the scarring. I did experience some of the side effects. My lips got really chapped, and I would experience nosebleeds, but chapstick and a moisturizer helped with both of those issues. My mood definitely changed for the worse, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it depression. I was just a lot more moody than before. I also slept a LOT. I was always groggy no matter how much sleep I got. But to me, 4 months of these side effects is totally worth how great I feel now. I can walk out of my house with zero makeup on and feel beautiful, just like any young woman should."

• Kwh...
• February 28, 2014

For Acne "I'm just coming to the end of my fourth month on this medicine and it's worked a dream!! Before having this I cried every morning not wanting to go to school and every night before I went to sleep. I tried every single facial wash and tablet there was (prescribed and over the counter). Since being on the medicine, my life has turned around. I'm not afraid to take photos with family and friends and I only use light make-up. I'm not afraid to go out! I did have some side effects such as sickness, depression, nosebleeds, joint pain, dry skin, and chapped lips, however, the doctor dropped the dosage and now I'm back to my normal self! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2015

For Rosacea "Just hitting one month on Accutane. Don't forget, this is a review for rosacea, not acne. I gave it a 9/10 for acne, and on rosacea, I will give it an 8/10 so far. I will update the review over time. I was so hesitant to try Accutane with the horror stories, but you have to remember it is for less than 1% of the people that take it. I struggled with depression and have had ZERO depression episodes. Dry eyes and dry lips. Hair thinning a bit, but I am not losing any whatsoever. Vivid dreams. That is all. I only had two headaches (minor). This and CeraVe Cleanser, CeraVe Moisturizer has made my rosacea go COMPLETELY away. The redness on my face is gone. It is amazing to me. Good luck to all who go down the Accutane road! Everyone is different."

• Dee...
• June 2, 2020

For Acne "If you have tried everything else and failed, then Accutane is the way to go. It never fails. Of course, some will need a higher dosage than others or a longer period of time, depending on how bad the acne is. I was on a one-pill-per-day option for 4 months. Within 2 months, most of my pimples had cleared, and I only had spots. I was happy. But the side effects are also not very pretty. But I think it is a small price to pay for clearer skin forever. I had really dry lips. Had to drink water all the time. I actually used to sleep with a bottle and some Vaseline to use during the night. My whole body was extremely dry, including my private parts. Had small nosebleeds. But I'd try to put Vaseline with an earbud in my nose to avoid drying up. My face was very sensitive. I was lucky all this happened during lockdown, so I was in the house for quite some time. In my third to fourth month, every side effect became worse."

• Lil...
• June 4, 2014

For Acne "I think I read every single review and watched every single YouTube video on Accutane before I finally decided to start taking it. Every time I looked in the mirror, I hated myself because of the way that I looked. I was embarrassed to be seen by anyone, and I wore tons of foundation to try and cover my acne, which probably made it even worse, but having acne made me crazy insecure about myself. Taking Accutane was the best decision of my life. I feel like a different person, and not only has it made my skin 100 times better, but I am far more confident too. My lips got quite dry, but apart from that, everything was great. My only regret with taking Accutane was that I didn't start taking it earlier. It is genuinely a miracle!"

• Hol...
• December 17, 2013

For Acne "I wrote a review here a few months ago when I was starting my third week on Accutane. Now I am starting my fourth month, and it's going great. I had mentioned a bunch of side effects before, and now the only side effect is chapped lips and dry skin. My face actually feels like a face now, and I can actually feel my skin instead of a million dry bumps. I did break out only on my forehead at the beginning, but it only lasted about 2-3 weeks. Then I would get a pimple every now and then, but now I don't even get pimples anymore. I can't even imagine how much more flawless my face can get. I hope it affects everyone else in a positive way too."

• Ano...
• January 13, 2013

For Acne "I'm 16 years old and used to suffer from scarring acne. Accutane was AMAZING. At first, I was so scared to go on this medication due to side effects, but my doctor had finally talked me into it. I started seeing amazing results after about a month. My skin was pretty much clear by month 3. The only side effects I had were dry lips (however, Aquaphor solved that problem) and dry skin (Cetaphil after washing my face or shower solved that problem). I also had a huge change in attitude. I was much more active and my appetite changed. I LOST 30 lbs, I sometimes had cravings, however, I feel as though Accutane sped up my metabolism. Highly recommended, I feel beautiful now."

• Cle...
• January 24, 2016

For Acne "I am now 55 years old. I started developing acne when I was 14. It became so severe that my parents took me to a dermatologist. This was back in the 1970s when all that was available were antibiotics and infrared light treatment. It worked on and off, but after several years, my body built up a resistance to the antibiotics and the severe acne returned. I was prescribed Accutane when I was 29. My acne cleared up in 3 days! I had some mild side effects: dry skin, dry lips (which continue to this day). But my skin is crystal clear and has been for almost 30 years! I highly recommend this wonderful medication. I don't know what my life would have been like without it."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2014

For Acne "I had severe cystic acne covering my entire body for over 2 years. I tried antibiotics, creams, and pills, and none of them worked. Finally, after a year on antibiotics with no results, my doctor referred me to a dermatologist who prescribed Accutane. I took it for six months, and now my acne is completely gone. I have been off of it for two months now, and no acne whatsoever has returned. I am hoping it never does! The side effects for Accutane were difficult (especially the dry lips - I had chapstick with me 24/7 and went crazy if I couldn't apply it about once an hour at least), but the end result was worth it in my opinion."

• lin...
• December 12, 2014

For Acne "Dried up the acne after a few months, though side effects during the 12-week treatment included nosebleeds, peeling lips, sore feet, and joints. Worth it though, still get the odd spot, but feel normal again and don't hide away from the world anymore."

• Jes...
• October 10, 2019

For Acne "I had cystic acne for a while, and it was honestly just the worst. I hated taking any kind of pictures and showing my face anywhere. Besides that, it was just plain painful! I went to my dermatologist, and she started me on Accutane. It took about 2-3 months before I started seeing significant differences, but after that, it just kept getting better. All of my acne is completely gone now, and you can’t see any scarring. I do have some freckles, so it covers up whatever little dots are left behind from permanent scarring, but there are barely any anyways. The only real problems I had were dry lips and scalp. I made sure to always have chapstick on me, and I went through many hair masks, but I have no other complaints. With that, I know people have some emotional problems, but I can say I had none, although I was way more confident with my appearance. I was very, very skeptical at first with all the crazy side effects, but I can say I am so grateful I did it!"

• Rex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

For Acne "I've had acne my whole life (age 29). Face was always oily, and I'd pop pimples all the time. Started Accutane in January. Face and lips started getting really dry. Eucerin lotion and Aquaphor worked very well, but needed to apply several times a day. Eczema on the top of my hands, wrists, and upper arms (small red bumps that I've never had before in my life), so more lotion was required. By the middle of the second month, my acne was gone. I had dry eyes that required artificial tears at least 8 times a day. After 3 months, my doctor told me I can discontinue taking it. It did not hold me back from being active and traveling through a few countries either. The side effects had disappeared except for a few small bumps only on my upper arms. It is November now. Still haven't seen a single pimple on my face! Had mild depression and anxiety, but I've also had a long history even before taking Accutane. Different people will have different results and side effects. Best of luck to everyone."

• Jen...
• May 13, 2019

For Acne "Accutane has been great for my skin as I struggled with mild acne from the age of 12 to 18 years old. When I hit college, my skin became extremely oily, and my small pimples became deep cysts. I saw a dermatologist and was put on Differin and also Duac. I went through several courses of antibiotics without ever getting fully clear skin. My dermatologist told me that Accutane was the next step. The only bad side effects I had besides the dry skin and dry lips were some pretty horrendous headaches at the beginning. My dermatologist made me take a week off taking it, and those headaches never returned. Besides that, my Accutane course was great, and my blood work was just fine. Before Accutane, I was too embarrassed to be seen by anyone, including family, without makeup on. Now I can leave my house with no makeup. This is true freedom, my skin is now JUST skin, and I can look people in the eye and not worry about them staring at a huge cyst on my face. I wish I had done this ten years ago!"