Accutane and Dry Skin: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Joe...
• January 31, 2015

For Acne "I started taking this medication about four years ago, stopped maybe two or three years ago. Great success, my acne vanished and I have only had acne one time since, when I accidentally used moisturizer on my face. The only side effect I had was dry skin (mostly just chapped lips), which is to be expected, but it is pretty much back to normal now."

• Cec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2019

For Acne "Please do not take this medication. I know you are struggling and have tried everything to clear it, but the side effects of this medication are not worth it. Did it clear my acne? Sure, but I had horrible dry skin, had to layer Vaseline on my lips before I went to bed. There were days I couldn’t open my mouth because the corners of my mouth would crack and bleed. It sent my cholesterol through the roof, and the monthly blood draws are a hassle. I ended up in the ER with severe abdominal pain after 5 months on the medication. I had a CT scan and colonoscopy, and I was only 19 years old. The scans showed my intestines were severely inflamed, and of course, I had to stop the medication immediately. Now, many years later, my acne is back, and I still suffer from digestive issues that I attribute to this medication. I can 100% understand your need for a solution to clear up your acne, but please educate yourself on ALL of the potential side effects."

• kb1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For Acne "I am so thankful that I eventually tried Accutane. Literally tried everything before this and am so glad I did! I had horrible acne, even some cystic acne that was so painful ever since I can remember. Started Accutane, and aside from the extremely dry skin, I even got a rash sometimes, the side effects are tolerable and it cleared my skin up 100%! I started it when I was 19 years old. I took 6 months of it, and my face was officially clear. It’s been almost two years now, and I haven’t had a zit. NOT ONE. My skin went back to normal and not dry. Highly recommended! It’s hard while on it, but the results are so worth it."

• Sha...
• October 20, 2014

For Acne "I am a 38-year-old female who has had acne since I was 10 years old. I have tried every over-the-counter medication possible for acne from 1986 to 2012. After years of constant painful acne, my doctor finally decided that my case was severe enough to qualify for this medicine called Accutane/Isotretinoin. There's a long list of side effects which may seem scary at first, my only side effect was minor dry skin, which was curable with a good moisturizer. I completed my treatment in January 2013, and this is now October 2014, and I am still acne-free-longest period in my life ever to not have acne. I was on this for approximately five months, but I first started seeing results in a month. I haven't worn makeup on my face since then."

• Kyr...
• November 23, 2019

For Acne "I am currently a week into my third month of treatment and have suffered from acne since the age of 19. I am now 24 and have finally decided to bite the bullet and go on Accutane. My derm initially prescribed me 40mg of Accutane once daily, she upped my dose to 60mg, and when I say my skin has become beyond dry and sensitive to the touch, I mean it. Not to mention the initial purge is something I am dealing with, breaking out on parts of my face that I normally don’t break out. There are red, inflamed bumps that take weeks to dissipate. At my last appointment, she lowered my dose back to 40mg. She stated that I am just one of her patients that she needs to ease into the process with. I was on prednisone during month two as well because my skin had flared up so bad. I am really hoping there is a light at the end of this nightmare of a tunnel. If anyone has gone through anything similar to this with their treatment, I would love to hear your experience because I’m losing hope and am trying to be patient."

• Liz...
• February 20, 2019

For Acne "My sophomore and junior year of high school, I took Accutane for a 6-month period. I took it again my freshman year of college, but for a shorter period of time. My skin was excessively dry, I experienced frequent nosebleeds, and my lips were appalling. As a result of taking Accutane for a total of around 15 months, my health changed, and so did my confidence. They warn you of potential side effects, but they refuse to discuss healthier alternatives with you until it’s too late. As a result of this medication, I now experience GI distress and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I am 20 years old, and I firmly believe this medication is the cause. Despite making lifestyle changes, I still experience horrible episodes of constipation, and my acne has come back worse than before. My confidence is lower, and sometimes I feel hopeless. I am writing this review because I feel passionate about encouraging those considering Accutane not to go through with it. It’s not worth it!"

• Luc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 22, 2020

For Acne "Taking Accutane for my acne is one of the best things I’ve done. It has literally changed my life, and I have become so much more confident. I am so much happier with how my skin is and my appearance now than I ever have been. People comment on how I look happier and healthier because my skin is just glowing! I am just in my last month or so, and I am looking forward to when it finishes. I struggled with severely dry lips and patches of skin on my face to begin with. My skin started to cope more, but my lips are still as dry as ever, this is something I will not miss. Occasionally, I may feel down, however, as long as you tell your doctor the truth, they can deal with this and possibly lower your dose, etc. (one of the positive side effects is my hair is nowhere near as greasy!) To anyone who is wondering whether Accutane is for them, I would say it is life-changing, and the side effects are manageable for such a positive outcome at the end!"

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2014

For Acne "I've written a review on here a couple of times, first when I had first started on Accutane and second when I was on my fourth month. I just finished my last pill last night, and I'm hopeful that my face will stay clear. I still have dry lips and dry skin, that will eventually go back to normal, but otherwise my skin is completely clear and I'm not scared to wear less makeup, before, I would literally look like a cake face. All I have is a lot of leftover marks and discoloration, but my dermatologist and I have already talked about chemical peels within the next month or two. I know Accutane sounds scary for everyone who hasn't tried it and read some reviews, but it's not. Acne was messing with me mentally, and I was willing to try anything! Go for it."

• J-m...
• September 21, 2018

For Acne "I personally loved Accutane! I spent 8 years dealing with moderate hormonal cystic acne. Like most people on here, I tried everything else out there. I kept saying no to Accutane because of all the horror stories I had read online. Finally, my doctor said there was nothing left for me to do except Accutane. So, I did my research, and I prepared myself for the worst. My acne is completely gone after the 5-month course. I was one of the lucky few to have very little side effects from the medication. My face was hardly dry at all, and I only had some chapped lips. But nothing like I had expected. What I will say to the people questioning it is trust your doctor! Obviously, do your research, but don't get too caught up with the stories online. Know there are risks, and some people have had horrible experiences with it, but also know everyone is different. I think if you prepare yourself for the worst, it may not be as bad."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2020

For Acne "I started the medication a little under 3 months ago. My acne wasn’t as bad as most people have it. I would get 1-3 cystic breakouts about every week. I also had pretty oily skin, which is mainly what caused these breakouts. One week on the medication, my skin's oil decreased substantially. Week 2 came around, and I had probably the worst breakout I’ve had in recent memory. It took about a week and a half for my skin to heal from that, but I haven’t had any breakouts since. I haven’t even had tiny pimples or anything like that as well. Accutane has made my skin so much better, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The side effects aren’t anything to worry about either. The only side effects I’ve gotten were dry skin, chapped lips, and red hands (my derma gave me a cream for my hands, and they were fine a week later). With all of this said, I would highly recommend Accutane, although the side effects seem scary, I have only gotten the dryness."

• Ej1...
• September 9, 2013

For Acne "My acne was severe before Accutane. I was at the point where I wouldn't leave the house, I had no social life. It was so horrendous it was emotionally awful and physically painful too. I felt suicidal, it was that bad. I felt like a monster, tried so many ways to get rid of my acne from the age of 13, nothing worked. It just got worse, turned cystic, and then when I turned 21, I decided to take the plunge and go for Accutane. Not joking, the first two months were hell, and I felt like giving up. But I carried it on, and yeah, the side effects, like dry skin and lips, were bad, and I was moody, but all I regret is not taking it sooner. My skin is perfect now and glows. I look like a different person, I'd advise this 100%."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2022

For Acne "Don't take this drug, I'm warning you. I had very bad acne on my back, chest, and face. I took Accutane for 6 months, and it really cleared my skin, however, the permanent side effects are much worse. My acne came back to the same state as it was before, but now I also struggle with very dry skin, dry mouth, dry eyes, eczema, and others. Trust me, I'm telling you this for your own good, don't take it."

• Gol...
• January 12, 2008

For Acne "Accutane seems to have saved my skin. Before taking Accutane, I tried about everything on the market, and NOTHING worked. I started taking it, it sucked with the constant dry skin, lips, and everything else, but it worked. I do have some pockmarks on my face since I had acne for so long. But it looks a lot better than that UGLY acne!"

• Kir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2013

For Acne "DON'T BE PUT OFF BY A BAD REVIEW! I took Accutane when I was 18. I held off taking it for a while because of all of the reviews. My friend and I were both on it, she suffered with dry skin and nosebleeds, but it's nowhere near as bad as it sounds. I never even noticed her dry skin, and if you're good and slap moisturizer on, you'll be fine! I worried about the dry skin, and I tell you, I didn't have one side effect. I just remember loving life! No more makeup sliding off my face due to oiliness either. The side effects depend on your dose, I was on 30 mg, but my friend was on 80 mg and had side effects. You can take a lower dose, but you'll be on the treatment for longer as you're given a certain amount depending on your weight."

• Mal...
• December 16, 2019

For Acne "My back and abdomen acne became severe in the last year when I started receiving testosterone replacement therapy. After 6 months of Accutane treatment, my back and chest are 99% clear. From a cosmetic point of view, I am delighted. HOWEVER! Yes, I had dry lips, skin, and nostrils. Some days/weeks I would get incredibly low. I know we all get down at times, but this was a much lower, persistent feeling. In addition, I started getting massive lymph node swellings in my armpits, on my stomach. I had to go to the doctor on two separate occasions because of the size and pain of the swellings. My doctor noticed I was clearly depressed. She recommended coming off Accutane, but my stubbornness made me persist. I observed noticeable improvement in my skin after 3 months. It was probably only in the last month when I stopped getting acne completely. However, be careful of your mental health. The medication changed my personality, and I became very anxious, deeply depressed, and tired."

• Ray...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 10, 2019

For Acne "In high school, I suffered with severe, cystic acne. I had acne on my chest and back as well. I was so insecure with myself. I tried birth control first, along with almost every different type of face wash you can purchase. I tried eating completely clean. I tried EVERYTHING!!! Finally, I saw a dermatologist and was prescribed Accutane. This was by far the best decision I ever made! I was on it for 8 months, I believe. The first few months your acne will stay the same or get a tiny bit worse, however, after a few months, you’ll start to see it clear up, and by the end of it, I was completely acne-free. This was in 2016, my senior year of high school. It is now 2019, and I am still acne-free. Every now and then, I will have a breakout or two, but that is just life. If you are debating on taking this, I 100% would recommend it. I suffered NO side effects besides chapped lips and dry skin, but I managed this by using Aquaphor religiously!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2012

For Rosacea "After years of dealing with a red, bumpy, itchy, burning face, this was the only medicine that cleared my face totally. Apart from some drier skin, I had no other side effects. I gradually was able to wean off them and don't really think I was on it for long at all."

• Joh...
• September 25, 2019

For Acne "Do NOT take this unless you have very severe cystic acne. I was heavily pressured into taking this 6 months ago with moderate acne, and I can't stress enough how much I regret it. I was urged by a dermatologist to start this before my acne might get really bad. Instead of stopping it, though, I had 6 months of unfixably chapped lips, dry skin, severe depression, and exponentially worse acne. My entire face and neck would break out far worse than ever before. My acne is now severe, and every single pimple has stuck around as a scar. My face and neck are covered with scars, and after what has easily been the worst half a year of my entire life, I look 100 times worse. If you only have moderate acne (i.e., you get some breakouts, but it disappears over a relatively short period), then please avoid this. Do NOT allow a doctor to pressure you into this. It took me from somewhat bad to severely bad acne. You will have all of the negative side effects with none of the positive ones."

• sam...
• February 12, 2008

For Acne "I just finished taking Accutane 3 months ago. I was on it for 4 months, and the first 6 weeks were terrible, my acne got worse before it got better. But it worked really well, my face is so clear right now, and I love it. It really changed my life. I used to feel so insecure, I never used to go out, but ever since I tried Accutane, my confidence has just boosted. The side effects were not so bad. I had dry lips, but I always moved with a lip balm or Vaseline, and my skin was so dry, but I used an aqueous cream."

• Sea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2017

For Acne "I suffered from mild/persistent acne, which only got worse when I started college due to the anxiety and stress. The breakouts became more frequent as the years went by, so I decided to see a dermatologist. I was first prescribed a treatment of facial cleansers, which worked for a while, but my acne eventually came back. Then my dermatologist decided to put me on Claravis (Accutane). The first 2 months were hell, due to the extremely dry/sensitive skin. I suffered cuts daily and shaving became torture, I almost quit on the treatment. However, I turned a corner around the start of month 3 and haven't looked back. My treatment lasted 5 months, and since ending it in October 2016, my skin has been completely clear."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2010

For Acne "I am 17 years old, and I have been going to a dermatologist for 3 years. I have tried almost every other type of medication they offered before finally going on Accutane. My acne was moderate, but it never showed signs of clearing, and my dermatologist said that going on Accutane would most likely be my only solution to clear skin. I have been on Accutane now for 5 and a half months, and I am done with the 6-month treatment in about 10 days. Going on this medicine was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. My skin is totally clear, and I haven't had a breakout in months. It has made me so much more confident, and now I don't feel pressured to wear makeup all the time to cover my acne. Side effects I have include dry skin and chapped lips."

• Izb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2015

For Acne "I have had acne ever since I was 10 and suffered really badly. My back was covered in spots to the point where it hurt to lean against anything. I had spots all over my face and on my chest. I am on my fourth month of Roaccutane, and my face is clear other than two small spots, my back is clear, and so is my chest. I have had a few side effects such as dry skin, dry lips, and my body ached. Those side effects I can deal with, however, my mood swings are bad. I will be really happy for a couple of days, and then I will have a few days where I am down and crying a lot. The medication has helped me find a new confidence in myself. I don't feel embarrassed to go out anymore, and I can even not wear makeup when I go out. It is definitely worth it!!"

• For...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2014

For Acne "I loved Accutane. I have taken it twice. It seemed to work for me for 5 years each time. I got the dry skin. I used baby washcloths and Neutrogena oil-free, fragrance-free moisturizer. After the first few weeks, it got better, though. Best acne medicine on the market! By far!"

• Iro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2016

For Acne "I, like everyone, suffered from acne for the longest time. My face was so gross it hindered my self-confidence and faith in myself. Like everyone, I tried a million creams and pills and washes, none worked, and a lot made my acne worse. Accutane is the nuclear option. It cuts off all moisture to your face, and your face basically presses the reset button and figures out that sending all that oil isn't a good idea. Of course, that means your lips are chapped, your face is dry, and you'll probably get nosebleeds. To me, that was more than worth it. If you think there are other routes to stop your face from looking like a pizza, try those, but if you've tried everything and are ready to nuke your face and try again, Accutane worked."

• Lai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2019

For Acne "I started getting acne when I was 13 when I first got my period. At first, it wasn't that bad, I would have whiteheads that wouldn't come back after I popped them. Then it started to get bad when I was 15 to the point where it would leave dark marks (hyperpigmentation). I used Cetaphil, which burned my skin and made my acne worse. So, we went to the dermatologist and decided that it would be best to go on Accutane. I'm 3 months in now, and my skin looks good. Before, I would get these deep pimples that would be very painful and leave huge marks. But there are side effects that you should be aware of, which are nosebleeds, possibly depression, dry eyes, and dry skin. And the monthly pregnancy test (if you're a woman) and blood tests. To moisturize your skin, I would recommend CeraVe facial cleanser (it has hyaluronic acid, which hydrates the skin), Isdin micellar solution, Vanicream lite lotion, and round cotton pads."