Isotretinoin and Dry Lips: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "I've had bad acne since I was in middle school. I didn't do anything about it until around the summer of 10th grade because I started to get cystic acne on a regular basis. My dermatologist put me on Doxycycline. At the time, I was not always regular with taking pills, and when my acne did get better and started to go away, I thought I was fine. The acne just kept coming back, and I took antibiotics and creams like retinol and Epiduo and all sorts of benzoyl peroxide washes, but nothing worked. So my dermatologist finally convinced me to get on Accutane. As of right now, I'm 5 months in, and my skin has never been better, it's amazing. My side effects were dry eyes (I have contacts), dry face, dry lips, and nosebleeds. I honestly wish I did it sooner!"

• din...
• March 5, 2017

Myorisan (isotretinoin) for Acne "I had my first zit before I even entered my teens. My dad has 'problem' skin and blessed me with the same. It was not unusual to see me constantly wiping the excess oil from my face and sporting a huge zit or two. As a young adult, I've tried a ton of those over-the-counter products like Noxzema, Clearasil, Proactiv, Neutrogena, etc. But I found that as I got older, my acne just got worse. So, I began seeing a dermatologist and we tried several things: doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, Epiduo, Differin, tretinoin, clindamycin, and birth control pills (for the benefit of clearer skin). And I must admit that some of these regimens helped, but the minute the doctor felt that it cleared up enough and stopped the medication, my skin would worsen. So, with my oily skin and now experiencing breakouts more frequently, especially around my mouth and jaw area, I had had enough and decided to try Accutane. Medication: I was prescribed MYORISAN 40mg for 6 months. Experience: In the first month, the breakout could be described as the worst I have ever had. I had developed larger, more painful, and a lot more acne than at any time that I could remember. I was so discouraged but had to keep believing in my dermatologist's promise of clear skin. After the first month, the breakout lessened and my skin began to dry out. Now I was required to moisturize my skin, which was something that I would not have dared to do prior to treatment. My lips began to chap and crack, but that was easily remedied with chapstick or any other type of lip gloss. My skin was a lot more sensitive than before. I used to be able to wash my face with warm water and a washcloth, but now the skin was so thin/dry that it would actually damage the skin and develop a scab the next day. I had to wear sunblock and a hat when I exercised in the park. If I didn't wear enough, I would suffer a mild sunburn. I didn't suffer any nosebleeds or depression. As the months went on, I became acne-free. And I was even told by someone that I had beautiful skin. Can you imagine my surprise?! I was in heaven. My dermatologist recommended that I apply Epiduo and tretinoin to my skin every two days after I took my last Accutane pill. This surprised me because I thought my days of acne medication were over. After I took my last pill, my skin remained clear and dry of excessive oil for a couple of months, but gradually I began to develop a few small zits and my skin was becoming oily again. This was not the promise that my dermatologist gave me. He said I'd be acne-free and at the very most, I would be a small bump around the time of my menstruation. I can without a doubt tell you that is not my reality. It has now been almost 6 months since I completed my Accutane treatment and I am once again carrying around napkins to wipe the excessive oil from my face throughout the day. And there are days when I have several zits on my face at any given time. I don't dare moisturize my already oily skin. But honestly speaking, my breakouts are not to the degree of what they used to be prior to Accutane because the pimples are smaller. But I'm unsure if it's too early to tell and that maybe with more time it may all go back to how it was originally. I guess time will tell."

• din...
• March 5, 2017

Myorisan (isotretinoin) for Acne "I had my first zit before I even entered my teens. My dad has 'problem' skin and blessed me with the same. It was not unusual to see me constantly wiping the excess oil from my face and sporting a huge zit or two. As a young adult, I've tried a ton of those over-the-counter products like Noxzema, Clearasil, Proactiv, Neutrogena, etc. But I found that as I got older, my acne just got worse. So, I began seeing a dermatologist and we tried several things: doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, Epiduo, Differin, tretinoin, clindamycin, and birth control pills (for the benefit of clearer skin). And I must admit that some of these regimens helped, but the minute the doctor felt that it cleared up enough and stopped the medication, my skin would worsen. So, with my oily skin and now experiencing breakouts more frequently, especially around my mouth and jaw area, I had had enough and decided to try Accutane. Medication: I was prescribed MYORISAN 40mg for 6 months. Experience: In the first month, the breakout could be described as the worst I have ever had. I had developed larger, more painful, and a lot more acne than at any time that I could remember. I was so discouraged but had to keep believing in my dermatologist's promise of clear skin. After the first month, the breakout lessened and my skin began to dry out. Now I was required to moisturize my skin, which was something that I would not have dared to do prior to treatment. My lips began to chap and crack, but that was easily remedied with chapstick or any other type of lip gloss. My skin was a lot more sensitive than before. I used to be able to wash my face with warm water and a washcloth, but now the skin was so thin/dry that it would actually damage the skin and develop a scab the next day. I had to wear sunblock and a hat when I exercised in the park. If I didn't wear enough, I would suffer a mild sunburn. I didn't suffer any nosebleeds or depression. As the months went on, I became acne-free. And I was even told by someone that I had beautiful skin. Can you imagine my surprise?! I was in heaven. My dermatologist recommended that I apply Epiduo and tretinoin to my skin every two days after I took my last Accutane pill. This surprised me because I thought my days of acne medication were over. After I took my last pill, my skin remained clear and dry of excessive oil for a couple of months, but gradually I began to develop a few small zits and my skin was becoming oily again. This was not the promise that my dermatologist gave me. He said I'd be acne-free and at the very most, I would be a small bump around the time of my menstruation. I can without a doubt tell you that is not my reality. It has now been almost 6 months since I completed my Accutane treatment and I am once again carrying around napkins to wipe the excessive oil from my face throughout the day. And there are days when I have several zits on my face at any given time. I don't dare moisturize my already oily skin. But honestly speaking, my breakouts are not to the degree of what they used to be prior to Accutane because the pimples are smaller. But I'm unsure if it's too early to tell and that maybe with more time it may all go back to how it was originally. I guess time will tell."

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

Accutane (isotretinoin) 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!"

• nes...
• March 8, 2013

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "24 yrs old, and I had cystic acne before starting Accutane. Every week I would have new huge cysts, especially on my chin and around my mouth. I take 60 mg a day, and by month 3, perfect skin. Everything was so oily before, and now not at all. I can go 4 days without even washing my hair, and it still looks clean. I haven't had a single pimple in I don't even know how long. The one and only side effect I've had is dry lips, that's it. My skin is poreless and smooth. I'm on month 4 now, with one more to go. Definitely recommend this medicine. It's absolutely amazing, and I feel 1000x better about myself."

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2015

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I started out with severe cystic acne. Unbelievable. Only 5 months to 100% clear skin. For the first month, I had awful fatigue, and the whole time I-like most others-had painfully dry lips. But I can't tell you how worth it the results have been."

• Joh...
• September 25, 2019

Accutane (isotretinoin) 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."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2019

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I’ve definitely heard of lots of people who love the medication Accutane as it’s worked wonders for their skin. Unfortunately, with my experience, all I got was the negative side effects, including dry red skin, chapped lips, nosebleeds, and the worst side effect of all was that I got super bad depression from the drug. Sadly, the medication also made my acne so much worse than it already was. After three months, my skin looked terrible, I have swings of depression, and my lips were always in pain. I decided to quit the medication and go back on doxycycline, a medication which I was previously on before Accutane. After making this switch, my skin and lips healed 100%, and my side effects were gone. Just thought I would write this review to let people know Accutane doesn’t work for all people. In certain cases, it can make your skin worse."

• Meg...
• May 23, 2016

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "When I turned 30, my acne became much more cystic and spread to my neck, chest, and back. My bacne was so bad it hurt to take a shower. Within 3 weeks of starting Claravis (30 mg daily), I started to experience dry skin and lips. Over the months, I developed rashes on my hands and arms due to dry skin. I had several nosebleeds and dry eyes, but was able to remedy all the dryness with lip balm, saline solution, and various lotions/moisturizers. I also became thirsty all the time, but this began to subside going into my 4th month. The dryness was a very small price to pay for the AMAZING results. My face, neck, chest, and back are almost 100% CLEAR!!! I didn't have any other side effects, and my ONLY regret is not taking this medication sooner!"

• Zac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2016

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "This medication has given me a love-hate for it, I had horrible cystic acne all over my face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back! I have been on the medication 3 weeks now and have seen a drastic improvement! I have tried other medications that yielded no results at all. If you want to start taking this medication for your acne, I recommend it, but be warned the side effects are nasty! I have the worst joint pain in my feet and ankles every morning, and it lasts for a few hours. Also, my lips have been very dry, and I have been applying way too much Carmex. My face has dry spots from where the acne is clearing up, and that doesn't look too attractive either. All in all, this medication works, and you will love the results, but the side effects suck."

• Art...
• February 24, 2020

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I'm almost finished with my third month of Accutane. I started taking Accutane due to severe body acne (chest, back, neck, arms, etc.). I first attempted doxy and topical lotion, but it did not seem to help. Therefore, my dermatologist recommended Accutane. I started out at 40 mg in the first month and am now on 80 mg during my third month. The first month was not bad with side effects at all. I simply noticed dry lips and a bit more dryness on my body. Month two was not too bad either, some headaches, and more dryness on the lips and body. Month three is when some of the emotional instability kicked in. I have been experiencing some anxiety and depression, but it's been manageable. The irritation and more anger have been the worst emotional side effects. I've also noticed thinning of the skin, more easily injured, and more noticeable veins. Overall, I still believe taking Accutane has been worth it. Yes, the side effects suck, especially in winter, but I'm so glad my acne is gone."

• El ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2014

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "I have struggled with acne for so long. I started getting it in the 6th grade. I got cystic acne in 8th grade and it was horrible because I went to a kindergarten through 8th grade school. Every day a little kid would say something about it, like 'Oh my God, what happened to your face?' 'Ew, what's on your face?' I was so embarrassed, and I had tried almost every acne medication out there. I never wanted to try Accutane because I was scared of all the side effects, but it was worth it. I'm a sophomore in high school now, and my skin is completely clear, and the only side effect I noticed was that my lips got badly dried out, but it wasn't a huge problem."

• 6...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2017

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I recommend a lower dose of 40 mg if your acne is not that bad. I started out at 20 mg the first month, then 30 mg the second month, and 40 mg for months 3-6. I never had any nosebleeds. I was tired sometimes, joint pain, stiffness of hips, forgetfulness (for example, forgetting that I just took a shower and realizing my hair was wet and I didn't need to take one), possible depression, although I was a bit irate at times before taking the med. I did have a couple of bad nightmares. I had chapped lips through like the whole time taking it. I had the bad habit of biting the skin off my lips. The positive was no acne not too long after taking it, although it did flare up a bit about a couple weeks in after taking it. Hair not oily."

• aut...
• February 13, 2019

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "Before starting this medication, I had struggled with acne for years, had a history of depression in my teens, had no back pain or joint pain, and I had a full head of hair. Month 1: dry lips, and my acne got much worse. By month 3, the body/joint pain started. Month 5: I was taking Tylenol 4 times a day, every day for back pain, and every joint in my body was popping and crunching. Acne never fully cleared. Month 2 off of it, and my acne started coming back, and my hair started falling out. I'm 5 months off now. My hair is STILL falling out, and none of my doctors can tell me if/when it will stop or if it will grow back. My back still hurts, every joint in my body pops and is sore, and my knees and shoulders crunch with minimal movement. I haven't been myself in 8 months, always angry and depressed. If I had known in order to have mostly clear skin all I had to sacrifice was half the hair on my head, my personality, and my back and joints, I would not have done it."

• sam...
• February 12, 2008

Accutane (isotretinoin) 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."

• Flo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2015

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I'm on my second week of Accutane 40 mg. So far, no side effects or initial breakout. My lips are drier but easily fixable with Chapstick. I've been using jojoba oil as a moisturizer as well. I've had extremely minor pimples appear and then go away immediately and no scarring. So far, it's been great and hopefully continues to do so!"

• Pat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2020

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "A month after finishing Claravis, it was hard to imagine that I had giant red spots on my face for 3 years straight even when I tried every topical in the pharmacy. My face feels so smooth, I keep expecting new breakouts, but it just never happens. My social and emotional stresses have noticeably lessened, and it was all thanks to this. It's so worth the 6 months of chapped lips (just use Vaseline and a hydrating cleanse to mediate the dryness). Miracle drug, you'll be glad you took it!!"

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2010

Accutane (isotretinoin) 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

Accutane (isotretinoin) 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!!"

• tho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2015

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I am starting my second month on Accutane. I did a lot of research before and watched tons of YouTube videos and searched for the products I needed before going on this. As a woman, you have to do extra steps, like blood draws and pregnancy tests, but it is all worth it to me. My skin looks amazing. I don't need hardly any makeup. I have minimal side effects: of course my lips are dry as hell, but if you stay on top of this from the very beginning and never let them start cracking, you should be good. I am on 60 mg per day. I use lanolin and Bite Beauty Agave lip mask for my lips, and these are amazing. Best staying power out of the many things I've tried. Also, I have hard stools :( (TMI, sorry). But other than that, I am very happy!"

• OnT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2016

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I had painful and extreme cystic acne in isolated areas on both sides of my chin when I was in college. I underwent accurate treatment at 23 right when Accutane was approved by the FDA. I took the treatment for 3 months, and the side effects were very dry lips, sometimes splitting. It totally eliminated my acne, and my self-confidence, social life, and career soared. I tried everything before this treatment, and nothing worked, and I was extremely happy with the results. At about age 35, my acne cysts reappeared, although not as severe. I underwent another 90-day treatment and haven't had any recurrence since."

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

Accutane (isotretinoin) 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."

• lll...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2018

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "Isotretinoin (Claravis) changed my life. My only regret is not going on it sooner (I started at age 22). If you are on the fence, do it. The only side effects I had were dry lips, some back/tailbone pain, and some depression (though I think this was more so from the birth control). I wasted so much of my life hiding away because of my mild to moderate acne. Be patient, and this will work. It's better than being on antibiotics for long periods of time. I was on it for 4 months, and my skin keeps getting better after. It did not clear up my hyperpigmentation, but I know that will fade, and I can cover it up. Monthly blood work is so worth it to be able to wake up in the morning and not worry about pimples. Use Carmex lip balm (for me, way better than Aquaphor). And go out and live your life!!! If my acne comes back (praying it doesn't), I would be happy to take this again."

• ral...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2013

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "Just want to say that Claravis worked (40 mg/2x/day). The dry lips were horrid, and the first few months I hid out, but the end was totally worth it. To prevent other side effects, my doctor told me to drink 60 fl oz of electrolyte drink (i.e., Gatorade, Powerade, Smart Water). Good luck!"

• Hai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2016

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I've been suffering from acne from the age of 12. Ever since, I've been so insecure. At the age of 13, I started putting foundation to cover it up. It was really bad. Accutane/Roaccutane saved my life and my confidence in many ways. I'm 14. I've been on this medication for 3 months now. I've seen a lot of change in my skin. Really happy with my results. I really recommend Roaccutane. I started off with 20 mg, then 30, then 40. My side effects were nosebleed, dry lips, dry face, back pain, headaches, and joint pain, but it's definitely worth it. I took a before and after pic, and in these 3 months, I've seen a lot of difference, and now I can go out in public without makeup! I've tried everything and nothing worked except for Roaccutane."