Isotretinoin and Nosebleeds: What Users Say

• 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"

• Aan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 7, 2020

For Acne "The only drug that worked for my severe cystic acne. I had tried so many other topical ointments, antibiotics, and facial washes before finally trying this drug as a last resort. Eight years later, and my skin is still extremely clear. I was on this drug for a total of eight months and had side effects such as constipation in the beginning, some occasional joint pain when I would lie down or get up, a few styes, and very severe, frequent nosebleeds that were very annoying. I wouldn’t recommend trying this medication if you haven’t been on anything else before yet for cystic acne, but if you’ve already tried everything and you’re at the end of your rope, try it! It even worked for the body acne I had on my back. The severe, permanent lasting side effects are usually very rare and it’s more than worth the risk if your skin is really suffering."

• 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."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2015

For Acne "The side effects suck. I would get a bloody nose at least 5 times a day, my lips would peel and get blisters, and my arms would get rashes. But it was all worth it. Accutane is amazing. I am so thankful for it. I had acne for 6 years, and I tried everything you could imagine to try and clear my face up. Now, after 4 long months, I am just now taking my last pill. I go to the mirror, and I don't see a pimple, scar, or even a red mark on my face. My self-esteem has improved so much. I would definitely recommend it."

• bra...
• January 17, 2017

For Acne "I'm your typical 18-year-old lad and have never written on a forum before, but I want to write something for the people that are worried about taking this (in my opinion) miracle drug. I am coming to the end of my 6-month course, and I can honestly say it's been life-changing. Before I started Roaccutane, I was fairly depressed and seriously lacking confidence due to my appearance. But after months of failed treatments on various antibiotics, I was referred to a dermatologist who instantly said there's only one way to fix my acne problem: Roaccutane. At first, I thought this is the worst-case scenario and I'm going to be even more depressed as a result of the possible mental health side effects. Depression has run in my family, so I was very worried. However, living with acne wasn't something I was prepared to do, so I started the course on 40 mg a day. The first week, I had a headache daily, but thankfully these died off after a week, and paracetamol and ibuprofen will take all the pain away. Almost immediately, my lips were cracking, and from then on in, I never went anywhere without some Carmex lip balm in my pocket. As the first 3 months went by, I was still breaking out and was starting to think it isn't going to work. However, I'm so glad I stuck with it because now I haven't got a single spot on my face, and the scars have faded to the point where you can barely see them! After the third month, my derm upped my dose, and I started to take 60 mg a day. Luckily for me, I hadn't had any serious side effects. Just your occasional nosebleed and dry skin, and sometimes my eyes were a bit blurry, but it's not much of an issue. Anyway, I just want anyone reading this who is worried about starting this medication to know that not everyone has a horror story about Roaccutane, and I couldn't be happier with how it's made me feel! Don't let acne take over your life!"

• 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."

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

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!"

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

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

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!"

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

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."

• 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."

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

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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2019

For Acne "Acne has been a part of my life for almost 8 years now. There has never been a day when I did not at least have one breakout. So, I finally decided to jump into isotretinoin (40 mg) twice daily after trying antibiotics and multiple topicals that did not help. My acne has, for the most part, cleared with one breakout in my 6th month of treatment. Although, the side effects are brutal. I am talking peeling layers of skin off my lips daily while using medicated chapstick the entire duration of treatment. I am talking bloody noses and dried scabs from constant bleeding. I am getting my nose cauterized because of how easily my blood vessels break from the repeated dryness. My eyes hurt after looking at classwork or the computer for an hour. The last big side effect was dry eczema on my arms. All I can say is I am glad to be completing treatment. Although everyone seems to react differently, so please understand my side effects may not equal yours."

• Sec...
• November 20, 2013

For Acne "Before starting Accutane, I read through reviews online, and I got to say... most of them scared the poo out of me. Intense side effects and bad reviews. But let me tell you, I have been on 40 mg for 2 months once a day, then 40 mg twice a day for another 2 months, and it is a miracle. My face has cleared up so much; I am so grateful for this medicine. Yes, there are side effects; my lips have never been this chapped in my life, my skin is very dry, and I've had a minimum of 12 nosebleeds (pre-Accutane - never had one before in my life). I do have a month or maybe two to three left on it, my nurse said, but I believe it is all worth it. I have never experienced any horrible body aches or any of the other horror stories. Stick with it till the end!!"

• Hay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2013

For Acne "I'm a 17-year-old girl, and I had acne all over my cheeks and forehead. I had tried another form of oral acne medication and prescription face gels, but nothing helped. I'm almost on my 3rd month of Accutane, and my skin has improved 150%. I still will get a pimple every now and then, but they're nowhere near as severe. The dryness is annoying. Cetaphil soap and lotion have worked well for my face. I use Aquaphor and Burt's Bees for my lips, but they still flake away all the time. I also get nosebleeds because of the dryness in my nose. I also sleep a lot more since I've been on Accutane. It's worth it, though!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2016

For Acne "I am extremely satisfied with this medication. I took it for 5 months, and at my peak, I was prescribed 40 mg twice a day. It took about 3.5 months to start noticing results. I have now been off it for 3 weeks, and wow! My skin is 100% clear. I've had acne since I was a teen, and after failing other options such as antibiotics, I was placed on Claravis. You will have chapped lips. I had to apply Aquaphor (really good chapstick) every 15 minutes. Other side effects I had were nosebleeds, dry skin, eczema, rashes on my hands and arms, very sore muscles, sore chest, and any scrapes I got took absolutely forever to heal. I felt sluggish, sort of like I had the flu for 5 months. However, having clear skin was definitely worth it!"

• ash...
• December 3, 2009

For Acne "I have been on Accutane for 3 months, and the ONLY bad thing I would say is the dryness and migraines. That part sucks. I have been on the 1 a day treatment, and this month my doctor updated me to twice a day. Once he did that, I started getting nosebleeds and TERRIBLE migraines, which made me throw up. I told my doctor, and he backed down to 1 a day. My acne started clearing up the first month, but it was still bad. Then, month two, I FINALLY had clear skin. It was amazing, I hadn't seen a day without a zit in 10 years (I'm 21 now), and now I feel great. I highly recommend Accutane to people who suffer from depressing acne. I tried Proactive 3 times, Acne Free, Clearasil Clean Advantage Kit, homeopathic remedies-DIDN'T WORK. ACCUTANE does!"

• Tat...
• August 6, 2016

For Acne "Worked for me! Five years of GP-prescribed acne treatments did nothing but make me more and more frustrated. I went on Accutane, despite being dubious due to the severe side effects I'd read about. Did nothing at first, but gradually, after maybe three months, less and less spots were appearing. Now, after five months and with one more on Accutane to go, I have maybe one active spot, compared to a face full. Symptoms: I found it pretty easy. Dry lips were an annoyance, but just got into the habit of always carrying a lip balm. Dry skin was there but resolved by a good moisturizer (Cetaphil is good). My main issue was regular nosebleeds, I got one nearly every day, which was very disruptive. This was sorted, though, by slightly reducing my dose."

• Jay...
• June 22, 2016

For Acne "I am 17, and I have had pretty moderate acne since I can remember, and pretty severe acne on my back for the last four or five years. I asked my dermatologist to start me on Accutane as I've had two friends who swear by it. The first month I was on 40 mg Claravis, my side effects were dry lips, skin, and scalp, nosebleeds out the wazoo, and weird rashes around my elbows and hands. But the results were incredible. All of my back acne was gone within the first week. The blackheads on my chin vanished. Although it made my face break out slightly worse, I was warned that would happen. I am now on month two, 60 mg Myorisan, and the side effects are slightly worse this month. Also, it is a bit pricey. But still, very happy with this medication."

• Jon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2023

For Acne "This is horrible. I took it for a month, one month, and the side effects are still lasting. I guess it affects everyone differently, but it sucked for me. Dry and peeling skin, bloody noses, pain. The pain is what got me. Pain in my elbows deprived me of weight lifting. My knees sucked. I couldn’t do anything. Skiing was out the window along with walking, just walking."

• Ale...
• June 13, 2017

For Acne "I took the max dosage for this drug for 6 months (I had bad cystic acne.) The main side effect I had was dryness. Everything was so dry (lips, mouth, nose) and light nosebleeds. However, it was very minimal. I did experience a lot of hair loss, and it's continuing. One thing that surprised me: I had a history of depression and was worried about it bringing it back. However, I actually noticed an improved mood. I wonder if this is because I had a vitamin A deficiency, which Zenatane is derived from. Overall, great experience. Acne-free except for occasional ones that dry up fast. Keep in mind some things: your acne might get worse before it gets better, and keep your doctor updated with side effects."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2018

For Acne "I first started treatment in February 2018, and my treatment is now ended (July 2018). My main concern was the initial breakout, but I didn’t have one! I had maybe a few spots more than usual, but my skin would break out so often it made no difference. The first thing I noticed was that within 2 weeks my skin was no longer oily, and after 2 months my skin was almost clear! I haven’t had a spot for a month now, and I feel so confident! I do have dry lips and nosebleeds sometimes, but no other side effects and no emotional problems either. Cannot recommend highly enough, however, side effects can be worse on some people, so one definitely needs to go into it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 31, 2020

For Acne "I took Accutane at 17 years old. I was on 30 mg for 2 months and 60 mg for 4 months. I got rid of my cystic acne on my face, chest, and back. I still have scarring, but my skin looks so much better! Some side effects I experienced included dry skin, nosebleeds, and dry eyes. However, it was all WORTH IT! Accutane changed my life for the better. I've never felt so confident in my skin. I struggled with acne my entire life, and my only regret is not starting it sooner. I started seeing it work after only 10 days. I can't recommend Accutane enough. My advice is to advocate for yourself and keep asking for it over and over again until they give it to you. Accutane didn't change my life, it saved my life!"