Accutane Questions

[MUSTANG_18]

Hey guys...Just started Accutane 7 days ago(40mg/Day). I already notice the dry face and lips and the acne on my back and shoulders has gotten a little worse (which I expected) My questions are
1. Generally how long will it take before I notice my skin start to clear up ?
2. Can anyone reccomend a good moisturizer that will not agrivate my acne ?
3. My skin on my face is even peeling a little like after a sun burn, is that normal ?
Thanks for any advice!

M18

 

[tical]

1. Dramatic results will be seen around your 3rd month
2. Use cetaphil skin moisturizers and face wash, carmex or corti balm for your lips
3. Yea the peeling is normal, it happens a lot at first but you'll adjust after a while... might start peeling again if they up the dose

hope it helps!

 

[socalmx17]

Im on my 4th month as well, trust me dude , your skin will only get dryer. It sucks but its worth the hassle. Use cetaphil for moisturizer, and aquaphor for lips/really dry skin.

 

[2lunatics_ina_rubber_room]

My wife went through a course of accutane, are you doing it on your own or through a dermatologist ? Just an FYI, it's really hard on the liver. Her derm required blood work every 60 days through the course of treatment for that reason. As for the skin products, anything that says "non-comedogenic" will not clog pores. The cetaphil face wash mentioned above is what my wifes derm reccomended. Wal-mart sells an "equate brand" equivalent for alot cheaper.

 

[azul]

My wife went through a course of accutane, are you doing it on your own or through a dermatologist ? Just an FYI, it's really hard on the liver. Her derm required blood work every 60 days through the course of treatment for that reason. As for the skin products, anything that says "non-comedogenic" will not clog pores. The cetaphil face wash mentioned above is what my wifes derm reccomended. Wal-mart sells an "equate brand" equivalent for alot cheaper.

It depends on who you are. Some people barely have elevated liver enzymes, and some do.

Use pretty much anything for really dry skin on your body. Your skin will get better in a couple of weeks. I like Clean and Clear oil free moisturizing lotion for my face, but even something with some oil (if you're really dry) will do without aggravating your skin. Any more questions, feel free to ask/PM me. I've had a fair share of experiences with accutane.

 

[envies]

It depends on who you are. Some people barely have elevated liver enzymes, and some do.

Use pretty much anything for really dry skin on your body. Your skin will get better in a couple of weeks. I like Clean and Clear oil free moisturizing lotion for my face, but even something with some oil (if you're really dry) will do without aggravating your skin. Any more questions, feel free to ask/PM me. I've had a fair share of experiences with accutane.

My derm had me start out really low dose, like 20mg/day for about 3-4 weeks to help with the initial breakout you are experiencing....maybe ask your derm if you can lower the doese for a few weeks and then bump it back up a little higher later in the cycle to make up for it. Accutane is all about total amount taken over time, not necesarrily at one particular point in time, if that makes sense. So you could do less now and just do more later or stay on for a week or two longer and get same results.

And for the liver, my liver values never moved until like week 18 (b/c I drank half a fifth of bacardi 151 the night before my blood test, ha) and then only slightly, doc wasn't worried. He actually asked me if I had a drink or two like the day before. I was like yea, I had a beer or two last weekend, haha. So it is definitely dependent on the individual.

Good luck with it!

 

[hard life]

Totally normal symptoms bro. For me it started to work midway through month 2 and my buddy it started beginning of the 2nd. SOme advice get carmex, which works the best, and cetaphil lotion. Carry this stuff everywhere you go!! I would put moisturizer on and then like 20 mins later my face was a flaky mess again....embarrasing shit. I started to carry a little mirror to check...trust me dude it seems gay but it is way better then going out into public not knowing if you face is flaky or not.

 

[DMI]

1. Generally how long will it take before I notice my skin start to clear up ?
6-8 weeks

2. Can anyone reccomend a good moisturizer that will not agrivate my acne ?
E45. Any non-oily moisturiser

3. My skin on my face is even peeling a little like after a sun burn, is that normal ?
My skin gets very dry on the stuff. It effects my inner nose and lips the most. I don't get peeling so much as dryness.

 

[Ulter]

Like every one else has posted it's normal. Carry your chapstick around with you.
You may want to cut back to 20mg until you open up the house a little. I am sure you're running the heat and drying out the air around you. Once you see the Polar Bears mating around your neighborhood you should be OK. Hang on I gotta put some sunscreen on.... Sorry, where was I?
It will make a real difference around the middle of May and if you continue to August you're likely to be done with acne for life.

 

[Bam Bam]

My Dr. told me when I was on that I was on the one of the most powerful drugs in the world and that you can use any moisturizer including oily lotion. That stuff is awesome, I only used it 2 months and havn't had a bump in 3 years since I got off of it. Bam

 

[tiger88]

1. Dramatic results will be seen around your 3rd month
2. Use cetaphil skin moisturizers and face wash, carmex or corti balm for your lips
3. Yea the peeling is normal, it happens a lot at first but you'll adjust after a while... might start peeling again if they up the dose

hope it helps!

right on the head there.

with accutane be prepared for what they call an intial breakout. Alot ppl on accutane break out in the first month quite bad. also with accutane dont pick or pop any zits because they have an easier chance of scaring



also if you have big cyst zits. go see the derm and he can inject cortisone right into the big ass fucking zit and and it will down and basically dissapear in a few days

 

[n1tro]

I was on it for about 6 months and I noticed it the most about 2 months after I quit using it. The chapped lips were the worst and the dry face was a pain. I'll tell you this though, it is worth it. Even on cycle since then I've maybe had 10 zits show up, and no where near as bad as before. I've been off accutane for about a year.

 

[tical]

word up, its a miracle drug... especially for bros that have used steroids before and aren't afraid of side effects like dry skin and chapped lips (compared to things like gyno, hair loss, hair growth).

it might be really harsh to the average person that isn't prepared to deal with it but if you're anything like me, after a couple big cycles you're ready for anything and don't want to mess around w/ weak topicals and scrubs and antibiotics that only work until you beome resistant to them.

give me the best of the best, i'll deal with 6 months of sides!

 

[MUSTANG_18]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I keep thinking about the end results and not the current situation because I know it'll be worth it. I'll pick up some cetaphil lotion and hopefully I can keep the flakes to a minimum. Thanks again!

M18

 

[UA_Iron]

I use jergens "Ultra Healing extra dry skin moisterizer"
Put it on my arms, legs and shoulders as soon as toweling off from the shower. And then I put Clinique's men facial lotion on my face right after.

Carmex for the lips

80mg of Accutane/day for 5 months wrapping up today actually...These are the products I like the best and I think are the most effective.

 

[tiger88]

I use jergens "Ultra Healing extra dry skin moisterizer"
Put it on my arms, legs and shoulders as soon as toweling off from the shower. And then I put Clinique's men facial lotion on my face right after.

Carmex for the lips

80mg of Accutane/day for 5 months wrapping up today actually...These are the products I like the best and I think are the most effective.

got any left?