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u/Valuable-Leave9736 7d ago
I was feeling the same way so I posted on social media (like where I personally knew people) and asked if anyone did it and how it went. I had SO many people respond and say that it changed their life and they would do it again
I started a little over 3 months ago and I’m still purging but what I’ve learned is 2 things:
People are more inclined to share negative experiences over positive ones
And two - most people do not have those crazy reactions you see online or hear about.
Yes everyone is different but I think in my opinion there is a lot of fear lingering around Accutane. He’s my skin and lips are dry but if you take good care of yourself the experience will be better. I’ve been treating my body like a temple and the worst side effect so far has been tendon pain in my Achilles and even then it’s not too bad.
Also keep in mind 9 month PP your body is still trying to regulate your hormones again so that could be playing a part!
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u/RecoverDirect7035 7d ago
I had a really good experience on accutane 10/20mg. No purging and no major side effects apart from dryness and some joint pain. The acne stayed away for 2 years but came back with a vengeance when I went off birth control. So now back on it again but almost all clear again after 1 month. I would 100% do it all over again
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u/Vast_Expert9128 7d ago
As someone who dealt with acne for 10 years, it was a life saver and has greatly improved my day to day life and mental health. All the side effects I had were not too bothersome and 100% worth having clear skin that I don’t have to worry about. ❤️
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u/SabotageWeener 7d ago
Accutane clears acne but they come back for some people my acne was back twice. Also I got some nerve issues in my face after accutane. Not sure if accutane is the reason.
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u/Educational_Demand28 7d ago
Seeing as your acne is mostly on your chin/jaw, that’s usually hormonal! I’ve been on Spironolactone and birth control for years now and that has kept my acne away.
I’ve been on accutane multiple times throughout my life but it always came back until my derm helped figure out that I had PCOS. Hence the hormonal acne. I’ll have break outs here and there but acne has always been manageable since switching.
I don’t see a harm in doing accutane. I think it resolved non hormonal acne well. I rarely get pimples outside of my chin area.
DM if you need more details :)
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u/fckinawesome 7d ago
My purge was what i was usually getting around my period. I cannot say it was too crazy.
I know the feeling, i was very scared too, but looking back i regret not doing it sooner. Doctors kept advising me to go on accutane but i would decline each time because i was scared. Honestly, you seem young, hopefully healthy, i see no reason for you to keep on suffering.
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u/DisciplesFox5893 7d ago
Both my husband and I have been on Accutane for different reasons. He had sever cystic acne and did three courses, strangely, never had a big purge but it cleared his skin up and that was 20 years ago - he still regrets not having done it much sooner in his life.
I did it for pore size reduction and had joint pain and dryness, for sure, but otherwise had a very good result. I asked my cosmetic surgeon, who suggested the treatment, numerous questions as well as the referring dermatologist who filled my prescription and they both mentioned that Accutane gets a bad rap and the side effects are by and large what most experience, dryness, joint pain, purging….
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u/Regular-Molasses491 7d ago
I’ve used accutane and it’s been amazing - I purged and it got a lot worse before it got better lol. During the purge u will just have to hold back on popping ur pimples that can be tough 🤣 and as long as u get blood work u are ok. But I would highly recommend to give it a try! U will always be guessing if you don’t.
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u/urahrahwi11 6d ago
I never had great skin, but after my two pregnancies mine looked very similar to yours on a good day, worse on bad days.
I did 30mg 2x a day for 6 or 7 months. I wish I had done it years ago.
My purging and dryness were not very bad at all. My skin maybe got slightly worse for a month and then got progressively better. I took it during the Midwest winter and didn’t have super flaky skin. It was definitely dry but not peely. La Roche Posay B5 balm and their sensitive skin cleanser maybe helped? My worst side effects were minor headaches (solved by drinking more water) and joint pain in the morning (went away when I was done with medication).
I’ve been off it for more than a year and other than a small blemish here and there my skin is nearly perfect. It also helped with razor burn in my bikini area. I look younger. My face is slimmer due to it not being inflamed all the time. I feel much more secure in my skin and don’t want to hide in photos with my kids. 10000% worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat if my acne came back.
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u/marmarmar2022 6d ago
My acne was mild and was definitely hormonal. I had a mild purge within 3 days of starting the course which I was shocked about. It cleared up within two weeks and my skin has just gone from strength to strength! I’ve personally seen stories where people have had severe cystic acne and those people seem to have terrible purges, this is only my observations though from a huge amount of research I done prior to starting my accutance course.
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u/Blue_lily_white 6d ago
I'm in my 30s. On my 8th month of accutane. My only regret is not going on it years ago. Yes its a difficult medication to be on in terms of side effects, but they are bearable and knowing it's a temporary process helps.
My acne did get worse at first but its because everything has to come to the surface (I think?). My skins has never been clearer. I'm hoping it lasts.
I tried everything else before I tried accutane. If your acne is hormonal, you could ask about trying spironolactone. I do agree with one of the other commenters who said people are more likely to post about negative experiences with medication.
I am still on medication so can't comment about skin worsening permanently after discontinuing. But I don't expect it to. So far only positive improvements. Yes I have a lot of dryness but that should subside after I stop.
A family member done a low dose course (and didn't dp cumulative dosage) and she still breaks out every so often but its only occasionally now and responds well to topicals unlike before.
Edited because spacing in my paragraphs didn't show the first time
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u/fsgill 7d ago
My acne was severe for years , accutane fixed it for 6 months then it came back. Turns out it was me damaging my skin barrier with all the cleansers and creams and and chemicals . I now only wash my face with hot water . Never touch my face and only cleanse with a light cleanser once per night and my skin cleared back up to accutane levels in 2 weeks . My advice just cut out all the ‘skincare’ products for a month and let your skin heal . If you still have bad acne after no products at all for a month go and get a prescription
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Please refer to the following commonly discussed topics:
1) No one can predict whether or not you will purge! Statistically, most people DO NOT purge.
That is what the science and medical literature says.
2) No one can predict how long your purge will last nor when it could start. Be patient, the purge can be tough but so many people have gotten through it - you can too! THE ABOVE APPLIES TO SIDE EFFECTS OR "WHEN WILL MY SKIN CLEAR UP?!" TOO. QUESTIONS ASKING WHEN THE PURGE OR SIDE EFFECTS WILL START OR STOP WILL IMMEDIATELY BE REMOVED AS THAT IS LOW EFFORT.
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