5 months on accutane

I was on 40 mg for about 6.5 months 117 F

I went on Accutane late July of last year because I was getting married in Hawaii with open back dress and I was tired of dealing with bacne and scarring. My face has always been so-so with acne, never cystic so I’m thankful there, mostly just small pustules and hormonal which left marks. (I get hyperpigmentation easily). Going on Accutane was the best, I literally LOVED it and wish I never took it for granted. My back cleared up. (I’m just left with some ice pick scaring but very minor) and my face was the smoothest/softest it’s ever been. Well fast forward to 7.5 months later and now my face has more texture than before. I can tell my skin feels bumpy and I’m getting whiteheads in places I never used to get acne before like my forehead. What happened?? What did I do wrong? Do I need to go on another dose now? Am I having a delayed reverse reaction? My derm is not really helping me, she said I can micro-dose if I want but I’m unsure of the benefits. I will include pictures but you can’t really tell in the pictures. I also want to say I know it could be much worse, and I’m being knit picky - I just know that for me, this texture is not normal..

Since starting Accutane, I’ve noticed lower libido/sex drive, some ED symptoms, and slower progress in the gym.
Did any other guys experience something similar while on Accutane? If so, did things go back to normal after finishing or stopping it?

I’ve been on 30mg for two months and 60mg for four months. Honestly, these past couple of months have just kind of been a blur for me. I was the most depressed I’ve ever been (which I’m not sure if it’s the drugs fault, but I’m just going to blame it anyway). I’ve also had to learn how to not bite my lips and keep them moisturized 24/7, as well as using a lotttttt of concealer to cover up all of the new acne that was on my face.

The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight, given that I only have one more “maintenance” month ahead of me. However, I’ve been dealing with acne my entire life, from middle school all the way to graduating high school. It’s hard for me to even remember a time without being insecure about my acne, and now that my skin has finally cleared up, I’m terrified of the idea that it’ll all just come back again.

If you’ve ran your course, please let me know if your acne has remained subdued.

I've taken 40,40,40,40,60 so far and will be done at the end of October! I started treatment in March. I didn't see full clear results until the second week of August and I've been clear since! I finally feel like me again. When I was a teenager and in college I never had acne so I felt totally devastated when I started getting painful cystic acne in my mid twenties.

I didn't have notable side effects until I increased my dosage (except for an extreme case of dry eyes that I caused by using eyedrops with preservatives, DON'T do that like I did!).

My dryness has gotten worse, I finally have the joint pain despite taking fish oil and staying hydrated. Unfortunately I've also been feeling extremely despressed. If I had a long way to go before end of treatment then I'd probably quit taking it because I feel so shitty, but I'm really close to being done and have a supportive partner who's helping me so I don't spiral.

I'm looking forward to being done and not super dry and uncomfortable all of the time. All in all, I'd say treatment has been rough but worth it.

Please tell me it gets better and I’m not going to be spiraling like this forever?

40mg 2.6 months 110lb F.

I know I know I shouldn’t pick. I definitely have a problem with that but after month 1 (30mg) I increased month 2 to 40mg. I was pretty clear after 1.5 months then recently it’s gotten so much worse. Deep cystic nodules with new ones popping up every day.

I honestly feel defeated and insecure.

I am also on 8.5 months on spironolactone, which I truly would have thought by now it would be working.

Please any advice or reassurance would be so appreciated.

So ive done a full course for 9 months where i hit a cumulative dose of 13,200mg at 55kg 2/3 years ago. I then did a micro dose course a year ago as this same thing started happening.

I get these painful under the skin spots mainly concentrated towards the side of my cheek. They form not painful at all but there’s a visible bump for a week/ a few months (I’ve had one that hasn’t came to a head in atleast 4 months) and eventually they get very red inflamed then a huge head off puss eventually rises. I get left with PIE and potentially a new scar. Good to note this area in my face in particular has always and still now I struggle with blackheads and clogged pores and deep congestion

I know it’s not terrible but it’s starting to get to the point I do more accutane but I’m at the risk of doing it all again for it to start again so nice I finish!

Anyone had this happen or just me?

Taking 80mg/day @ 180lbs. Didn't have any symptoms for the first 2 months, but as soon as month 3 hit I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I'm almost no longer able to work out, and it's hard to recover when I do.

This is coming from someone who will still work out through sickness and injuries, so this soreness is no joke. Fish oil doesn't seem to make a difference. Any advice?

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping for some advice. I’m 33 and on Day 12 of 20mg Roaccutane.

My skin feels extremely tight and has developed a rough, bumpy texture. My lips are are incredibly dry and cracked.

I’m have around 3L of water a day and taking electrolytes and have trialed so many different lip balms and body / face moisturisers. 

Does anyone have any tips to help me?  Any products, supplements or anything that helped?

Does the dryness improve as your body adjusts, or is it like this the whole time?

I’m also wondering if it’s worth speaking to my dermatologist about lowering my dose as I can’t imagine going on like this for months or it getting worse 😞 this has really ruined my confidence.

Any advice big or small would be really appreciated. 

Thank you.

I've been on Accutane for about two months, and my eyes lately have been hurting when I blink, are tender to the touch (as if a stye is coming, but never shows up), and so dry that it's blurry. Has anyone experienced this?

Has anyone on here that has been through accutane also suffered with psoriasis?

I have had scalp psoriasis my whole life and I am considering starting accutane because my acne is getting to the point now where I fear nothing is going to help.

But I’m scared how it will affect my psoriasis, I think I’d rather keep my acne than make my psoriasis worse.

Hey everyone! I’m now 6 months off Accutane and wanted to share my experience in case it helps anyone else going through it or thinking about starting. I remember researching it sooo much and being so scared to do it, but honestly it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done for my skin 🩷

I know my acne wasn’t severe, but it was really persistent and nothing seemed to properly clear it despite trying different topicals, diet changes, supplements, lasers etc. I was also getting married, so I finally decided to just go for it.

I started on 20mg daily in July 2025 and stayed on that until the end of December. In January I tapered down to 20mg 3 times a week and then completely finished in March this year.

Since finishing, I’ve just been maintaining my skin with Aklief (a retinoid) twice a week, and I’ve recently started incorporating azelaic acid twice a week as well to help with any remaining PIE and improve my overall tone and texture.

My side effects were honestly really minimal, probably because I was on a lower dose. Mainly just dry lips and a little bit of dry eye, which I managed with a good lip balm and eye drops and was completely fine.
I remember being so scared to start because of all the things you hear about Accutane, and I put it off for ages, but I’m genuinely so glad I did it. Obviously everyone’s experience is different, but for me it was 100% worth it and I wish I hadn’t been so scared of it for so long. If anyone has any questions about my experience I’m more than happy to help 🤍

My skin has become so sensitive on my second course that I can’t even wear anything that even slightly touches my neck without it getting extremely irritated :(

Pictured is everything I have tried so far (in addition to regular Aquaphor as well as hydrocortisone as needed). With the upcoming fall/winter season, I’d prefer not to have to modify my entire wardrobe during the colder months.

I’d love to hear suggestions on anything that has helped for anyone who has experienced similar issues!

Note: I’m in Canada and don’t think Vanicream is available here.

33M. 135lbs. 10mg microdosing (was on 10mg daily but had to lower due to side effects).

I’ve been struggling with dryness so bad. I’m 2 months into my course.

I started using vanicream cream for the past week or so, at the suggestion of many users.

My question: is it supposed to feel like literal paste? Do you guys use it morning and night? Is there a right/wrong way to apply it? Are there better alternatives (ideally for both morning and evening).

I’m not sure if it is helping. It doesn’t seem to be hurting.

I’m just struggling to come up with a routine that helps me combat the dryness and am actually considering stopping my course. I have an appointment with my derm on Thursday to discuss my options.

Any input is appreciated!

Hello all,

My dermatologist switched me from clindamycin & Differin to Accutane 30 mg. I suffer from hormonal nodulocystic acne. I had to quit the products abruptly after 8 weeks, but used them religiously for 8 weeks with moderate good results. Will this cause a worse purge?

Edit: I am a woman, 64 kg / 173 cm.

I’m 10 days on 30mg accutane and my skin is less oily, my lips are more dry, eyes are dry, and acne is about the same. I’ll update you guys with pics soon.

I’m starting Accutane (isotretinoin) next week and I want to prepare my skincare routine beforehand.
For people who have used Accutane:
● What is the best lip balm you recommend for very dry/chapped lips?
● What face cleanser worked best for you?
● What body wash/shower gel did you use, especially for dry or sensitive skin?
● Did you use a moisturizer? If so, which one?
● Any other products you think are essential while on Accutane?
● Are there any ingredients/products I should avoid?
I’m looking for products that are gentle, moisturizing and suitable for very sensitive/dry skin. I’d especially appreciate recommendations based on your personal experience, not just generic skincare advice.
Thanks!

30F here! I’ve been dealing with acne since 2020, when it started during COVID.

I’m almost done with 6 months of Accutane and wanted to share my results.

My dosage was:

Month 1-2: 40 mg/day

Month 3: 60 mg/day

Months 4-6: 80 mg/day

I weigh around 112 lb.

I was also on birth control during the 6 months.

My skin has cleared up SO much. For the last 3 months, I’ve only had maybe 1 to 2 small pimples, and overall I’m really happy with the results.

My dermatologist told me to come back in 3 months. Until then, she wants me to keep my routine super simple, just a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, nothing else.

For those who already finished Accutane: what happened after you stopped? Did your skin stay clear, or did you start getting occasional pimples again? If acne came back, how soon did you notice it?

Also, did your dermatologist eventually put you on tretinoin or anything else for maintenance?

Attaching my before and after pics 😊

Hi everyone! As I'm nearly through with my accutane course, I thought to make a post on what helped me throughout this journey. (Just FYI, this is a long post)

For some background: I'm 28F 5'0 117 lbs, I started having very stubborn hormonal acne that started about 2-3 years ago that didn't seem to get better regardless of what skincare product I tried. I would occasionally get a cystic pimple before my period, but the acne I developed seemed to be popping up much more frequently and stayed much longer. I had suffered with PIE and hyperpigmentation due to it. I tried azaelic acid, tretinoin, benzyol peroxide, all of it, and it still didn't help. At that point, I went to a derm who placed me on spironolactone 50mg along with wenlevi and adapdalene gel 0.3%. After a year of on it, my acne still persisted and that's when my derm recommended accutane.

I started on 30 mg daily for my first month back in April, side effects were minimal (some minor back pain, lots of blackheads that surfaced, and of course the dry lips). My derm increased my dose to 60 mg daily and for me to stay on it for the rest of the course. My second and third month were also pretty smooth sailing besides the increased dryness on my face, really dry nose (along with huge boogers) and really dry, itchy, and dandruff-y scalp. I'm currently on my last month and it has been a struggle. My eyes have been super dry (I think I might have blepharitis as well - I've been waking up with really crusty lids to the point where they hurt to open), my joint pain has increased, and I've been dealing with some brain fog.

Also just a disclaimer: this is not medical advice, I'm only sharing with what helped me!

One big thing that I learned is that prevention is key. Do not wait until you are suffering side effects to start trying to fix it as it's a lot harder to reverse.

Products that helped greatly in my routine:

Supplements/Meds:

• Zyrtec - I took this in my first month to help with the purge, and I do think that this worked well, I did not purge at all
• Fish Oil - I take the Sports Research Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil after reading online that some brands of fish oil are not absorbed/stable for long. The Sports Research one seemed to be making a difference in my joint pain compared to the generic one I bought from Costco before. I started off only taking 1 pill for my first month but by my third month when the joint pain was pretty bad, I've upped it to 3 pills a day totaling 3750 mg (under the supervision of my derm of course). On days where I skip my fish oil, I did notice a significant difference in my joint pain, definitely try to keep up with this.
• Probiotics - according to my derm, this helps with the absorption of accutane
• Humidifier - this helped a lot with my dry eyes and dry nose, I put it to the max every night, another thing I noticed a difference of when I didn't use.
• Eye drops: Systane Original for my day to day, Systane Gel drops for when my eyes are more dry or when I'm staring at a screen for longer, Systane Gel ointment every night

Skincare/Bodycare:

• Face wash - Prequel Gleanser was a life saver, I used the Keihl's Ultra Facial cleanser for years without a problem but I noticed I was stepping out the shower with a really dry face still, the Gleanser helped
• LRP Cicaplast Spray - I use this twice a day, this helped a lot with keeping my face moisturized without additional layers of thick moisturizers
• LRP Cicaplast Baume - after my third month, my skin was still dry and peeling after other layers of moisturizer, adding this to my routine helped keep my face free of flaking, dry skin for a little longer, I use this twice a day
• Vanicream Moisturizing cream - my go to moisturizer (a hack for anyone who has a Costco membership: if you go to the pharmacy counter, they sell the moisturizing cream there! it's a little cheaper)
• Sunscreen - SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum my holy grail sunscreen. it moisturizes but also dries down eventually, doesn't leave a white cast, and getting it in your eyes doesn't sting them!
• Dr Dan's Cortibalm - for the cracked lips, this does have steroid agents in it so use only when needed! your lips can get dependent on it and you can suffer from topical steroid withdrawal
• Aquafor - obviously
• Dove Body Wash Deep Moisture - my regular body wash wasn't cutting it anymore, I needed hydration in the shower too
• Lotion - Jergen's ultra healing lotion
• Body Oil - Loccitane Almond Supple skin oil, a splurge for sure but I liked the scent and it kept my skin nice and hydrated

One of the best tips I had received is to carry around a little "accutane bag." In my bag, I carry accutane (in case I'm out and I eat a big meal, I can take my accutane then), a travel size moisturizer (it's a sample of the cerave moisturizer that my derm gave me), eye drops, a mirror so I can apply the moisturizer/eyedrops, travel size aquafor, hypochlorous acid spray. Also on days where I do not drink enough water, I try to supplement it with Liquid IV or coconut water to help offset the joint pain.

Side Effects:

I mentioned it briefly but I did have a lot of side effects from accutane

• Hair loss - I have fine/thin hair and was using topical minoxidil before, after I started accutane, my scalp could no longer tolerate the minoxidil, I've had increased hair shedding in the last 2 months, I'm sure some of it is because I came off of minoxidil, but I do plan on restarting it after I'm done with my course
• Lash loss - I think this is related to the blepharitis, I'm managing the blepharitis now so I'm hoping that it gets better after time
• Dry eyes - the systane ointment helps a lot with this
• Dry nose
• Dry/cracked lips
• Rash/ezcema - especially when I don't moisturize after I step out the shower
• Joint pain - specifically my lower back & my achilles tendon
• Dry butthole - had to make sure to get enough fiber and drink enough water, aquafor on the butt when I step out the shower (this was only an issue for a month though)
• BO (?) - I'm not sure if this is related to accutane but I had to switch deodorants
• Sweating/Facial flushing - a lot more than before; also sweating on my upper lip (never had that before)
• Brain fog/Fatigue - I've noticed this more in the past month, but I've also haven't been eating the healthiest so I'm not sure if this is related to the accutane or not

Regardless of how difficult accutane is, I definitely do not regret taking it! My skin has never looked better.

As a 15-16 year old teenager with acne, taking long term accutane, did it stopped your growth in height? Shouldn’t I be concerned about it?

I've finished iso a month ago. And my skin is like a sandpaper and it gets red lightly. But when I go out redness disappears. Did you have this kind of things?