💊What I Regret Not Knowing Before Taking Accutane (Isotretinoin)
Dear all,
If you know, you know. Accutane, be prepared for a rollercoaster of dryness and discomfort, but with a fresh face to show for it, if you can weather the storm.
__
Today’s Debunk: What I Regret Not Knowing Before Taking Accutane (Isotretinoin)💊
TL;DRÂ Accutane helped us achieve clear skin after struggling with acne for years. Still, there are several things we wish we had known before starting Accutane.
What I Regret Not Knowing Before Taking Accutane (Isotretinoin)
Many of my friends and I found taking Accutane to be a life-changing experience — it finally allowed us to achieve clear skin after struggling with acne for years. However, Accutane also came with a number of side effects, and the overall treatment process was quite challenging. Looking back, there are several things we wish we had known before starting Accutane.
__
What is Accutane (Isotretinoin)?
Isotretinoin, also known by the brand name Accutane, is a vitamin A derivative known as a retinoid. In the past, it was considered a drug of last resort, but now it is commonly prescribed to treat persistent and severe cases of acne when other treatment options have not yielded results.Â
Acne occurs when the pores of your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, or bacteria. Isotretinoin combats acne and all types of breakouts by reducing oil production and killing acne-causing bacteria. 95% of patients achieve clear skin and suffer no further breakouts after completing their course of medication (usually for 6 months).Â
→See Accutane for Acne Treatment, Dr. Michele Green M.D.
→See Accutane Treatment for Acne, U.S. Dermatology Partners
__
The Accutane Purge
Initial — while it doesn't happen to everyone, purging is a real possibility. ​Some patients experience a flare-up or acne breakout when they first start taking Accutane as their skin adjusts to the medication. This purge varies for everyone but it ranges from several weeks to several months and can also be mild to severe.Â
Increase in dosage — usually, your dermatologist will start you off with a low daily dosage and gradually increase it over time as your body adjusts to Accutane. Although uncommon, there is a possibility of purging every time your dosage is increased. Many users on Reddit have shared their experiences with purging after their dosage was increased.
The bottom line is that not everyone experiences purging and if they do, the severity can vary. If you do have a significant purge, it might make you feel insecure and reluctant to go out in public. Therefore, it would be helpful if more people were aware of the possibility of purging when starting Accutane so that they can plan to begin the treatment during a relatively quiet period in their lives, without any major events or social obligations.
→See Understanding The Accutane Purge, Advanced Acne Institute
→See My Accutane Purge Experience The Drug of Last Resort, Banish
→See Purge After Increasing Dosage, Reddit
__
DrynessÂ
Taking Accutane will significantly reduce your skin's oil production, leading to severe dryness in various forms — such as peeling skin, chapped lips, nosebleeds, and dry eyes.
While dryness is a good thing because it means the medication is working, it can be challenging to manage. Based on personal experience, severe chapped lips required constantly reapplying lip balm every 1-2 hours throughout the day. Additionally, my nose would randomly bleed if I forget to use nasal sprays. Therefore, using Accutane requires a significant lifestyle commitment, as you need to be diligent about moisturising and keeping moisturising products by your side.
Even a year after completing the treatment, I still find myself needing to apply lip balm frequently. Although the side effects of Accutane are typically temporary, dryness is something to watch out for. Â
→See Isotretinoin: The truth about side effects, American Academy of Dermatology
__
Mental Health Effects
In addition to the challenges of purging and dryness, Accutane (Isotretinoin) has been associated with the worsening of mental health. It is one of the top five medications in the world associated with depression and other neuropsychiatric side effects.
Many patients have reported experiencing mental health difficulties while taking Accutane (see below). Drawing from personal experience, I noticed an increase in my anxiety levels and negative thoughts, particularly during the initial purge stage when my skin condition temporarily worsened, and I felt insecure and demoralised.
Given the potential mental health impacts of Accutane, it is crucial to be aware of this risk and take appropriate precautions, such as using antidepressants or speaking to a therapist to address any worries or concerns that arise during the treatment.
→See Isotretinoin and neuropsychiatric side effects, Journal of Affective Disorders ReportsÂ
→See Accutane Before and After: Here’s What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Isotretinoin, NewBeauty
→See Accutane Before and After: 9 Women on What Really Happens When the Dosing Stops, Cosmopolitan
__
Conclusion
Accutane carries significant risks, but people with severe acne are often willing to take on those risks in order to address their condition. In my personal experience, taking Accutane was a stressful experience, and I wish I had been able to plan for it better.
I hope the information above helps. Proper planning and management of potential harms is key when undergoing Accutane treatment.
Feedback 😃
At Health Debunks, we want our debunks to be relevant to you! Let us know which health issues you want us to debunk next through feedback@healthdebunks.com