I have had many of my friends reaching out to me recently asking about my experience and results on Accutane and decided I wanted to share my story on my blog. It feels very vulnerable and scary to talk about something like this but if it helps someone understand the medicine better that's all that matters. This post is not to persuade anyone to do Accutane or act like I know everything about it! I just want to share my experience and why I am happy I made the choice to do it! Everyone has their own opinions on medicine and what you should do. To each their own!
Acne is something I struggled with for many years. I first started getting acne in middle school and it continued on through college. I did years and years of different ointments, medicine, face washes and nothing seemed to ever make it go away. I hated taking my makeup off every night and seeing a face full of scares, red marks, pimples, and to me just terrible skin. People would always tell me "You can't even tell you have acne" but to me I knew it was there under all of the makeup, and I had mastered the art of covering it up. There were times when my acne would clear up for a week or two and I would be so thrilled! But every time it would slowly creep back in. Nothing I did I was helping.
Acne for me really played a part in my self confidence. I NEVER went without makeup and never wanted anyone to see me without makeup. I know to some people it may sound silly but to me when I took the makeup off I didn't want anyone to notice all of my blemishes. I went everywhere with makeup on..even to the gym.
I had heard of other people trying and doing Accutane and saw the results they had and knew I was going to ask my Dermatologist about it. I went into the Dermatologist and asked him if Accutane was an option for me, and I was in fact a candidate. If you don't know what Accutane or "Isotretinoin" is, it is a type of acne medication meant to cure severe acne. It is for people who have not found success with other treatments. Accutane is a strong and powerful medicine and comes with responsibility. It is not easy or a medicine for just anyone. There is a process you have to complete before they will give you the medicine and tests you have to pass. It was no joke!
I started Accutane in the Winter of 2015. After I received my prescription for Accutane, I began the process of getting my first month of pills. Before they will allow you to begin treatment, you are required to be on two forms of birth control, pass a pregnancy test, a blood test and take a comprehensive exam to ensure you understand the side affects of the medicine. Once you are cleared with those you are able to pick up your first month of Accutane. They only give you one month of the medicine at a time to ensure you go to your doctors each month for another pregnancy test, blood test as well as take a comprehensive exam each month. Getting pregnant on this medicine is a huge NO. The doctors are sure to remind you of this before you begin the medicine due to serious affects it can have on a child.
During my first three months on Accutane I saw no improvement with my acne. If anything it seemed to be getting worse! I remember my Dermatologist telling me it was going to be like this but I couldn't help getting frustrated. I was ready for the acne to be gone. I did start seeing side affects during these months though, mostly dry skin and lips as well as a very dry nose. As I entered into my fourth month of the medicine, the side affects really began to hit. If you've ever done research on Accutane or heard about it, than you know many of the side affects are not pretty. During my final two months on Accutane, my lips were extremely dry. Aquaphor became my best friend. My lips were so dry to the point they would crack and bleed. I know... gross. It was honestly very painful and not fun. Trying to have conversation with people during this time was hard, I didn't want them staring at my lips. If I would open my mouth to talk they would start to bleed. It was embarrassing and hard. I'm only sharing this because I want people to really know the affects that come with this medicine.
I consider myself very lucky when it came to the side affects though. Dry skin, lips and nose were the only things I experienced personally but while doing my research I had seen there can be quite scary side affects as well.
Some side affects to be aware of while taking Accutane:
1. Dry skin and lips
2. Dry Nose
3. Hair loss
4. Sensitivity to sun
A little funny story to go along with this one.... I was in my Junior year of college during my time on Accutane. I went on a spring break trip with two of my bestfriends to Cancun, Mexico! I remember my doctor warning me about how my skin would be extra sensitive to sun due to the medicine. I thought to myself "nooo, I always tan, I never burn". So of course the first day in Cancun I put minimal sunscreen on, if any honestly (terrible, I know) By the end of the day I was so burnt on my legs and feet to the point they were swollen!! It was not a fun few days walking around with swollen and burnt feet! Lesson learned... Definitely reapply that sunscreen while on this medicine!
