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It's commonly agreed upon protocol among core aesthetic physicians that ablative (even partially ablative) skin procedures should be postponed for 6 months after Accutane. However, I would not place microdermabrasion in that category and we have plenty of patients who have done fine with gentle microdermabrasion performed under supervision of a board-certified dermatologist.
I do not believe it is known at which point the skin becomes more fragile and the scarring more likely on Accutane. So it is impossible to predict how much damage a microdermabrasion will do at this point, as Accutane has already started making changes to your skin. I would not recommend microdermabrasion at this point.
I agree with Dr. Altman. In my experience, Accutane makes the skin more sensitive almost immediately. Even simple procedures or minor trauma like waxing can sometimes cause severe reactions in patients on Accutane. Accutane also slows healing. In my opinion, patients on Accutane (even for a short time) should avoid elective skin procedures like peels, microdermabrasion, or laser treatments.
