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How Long Will It Take for Skin Dryness to Decrease?
asked 1 year ago by Ellie501 in Kansas, United States
Latest answer by Emily Altman, MD
Question viewed 250 times
Tags: age 17 or under, back, female, acne, dry skin, fair, sun exposure
I'm starting Accutane next month (May 25), and how much can i be out in the sun while taking this if i can Very Fair skin. Ive tried every type of medicine, so far this is the only possible treatment i can try and i am very confident that my skin will clear. Is there any additional tips that cam help me at my age (15)? My back is worse than everything combined.. :(
2 answers to How Long Will It Take for Skin Dryness to Decrease?
+1
Accutane and sun exposure
If you have fair skin you are already really susceptible to sun damage. Chronic sun exposure and sun damage before age 20 are very significant risk factors for skin cancer later in life. So you should practice strict sun avoidance between 10 am and 4 pm and use a high SPF broad spectrum sunscreen daily.
If you compound your natural sun sensitivity with Accutane which makes you sun sensitive, all those risk factors increase. So sun avoidance should be even more stringent...
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+1
Sun Avoidance on Accutane
It is recommended to avoid significant sun exposure while on Accutane as this medicine can make you photosensitive. Try to stay indoors during the peak UV hours from 10AM to 4PM and wear at least an SPF 30 sunscreen with a good UVA blocker that is re-applied every two hours. Hats and long sleeve shirts will also diminish your UV exposure.
Anthony Perri, MD
Houston Dermatologist
Houston Dermatologist