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Manual Exfoliants While on Low Dose Accutane?
Is it okay to use manual exfoliants while on low dose Accutane? I know it's generally not advised, but if the person is generally reacting well to treatment, can an exfoliant be added once a week? I just feel like the texture of the skin suffers a bit because of the dryness and build up--very dull skin. Or, is exfoliating pointless because the dryness that Accutane causes won't go away? I really appreciate any advice on this. I love having absolutely no acne, but I'd like to treat the pigmentation and marks they left behind.
Asked 34 months ago by
battlescarred in Halifax, Canada
+2
You can try it, but beware of causing extra irritation.
Thanks for your question.
Accutane does dry out the skin and often leads to dryness, peeling, and / or scaling. Doing a manual exfoliation, or chemical toner / exfoliator may lead to a reduction in the appearance of dry skin, but may in turn cause extra irritation and redness. It's fine if you want to do a gentle exfoliation with a mild scrub, or even if you want to do a mild toner, just beware of this risk.
You will want to use a moisturizer as well to combat the dry skin appearance. My...
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Beverly Hills Dermatologist
+2
Manual Exfoliants while on Accutane
I find that most patients on accutane cannot tolerate additional drying or exfoliating treatments to the entire face so I usually advise against it because it dries the skin out even more. You may want to try applying a low-strength (2%) hydroquinone skin lightening product to the individual pigment marks with the understanding that you may need to apply it over your moisturizer if these areas become too dry. To help counteract the dull, dry appearance of your skin, use of a moisturizer...
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San Diego Dermatologist