May I Use Acne Creams While on Accutane? (photo)

Question

Hello. I'm currently on my 5th and final month of 40mg of Claravis (Accutane) and thankfully it worked BUT, I got acne scars all over. Ice pick on my forehead and both cheeks and some bumpy ones. I am still a bit red on my cheeks. My question is, can I use some kind of acne scar treatment like creams from CVS or home remedies? I am aware that you need to wait 6 months to get acne scar laser removal. Also on my back and little on my chest (brown spots) My skin is sensitive. Thanks!

Cheryl Lee Eberting, MD · Answer

Hello, I would not advise to use anything on your skin while on Claravis.  The brown sposts on your back and chest will fade over time.  The over the counter scar creams probably won't do much for the type of scars that you show on your pictures.  Most treatments for "ice pick" type of acne scars require breaking up the scar or releasing it.  This can be done with some lasers or a DermaPen.  The bumps are most likely still inflamed or are probably hypertrophic and may require an injection of a diluted steroid to break it up.  Please wait until you are done with your therapy. 

	Good luck, take care.

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

I would not recommend you use acne creams while on Accutane, but more than that, these types of creams aren't able to treat ice pick scarring anyway, so you you will be wasting your money. A topical cream cannot get to the depths where scars like this are, so don't waste your money.

May I Use Acne Creams While on Accutane? (photo)

Answers (2)