Does Oratane for acne lighten your skin?

Hypopigmentation (lighter skin coloring) is not a common side effect of Oratane (Istotretinoin), though in my experience this has been noted in patients of darker skin color where they have experienced lightening of lip color. Patients typically experience dryness while on Isotretinoin which in certain skin types may heal lighter.

Acne requires a combination approach to get long term improvement. For all patients on isotretinoin, we require them to be on skin care such as vitamin C (Skinceuticals Phloretin CF, EmerageSkin AOX-C), glycolic cream (jan Marini bioclear, EmerageSkin enzymatic polish) , kojic acid serums (Skinceuticals phytoplus) and hyaluronic acid serum (IS clinical hydra cool serum, Skinceuticals B5, EmerageSkin hyla B) in the morning, and retinols (reve skin 1.0 and sente biocomplete serum) and salicylic acid (reveskin acne purifying enhancer), growth factors and peptides (anetageMD, EmerageSkin Re-Fit Face/Eye) at night.

All of our patients get clear+brilliant non ablative laser along with a microsecond YAG laser such as aerolase or laser genesis and microneedling with PRP or microneelding RF like intensif or fractora monthly to help improve breakouts, speed the healing process, and improve scarring and facial redness while on the isotretinoin/accutane. LED light therapy, cosmelan/enlighten/AERIFY peels, salt facial or dermalinfusion can be done as well to speed up the improvement. I suggest you go to an expert who combines skin care, lasers, microneedling, PRP, and facials while on oral medications for acne.
Best, Dr. Emer.