POSTED UNDER Accutane REVIEWS
7 Months of Accutane - Toronto, ON
ORIGINAL POST
I had a great experience with Accutane, or Clarus...
nafflesAugust 19, 2015
WORTH IT$650
I had a great experience with Accutane, or Clarus which is what I actually took. For the first three or four months I took 40mg once a day, and then the rest I alternated with taking one 40mg pill and two 40mg pill [to average at 60mg/day]
Initially I had some drying, but nothing bad. After the second month my skin became quite red- it didn't hurt at all though. My lips were the dryest part, but I found the lip treatment I was using made it barely noticable. By month 7 my skin was flaking a bit more than it had been during the previous months, but a few days after my last dose it went away.
While I believe I was a good candidate for Accutane [had moderate acne for 13+ years, birth control, diet, antibiotics, etc never helped] I do think the reason my skin didn't react as dramatically as some was because of my skincare.
I live in Toronto, so I was using some products that are local but can be purchased online/equivilents can be found.
As a cleanser, I used Mario Badescu: Enzyme Cleanser. Honestly I didn't care much for this stuff, but I had purchased it so I figured I would use it. I never found cleanser affected my skin much. To remove makeup though I always use coconut oil.
For a moisturizer, I used Pure + Simple: Regenerating Seabuckthorn Berry Oil. This stuff is a dream come true and I think it's the main reason my skin was so good during my treatment. You can buy other brands, as long as not just oil + fillers. Seabuckthorn Oil is great for wound healing so it's perfect for Accutane users. It's pricey but one bottle lasted me 8+ months, so in the end it's worth it.
For my lips, I used Elizabeth Arden: 8 Hour Cream. This stuff is so great. It's mega thick, you can add it to your moisturizer, apply it to burns/cuts, or do what I did and apply it straight to your lips. I found I had to apply it often when I first started my treatment but by the end it was much less often and my lips felt/looked great.
I've been done treatment for a month now, and my skin looks and feels great. It's very smooth to the touch, and while I still have some scaring, I have no pimples and haven't for months.
I did not experience any of the other side effects, besides dry skin/lips.
Initially I had some drying, but nothing bad. After the second month my skin became quite red- it didn't hurt at all though. My lips were the dryest part, but I found the lip treatment I was using made it barely noticable. By month 7 my skin was flaking a bit more than it had been during the previous months, but a few days after my last dose it went away.
While I believe I was a good candidate for Accutane [had moderate acne for 13+ years, birth control, diet, antibiotics, etc never helped] I do think the reason my skin didn't react as dramatically as some was because of my skincare.
I live in Toronto, so I was using some products that are local but can be purchased online/equivilents can be found.
As a cleanser, I used Mario Badescu: Enzyme Cleanser. Honestly I didn't care much for this stuff, but I had purchased it so I figured I would use it. I never found cleanser affected my skin much. To remove makeup though I always use coconut oil.
For a moisturizer, I used Pure + Simple: Regenerating Seabuckthorn Berry Oil. This stuff is a dream come true and I think it's the main reason my skin was so good during my treatment. You can buy other brands, as long as not just oil + fillers. Seabuckthorn Oil is great for wound healing so it's perfect for Accutane users. It's pricey but one bottle lasted me 8+ months, so in the end it's worth it.
For my lips, I used Elizabeth Arden: 8 Hour Cream. This stuff is so great. It's mega thick, you can add it to your moisturizer, apply it to burns/cuts, or do what I did and apply it straight to your lips. I found I had to apply it often when I first started my treatment but by the end it was much less often and my lips felt/looked great.
I've been done treatment for a month now, and my skin looks and feels great. It's very smooth to the touch, and while I still have some scaring, I have no pimples and haven't for months.
I did not experience any of the other side effects, besides dry skin/lips.
naffles's provider
Replies (5)
August 21, 2015
Your skin when you started looks exactly like mine. Mine may actually be a bit worse. I just started accutane and your results are very inspiring. I just have to keep up with it! So awesome to see that your scars were reduced! They looks completely gone to me :) Thanks for sharing
August 21, 2015
Welcome, thanks so much for sharing your story -- I am so glad that your happy with your results, you look great!
Be sure to share any tips you have here:
My doc says that wearing make up does not affect the treatment but I am starting to think he is wrong based on my progress so far, he also said taking the medication with fatty foods is also not a big deal when I have heard otherwise? I'm in North Bay, ON not far from you at all!
I forgot to mention this in the review, but I'm also vegan which may have made a difference as well? I eat pretty healthy 80% of the time, so my liver didn't have to work much harder/my other organs are in pretty good shape.
I wore makeup everyday basically, unless I spent the day at home. I usually wear BB cream but some days I did a full face of foundation. I clean my makeup brushes often, as well as wash my pillow cases weekly so maybe that helped me? I also never go to bed with makeup on, ever. I usually use coconut oil to get the makeup off and then a regular cleanser to actually cleanse my skin.
I took Accutane every morning with some nut butter, not sure if it helped at all but it just became a habit + I take some other vitamins that can make you feel nauseous if taken on an empty stomach.
I still have some blackheads and the pores on my nose are still big, but I think that's just what my skin is like.
I went to visit my parents in May, and I still had a few pimples then, but then by the end of July I realized I didn't have any. So I wouldn't get too discouraged.
Hope this helps and good luck!