I'm 23 years old and never suffered from bad skin when I was in my teens at all, it was when I was about 21 all of a sudden out of nowhere I started getting really bad skin cystic acne on my cheeks and chin area it was really painful & embarrassing I absolutely hated it! I tried allsorts of tetracycline anti biotics and creams which didn't work its not until just recently my GP arranged an appointment with my local dermatologist and they started me on Isotrettin (Accutane) in the first few weeks I noticed my skin started to clear up abit and I was so glad I had started on it I had the side effects of chapped lips dry skin etc and I am now on my 5th week and my skin has become worse than ever! The cysts have come back with even more than there was before, its been that bad I haven't been to work for the past 2 days because i'm so embarrassed by it! I still have really dry skin and I thought the medication was supposed to dry up your sebaceous glands in order to prevent breakout/cysts?? so I don't understand why my skin started to improve and has now gone worse than ever? its really getting me down and I am now wishing I had never started it! is it going to improve anytime soon? please someone give me some feedback it would be much appreciated.
Accutane - how long does it take to see results?
Question posted by sarahxx90 on 15 Oct 2013
Last updated on 26 November 2016
Answers
I have been on isotretioin now finishing up my 4 month out of 5. I have taken the pill as prescribed 2x a day. My skin is terribly dry and red, however I have yet to see any improvements after this long into treatment. My acne has only gotten much worse and cysts are starting to form. When will it start to improve!! I can't see it going away with only 1 month left!!
Hi, I am on Accutane now, just started. My cousin used to be on Accutane. During the first month her condition worsened so badly, it was all over her face. She even lost her job at the bank she worked for. After 4 months, she still saw no results. However at the 5th month, her condition inprove tremendously! So I think yours will alright too m. Don't worry:)
Hey Sarah!
I'm sorry to hear about all the side effects that accutane is causing you. However, this is all normal. The first time I was prescribed accutane, my skin cracked all over, I had to take lotion to school to apply to my skin. I looked horrible with acne, red skin, and dry skin. However don't worry! This is what accutane does. You will have to have apply lotion multiple times a day. I showered in the morning and at night and applied lotion (Aveeno) after my showers.
It takes some time to see results though. Accutane does in fact reduce the amount of oil that your sebaceous glands will produce. I started to see results about 2 or 3 months into treatment. Remember that it may become a bit worse until you start to see improvement. I had terrible acne all over my skin and after accutane (2 treatments) I no longer break out or have acne and I feel so blessed for finding that medication even though the first few months can be hell, it will soon be worth it.
Stay strong until you see the results, because you WILL see results and you will love them :).
Hope this helps!
Respectfully, Jay
One way I imagine it is that your skin has to renew itself. It has to shed the bad before you see the new.
Thank you so much for commenting I really appreciate it and its nice to know somebody else understands how I feel. What lotion was it that you used? did that just prevent the dry skin or did it help the acne aswell? I use moisturiser day and night for my dry skin but I feel as though it makes my acne worse so I never know whether I'm best off just leaving the dry skin and letting my skin dry out! I really hope I do start to see some results soon as I'm going travelling in at the beginning of next year and wont be able to continue with the medication when I leave the country I was kinda hoping things would happen quicker :(
Thanks again for your advice,
Much appreciated
Sarah :)
Hi Sarah! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who is experiencing this! I've been on accutane for 3 weeks now and my skin seems to be much worse!!! Not only are my lips and lip super dry, but I have more and much much larger cysts on my face now. I thought things would be improving by now... Not getting worse. So discouraging. I'm just praying that this is a "gets worse before it gets better" situation.
Sarah- theres a cleansing moisturizing system
Called METRIN- its 5 steps. It is the best thing for your skin- its from Canada, Ive used it since the 80s. You become really oily first month and then your skin balances. I was on the accutane, tetracyclene, and even laser rollercoaster forever- get the METRIN and use it with the accutanne till youre skin becomes good. Trust me, youll be glad you did. You can order it online. Best of luck!
Lotion I would recommend is citaphil, it's good non fragrance, and get the dry skin type. That's how accutane works at first, just don't put your self to dow. First month should be bad but you should start to ease after
Related topics
Further information
- Accutane uses and safety info
- Accutane prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Accutane (detailed)
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