Isotretinoin and Dry Lips: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jen...
• May 13, 2019

Isotretinoin for Acne "Accutane has been great for my skin as I struggled with mild acne from the age of 12 to 18 years old. When I hit college, my skin became extremely oily, and my small pimples became deep cysts. I saw a dermatologist and was put on Differin and also Duac. I went through several courses of antibiotics without ever getting fully clear skin. My dermatologist told me that Accutane was the next step. The only bad side effects I had besides the dry skin and dry lips were some pretty horrendous headaches at the beginning. My dermatologist made me take a week off taking it, and those headaches never returned. Besides that, my Accutane course was great, and my blood work was just fine. Before Accutane, I was too embarrassed to be seen by anyone, including family, without makeup on. Now I can leave my house with no makeup. This is true freedom, my skin is now JUST skin, and I can look people in the eye and not worry about them staring at a huge cyst on my face. I wish I had done this ten years ago!"

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2016

Isotretinoin for Acne "I read the Accutane horror stories, so I turned down my dermatologist's suggestion of it. After 4 more years (25 now), the cystic acne has just been getting worse and worse. It was seriously impacting my life. I just finished a month ago doing a 5-month, 60mg/day treatment, and my skin is flawless. I cannot believe it. I actually have better skin than people who I once thought had beautiful, perfect skin. I experienced some joint pain the first month and dry lips the entire time, but I started seeing reductions in acne by month 2 and had no new cysts by month 4. There are still a few that are healing (yes, I would get some cysts that take 6-8 months to heal). I would highly recommend this. I have so much of my life back, not worrying about my skin."

• Phi...
• August 26, 2019

Isotretinoin for Acne "I really struggled with acne in my teens and my twenties. Roaccutane, at 27, I took the plunge. I read all the side effects. I was due to be on Roaccutane for 4 months, but I ended up on it for 6-7 months. Nothing can prepare you for the dry lips and skin. After about 7 days on the treatment, my acne just went crazy. I was developing 10 new spots an hour, they were coming out so fast my face was now full with more spots than ever, but I had prepared myself for it. The medication was starting to take effect. It was hard being on the medication with dry lips and skin, but a small price to pay for good skin. In the last month of the treatment, my skin improved 100%. People would comment on how clear my skin was. But then, about 3 months after, I would get the odd spot, but since then I apply a little Duac gel from the doctor once or twice a week, and it keeps my skin clear. I am now 39, and my skin is good, it has changed my life for the better."

• Nip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2016

Isotretinoin for Acne "My 16-year-old son has had acne-not to the point of scarring but enough to really affect his self-esteem. He is now under a specialist and has been taking Accutane for about 3-4 months, 40 mg per day. After a month or so, his skin was even worse, and it was quite horrific, but now he is nearly clear! He has always been very moody, and I have constantly been worried that he may have depression. He has shown NO signs of being any worse on this medication! Dry, dry, dry lips is the worst side effect, and his self-esteem is better."

• Lis...
• August 8, 2014

Isotretinoin for Acne "Amazing! I understand when people say they tried everything. I didn't have severe acne, but persistent and regular. Plus, it didn't help that I was a real squeezer and probably made the whole situation worse. And I already get anxious about social situations, so the skin problem added to that! I was able to go on a low dose, 20 mg, which I was scared wouldn't be enough, but this stuff is strong! Can't complain about the dry skin, as how else is it going to work? The whole idea is to make you less oily. Lips were very dry and gross at the start, and whole layers were peeling off, but that isn't so bad now. Have been through about 10 lip balms already! But that's it really. Sometimes feel a little tired, but that could also not be Accutane."

• Xxn...
• May 27, 2013

Isotretinoin for Acne "I had cystic acne on my face, neck, shoulders, and back. I have never been able to wear a tank top or bathing suit and my hair with no makeup for 7 years. HIGHLY RECOMMEND ACCUTANE! I'm not even done with my 120-day course yet, and I could almost cry right now, talking about how great I feel now. I think the trick to avoiding all those serious side effects is sticking to a lower dosage. I'm on 30 mg a day, and it took 3 1/2 months (BE STRONG PEOPLE, IT TAKES TIME), and I can officially say I am acne-free all over for the first time in 7 years. I wish I could be some sort of motivational speaker for this stuff. If you are thinking about it, DO IT! The downside is the dry patches on my arms and cracked lips, the only thing that works is Vaseline. And another upside to it is my hair! It never gets oily!"

• Joe...
• January 31, 2015

Isotretinoin for Acne "I started taking this medication about four years ago, stopped maybe two or three years ago. Great success, my acne vanished and I have only had acne one time since, when I accidentally used moisturizer on my face. The only side effect I had was dry skin (mostly just chapped lips), which is to be expected, but it is pretty much back to normal now."

• smc...
• December 21, 2007

Isotretinoin for Acne "I started taking Claravis two months ago. I have this acne on my chest, and everything I used just didn't work. I finally went to see a skin doctor, and he started me off with just 20 mg, which, reading about all the side effects, scared me a little, but so far, so good. Right now, I am on 40 mg twice a day, and the only problems I am really having are the chapped lips (Aquaphor will become the love of your life). I am already seeing good results from Claravis, and I still have 4 months to go."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2014

Isotretinoin for Acne "I was 49 when I began taking Accutane for moderate acne. My insurance company only approved 5 months' treatment. My dermatologist generally recommends 8 months, but I was satisfied with my results at the end of my 5-month course. I had the common side effects of chapped lips and dry, itching skin. It's been 4 months post-treatment, and I'm still clear of bumps. I don't regret my decision."

• Luc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 22, 2020

Isotretinoin for Acne "Taking Accutane for my acne is one of the best things I’ve done. It has literally changed my life, and I have become so much more confident. I am so much happier with how my skin is and my appearance now than I ever have been. People comment on how I look happier and healthier because my skin is just glowing! I am just in my last month or so, and I am looking forward to when it finishes. I struggled with severely dry lips and patches of skin on my face to begin with. My skin started to cope more, but my lips are still as dry as ever, this is something I will not miss. Occasionally, I may feel down, however, as long as you tell your doctor the truth, they can deal with this and possibly lower your dose, etc. (one of the positive side effects is my hair is nowhere near as greasy!) To anyone who is wondering whether Accutane is for them, I would say it is life-changing, and the side effects are manageable for such a positive outcome at the end!"

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2014

Isotretinoin for Acne "I've written a review on here a couple of times, first when I had first started on Accutane and second when I was on my fourth month. I just finished my last pill last night, and I'm hopeful that my face will stay clear. I still have dry lips and dry skin, that will eventually go back to normal, but otherwise my skin is completely clear and I'm not scared to wear less makeup, before, I would literally look like a cake face. All I have is a lot of leftover marks and discoloration, but my dermatologist and I have already talked about chemical peels within the next month or two. I know Accutane sounds scary for everyone who hasn't tried it and read some reviews, but it's not. Acne was messing with me mentally, and I was willing to try anything! Go for it."

• J-m...
• September 21, 2018

Isotretinoin for Acne "I personally loved Accutane! I spent 8 years dealing with moderate hormonal cystic acne. Like most people on here, I tried everything else out there. I kept saying no to Accutane because of all the horror stories I had read online. Finally, my doctor said there was nothing left for me to do except Accutane. So, I did my research, and I prepared myself for the worst. My acne is completely gone after the 5-month course. I was one of the lucky few to have very little side effects from the medication. My face was hardly dry at all, and I only had some chapped lips. But nothing like I had expected. What I will say to the people questioning it is trust your doctor! Obviously, do your research, but don't get too caught up with the stories online. Know there are risks, and some people have had horrible experiences with it, but also know everyone is different. I think if you prepare yourself for the worst, it may not be as bad."

• Fia...
• September 25, 2018

Isotretinoin for Acne "I have just finished month two, and my face is the smoothest it has ever been. Fair-skinned people, you will definitely look like you have a sunburn in the first month, but it goes away. I did purge bad in the first three to four weeks, but it was manageable. This thing is a miracle drug, and the only side effect I have had is SOME lower back pain, fatigue, and SLIGHTLY dry skin and lips. I attest my lack of symptoms due to my one gallon of water I drink every day and unwavering moisturizing skills. Ladies, butter yourself up every day with that ultra repair cream and some rosehip oil, and you will be fine. I thought this would be really bad, but maybe everyone is sensitive OR I just got lucky. Anyways, I highly recommend this drug. Don't think you can still eat absolute junk and it will still work, eat as healthy as you can, exercise, limit stress, eat clean, and indulge every once in a while and let Accutane do its job."

• Tnt...
• February 7, 2017

Isotretinoin for Acne "My son had severe acne. We tried every prescription and non-prescription topical cream and also the oral medications, minocycline and doxycycline. Nothing worked, and he was struggling for 2 years with self-esteem crushing acne all over his face. I was hesitant to have him try Accutane because of all the side effects, but I'm so glad we decided to have him try it. He started at 40 mg the first month and then switched to 80 mg for 5 months. His face is completely clear. I call this a miracle drug. It's not for everyone, and please realize there are some serious side effects for some people. My son mainly just had chapped lips and some peeling skin, but nothing that wasn't manageable with moisturizer and chapstick."

• Nat...
• February 16, 2015

Isotretinoin for Acne "In junior high, all of a sudden, my face just erupted in acne. You could tell people were staring. I hated looking in the mirror. It's remarkable how fast all the acne disappeared. This medication was a real lifesaver. My dad didn't have access to this medicine, and from 12 to 25, he was absolutely covered in acne. So grateful I have this stuff. Side effects to note: VERY dry lips, dry skin, back pain."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2020

Isotretinoin for Acne "I started the medication a little under 3 months ago. My acne wasn’t as bad as most people have it. I would get 1-3 cystic breakouts about every week. I also had pretty oily skin, which is mainly what caused these breakouts. One week on the medication, my skin's oil decreased substantially. Week 2 came around, and I had probably the worst breakout I’ve had in recent memory. It took about a week and a half for my skin to heal from that, but I haven’t had any breakouts since. I haven’t even had tiny pimples or anything like that as well. Accutane has made my skin so much better, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The side effects aren’t anything to worry about either. The only side effects I’ve gotten were dry skin, chapped lips, and red hands (my derma gave me a cream for my hands, and they were fine a week later). With all of this said, I would highly recommend Accutane, although the side effects seem scary, I have only gotten the dryness."

• Tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2014

Isotretinoin for Acne "I went on Accutane twice in my early 20s. It cleared my skin. I suffered from mild to moderate acne, not extreme cystic acne. Afterwards, everyone commented on how amazing my skin was. It's an amazing medicine. The only side effect I had was dry lips, which I dealt with by buying Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. Accutane has a powerful anti-aging effect as it wipes out a lot of the photoaging you have suffered up to the point you start taking it. I am now 45 and look 10 years younger. I credit Accutane for the fact that I look so much younger than my years. It is a great medicine."

• Tre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2019

Isotretinoin for Acne "For people who are thinking of taking it and are worried, I wanted to share that I'm lucky enough to have NOT experienced half these effects, so you may not get them yourself! I went through private health, and the first dosage was 30mg, then 40mg, and currently I'm on month 3 at 60mg. I could see that my skin immediately started to clear up, but since then, the results have stagnated a little and I haven't noticed much change. Side effect-wise, I get really dry lips, and it's a bit dry inside my nostrils... But that's it! No headaches or anxiety, no aching joints (still go to the gym 3-5 days a week), haven't noticed any particularly bad breakouts (just not clearing up), and had slightly sensitive skin on my face in month 2. I do have mild eczema anyway, but it definitely hasn't made it worse. And one thing that's great while you are on it, you never get greasy hair! So if acne is really affecting you, go for it. For me, it's worth the side effects."

• Rai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2013

Isotretinoin for Acne "My daughter has been taking Accutane for 6 months now, and her skin is flawless! She is so happy! She has been complaining of back pain, but she is going to a chiropractor and getting adjusted regularly, which seems to help. At first, her lips were terribly chapped! But I bought some really good chapstick, and now she is fine. She is tired, but she is also a teenager, so that may come into play. She would not wear tank tops last summer because her skin was so broke out. Now I am planning my wedding, and she is only looking at strapless dresses! This has boosted her confidence, and I am thankful she was able to take this medicine!"

• Gol...
• January 12, 2008

Isotretinoin for Acne "Accutane seems to have saved my skin. Before taking Accutane, I tried about everything on the market, and NOTHING worked. I started taking it, it sucked with the constant dry skin, lips, and everything else, but it worked. I do have some pockmarks on my face since I had acne for so long. But it looks a lot better than that UGLY acne!"

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2009

Isotretinoin for Acne "I'm 27 and have had cystic acne since age 11. I took Accutane my sophomore year of college, and it worked pretty much instantly with good results and no side effects (maybe dry lips, but I barely remember that). The acne came back though about two years later, and I took a second cycle. About four to five years later (now), it has come back slowly, and I am considering a third round. I've used Proactiv for over a year, and that was working, but has seemed to stop working and severely dry out my skin. I'm nervous about the side effects with a third round, but the first two cycles I had no issues- so I'm hoping this round will last longer!"

• Vba...
• February 2, 2020

Isotretinoin for Acne "After 3 years of trying every possible acne product and visiting multiple dermatologists with no results, I hesitantly allowed my 15-year-old daughter to go on Claravis. She is heading into month 3, and her skin is definitely improving. The cystic acne has almost disappeared, and some scarring is beginning to subside. She still has minor non-cystic type acne outbreaks, but nothing like she was experiencing. As for side effects, there have been some, but nothing too bad. The worst has been the sides of her mouth getting cracks from dry lips and then getting mildly infected. She uses Aquaphor constantly, which helps. She has experienced some backaches, but she plays sports, so that probably doesn't help. I constantly tell her that if things get too bad, she should end the meds, but she loves the results after years of being made fun of at school :( or feeling self-conscious about her acne, so she says she's not giving up. Eager to see how much better her skin gets in the next few months."

• Tim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 10, 2014

Isotretinoin for Acne "For those suffering from chapped lips from this medication, I have to recommend Dr. Dan's Cortibalm. It is usually behind the counter at your pharmacy, you'll have to ask for it. It saved my life while taking Accutane."

• Jas...
• February 28, 2018

For Rosacea "Low dose for rosacea works better than anything else. I have minimal side effects - some dry lips and that’s about it. Nothing else but isotretinoin has worked. I have been on a low dose for over 10 years. A high dose will make flushing worse, so I recommend a low dose (10 mg every other day)."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

Isotretinoin for Acne "I've had bad acne since I was in middle school. I didn't do anything about it until around the summer of 10th grade because I started to get cystic acne on a regular basis. My dermatologist put me on Doxycycline. At the time, I was not always regular with taking pills, and when my acne did get better and started to go away, I thought I was fine. The acne just kept coming back, and I took antibiotics and creams like retinol and Epiduo and all sorts of benzoyl peroxide washes, but nothing worked. So my dermatologist finally convinced me to get on Accutane. As of right now, I'm 5 months in, and my skin has never been better, it's amazing. My side effects were dry eyes (I have contacts), dry face, dry lips, and nosebleeds. I honestly wish I did it sooner!"