She’s here to share her experience with the acne drug, Accutane. Having had bad acne myself and knowing how many other women struggle with it, I asked Candice to share her story so that anyone considering this route would have some insight into the process and what they might expect.
Please welcome Candice!
Why I Decided to Take the Accutane Route
I chose to go on Accutane (generic name isotretinoin) because I was having recurring cystic acne breakouts that were starting to leave scars. I had these when I was in my teens but I was able to treat it effectively with an antibiotic called Minocin. When these breakouts started to happen continuously at the age of 29, nothing seemed to work. I tried every single thing that I was aware of to treat acne such as topical creams, expensive skin care lines, lasers, chemical peels, and different types of antibiotics. You name it, I tried it. I would go see different doctors seeking advice; they all would suggest Accutane as an effective method to treat my acne.
I was very reluctant to go on Accutane because of all the bad press it receives. Not to mention people who are taking the drug tend to typically look awful for 6 months with red, flaky skin. Although with anywhere from 3-5 cystic pimples on my face at any given time, I probably didn’t look much better! I realized that if I ever wanted to have clear skin, and also save my skin from deep pitted scarring, I needed to do something fast. I started to do research on the drug. In Europe, there had been huge success with putting patients on low dose Accutane. Reports said patients experienced the same results of clear skin, minus any of the negative side effects. Possibly some dry skin. I was very concerned as my Mother has been on Accutane twice in her lifetime and was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease which many medical journals link to the use of Accutane. My dermatologist assured me that there was no concrete evidence of this and that under proper supervision; I was safe to start the medication.
Taking Accutane is Not Easy
For anyone considering Accutane as a method to remedy their acne, there are some things to consider. This is a heavily monitored drug due to the possible health risks. I had to get extensive blood work done before and take a pregnancy test. You cannot be even thinking of getting pregnant for at least a year after being on Accutane, or that is what is recommended. Apparently birth defects are very common with the drug. Once I started, I had to see my dermatologist once a month for blood work and a pregnancy test. This blood work ensures no harm is being doing to your organs. The pregnancy test results are logged on an online monitoring system with all pharmacies and it is called Ipledge. You cannot even pick up your monthly prescription until you take your pregnancy test and have the negative result verified by your doctor. You also need to sign documents agreeing to take 2 forms of contraceptives if you are sexually active.
My results on Accutane were amazing. My skin literally cleared up within a week of starting. I started at a dosage of 20 mg. I went from there to 30 mg and stayed on that until the last month where I went to 40 mg. This is the highest I ever got. Most people typically start at 40 from what I understand. My skin was clear and literally had a glow. You couldn’t even see one pore on my face, everything was porcelain. Towards the end of my cycle, I was scared to get off because I have heard that your acne can come back. I’m coming up to one year of being off the drug and I have barely had a pimple all year. If I do see a tiny blemish, it goes away overnight. It has definitely changed my skin and my life. I used to stress so much over my acne and I wouldn’t want to go out.
Thank you so much Candice for sharing your story! If anyone has questions, please leave them in the comments below and I will ask Candice to come answer them!
xoxo,
Veronika.
why aren't there any pictures of her with acne?
I just finished accutane treatment for the first time about 2 months ago with amazing results. My dosage was similar, starting very low at first then increasing gradually. My only side effect was very yet lips which I treated with Aquaphor (and now I'm in love with it as a lip balm). While I'm so glad that I did try everything possible before turning to accutane, part of me wishes I had done it sooner. I have a few pink scars in my chin from old cystic breakouts. Anyway, my skin is still flawless, though it did go back to being on the oily side around my nose. Now I use my clarisonic at night with ddf brightening cleanser (aha, bha acids) and my skin remains clear and bright. For the first time I can go confidently without makeup to the gym, beach, or pool 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Is Candace using any treatments now or a special skincare routine?
-stephie
@jenny—I don't have photos of her bare skin with acne on it, but believe me, it was there.
I took Accutane in high school. I cannot remember the dosage. It was about 11 years ago. At the time, I had cystic acne that just wouldn't go away. I started Accutane because my dermatologist and I were concerned about scaring. My skin as been completely different ever since. I didn't have a single zit for several years.
2 years ago, when I went off of hormonal birth control, I broke out along my jaw line, but my acne was easily treated with microdermabrasion and OTC acne products.
Candace is completely right when she says this isn't for everyone. The side effect are TERRIBLE. It basically shuts down your skin's production of oil. My lips cracked like you wouldn't believe. It was incredibly painful. My skin was dry, red, and peeling all over. My hair got really dry too. It was only worth it because it was a better alternative than scars.
great post! this is always a touchy subject but I love how detailed her account was!
love from San Francisco,
Britt+Whit
I went on accutane earlier this year for mild but persistent acne and unfortunately didn't end up taking the full dosage. I started to develop rosacea, which is something many derms don't agree with (they claimed I was flushing/red from dry skin – not the case), but after doing extensive research online I found that it is rare, but others have had similar experiences. I stopped accutane immediately and thankfully the rosacea has remained under control. And even better, I found something that did finally clear my skin, which was ortho tri cyclen. Thanks Candice for sharing your story, and just thought I'd share a bit of mine. For someone who has mild but persistent acne, birth control might be a solution for you too.
SO happy to hear Accutane worked wonders for you Candice! I consider it a miracle drug myself. I went on it when I was only 15 years old (after trying everything else in my derm's arsenal!) since I had severe cystic acne on my face and back and was at a high risk of scarring. I too had the sun sensitivity and redness and chapped lips, but those side effects were nothing compared to the torment I went through as a kid due to having terrible acne. It changed my life and my skin for the better. It's a potent drug to be sure and, like you said, is monitored very carefully, but that drug is the only reason my face isn't horribly scarred from acne. On the contrary, my skin is now as beautifully clear and
'porcelain' as Candice's! Thanks for sharing this!
My boyfriend in high school had HORRIBLE cystic acne and Accutane transformed his skin into that of a baby's bottom. He did have the side effects – insanely dry and cracked lips and spontaneous nose bleeds, but it really was worth it. He was glad to deal with those issues to have clear skin.
I know he went through a second cycle of the drug about 4 years later in college, but has never had any more acne or need for Accutane since. I think Accutane is a blessing for people who have extreme acne issues!!
I took Accutane and had the most gorgeous skin for awhile. Unfortunately it did come back after 3 years. I didn't have awful acne but it still sucks. Won't be taking it again because I know people who've had stomach problems years and years later after having taken the medicine.
wow! this is inspiring.. =)
Accutane is a wonder drug. Not for everyone, but there are a few of us who've gone on it and have never had any adverse side effects. I went on it in university for about 1.5 years, and now over 5 years later my skin is still doing great, though I do have the occasional zit especially around that time of the month (I may go on it again this year at a low dosage, just for curiousity's sake). While I had a bit of dry skin the first two months and had to go in for blood tests for the first three, I had absolutely no ill effects. My doctor was kinda amazed, though he said probably it was due to my good health, height, and genes. My skin cleared up almost instantly and I never had to feel embarrassed going out in public again. Of course, it isn't for everyone; I had a friend go on it as well and she had to stop taking it after she had a few inexplicable nosebleeds and noticed more hair than usual coming out in the shower. But if you have a serious skin problem, you definitely owe it to yourself to at least give Accutane a fair try!
In early elementary and middle school I didn't have cystic acne, but large recurring pimples that had started to cause scarring on both my face and upper body.
I went through pretty much every treatment known to man, but because I was so young I didn't go on Accutane until I was about 12. I think my lowest dose was 60mg and I went on the 9 month treatment 3 times. I still have recurrent normal pimples, but nothing compared to what I went through as a kid.
Thanks for having Candice share her positive story. It is a really harsh treatment (I used to open vitamin E capsules and coat my face in the oils) but I didn't have any side-effects except for actual treating my acne and severe drying of my skin.
Obviously I was not in a position to think about pregnancy, but it's really not an issue now for me (aka no lasting side effects).
The main argument now against giving Accutane to teens is depression, but as someone who went through getting acne far worse and far longer than anyone else my age, I'm positive that doing something about it was beneficial. I can't speak to it's effectiveness for adult acne, but it was the best choice for me and could be for someone you know! Bottom line, ask the dermatologist not your GP – they'll have more real-life experience and recommendations!
I had a great result after taking Accutane. I took it for the first time when I was 22 and then again 6 years later (for 4 months each time, although I forget the dosage). I didn't experience any bad side effects at all, my skin didn't get overly dry or red, my lips didn't crack. I am now 42 and my skin looks great. I am also on the birth control pill called Diane which helps keep skin clear and for the occassional little break out, I swear by Veronika's favourite Proactive's refining mask which is amazing!
I used Accutane in college, eight years ago, and I am still happy with the way my skin looks. I will occasionally have a breakout but it's from allergies and not the painful cyctic acne. I did have really dry skin and lips while I was on it but it was worth it to me.
Also Veronika, I just wanted to comment on your youtube video- great job! I am just getting caught up with your recent post, I look forward to more videos :).
No derm would put me on this because I don't have cystic-type acne, but I've been suffering from whiteheads, blackheads, and scarring for going on 18 years. I really wish one had been willing to at least try this on me 🙁 My acne never responded to anything else.
I took Accutane when I was 22 years old (I'm 34 now) and was on the drug for about 4 months. I don't remember the dosage. My skin cleared up super fast, and I don't remember having too many side effects, although I do remember the dry lips. My skin stayed perfectly clear for many years after taking the drug, although I was on the Pill that whole time too, so that could have also helped to keep my skin clear. When I went off the Pill at age 31 to try and get pregnant, my skin freaked out for a few months, and I had breakouts like I had not had since college. My skin calmed down after awhile, but I do still get occasional breakouts.
What causes acne. I'm 40 and have never had it, but my brother did. Watch tomorrow I will wake up with it…LOL!!!
I wish I had some great results as Candice.
I was on Accutane for few months when I was 20 (I'm almost 30 now) but don't remember the dosage. My skin was clear for a while but I have not stop breaking out. Even though I no longer get cystic acne I still break out (it's usually in areas I haven't broken out before). My skin is SO sensitive that it usually leaves a scar. Therefore I'm looking into having some type of laser treatment done hopefully this fall.
Never taken Accutane (always too scared) but I did find that mega dosing on certain water-soluble vitamins helped my cystic acne TREMENDOUSLY. Something to think about for all cystic sufferers out there.
Ugh, isn't that the WORST kind of acne (esp. in your 20s)?!
beautiful post honey
xxx
Welcome!!
I have some acne problems too… I just tried out the Clean&Clear acne treatment with 3 steps. But it on the day before yesterday, and had a bad reaction. Since then my face is totally red, I look like a lobster! And my face is completely dried up… So I'm basicly a lobster that has been out of water for 10hour… bad..very bad! Anyways, I went to the pharmacy and recommended Eurcerine clream to calm it down, which works. After that, when I look normal again except for my usual brak outs, I'll try another product – again. I know Accutane, cause I'm European, and indeed every doctor recommends it there, but I'm not bad enough to be on drugs yet…
I've always been very anti-Accutane for all the side effects and also because of the up-keep with the blood work and pregnancy tests. Then again, I do NOT do well with getting my blood taken, I have to take something so I don't pass out. haha
I imagine it is a lot better taking it at a much lower dosage and working your way up. However, what I'm on now has been working for me so that's what I'm sticking with for the moment.
I would love to try Accutane, but my husband and I do plan on starting our family sometime in the next year, so I can't chance taking the medication now. I've just been so frustrated because I was never someone who had bad skin even in my teenage years, and now at 27 almost 28 I'm having the worst breakouts and have little bumps everywhere. I've tried everything from several topical creams and washes at the drugstores, proactiv, and even bought the clarisonic and it seemed like the "purge" never ended. I'm so frustrated and am at the point of realizing I just may have to live with it for a while.
I was on Accutane when I was 15 and it was the best thing I ever did for my acne, even though that's when it first came out (I'm 28 now, for reference) and there wasn't much research on it. I never experienced any of those weird side effects aside from very dry skin and lips and my cuticles would get infected easily if I picked at a dry cuticle. I've had bouts of hormonal acne come back, but nothing near as bad as it was. I think it's saved me for the rest of my life 🙂
A friend of mine told me she has had very severe acne in her teen and early 20s, she was on Accutane and it cleare up her skin completely. She has perfect skin ever since and took very good care of hers kin.
Earlier this year, I have had very bad break out, it was due to some skin care products I used and stress. I didn't use accutane. I used an expensive face wash I bought from Sprout, its called "Neem and Turmeric face wash", and it cleared up my skin quicker than the medicine my Dermatologist prescribed for me. Luckily, I never had to go to the route of taking Accutane, but I would do anything for good clear skin, and I would have gone that route if I had to.
I am glad that it worked for her, she has beautiful skin!
I have been on antibiotics nonstop for 7 years and have been on birth control for 3. This has brought my acne from severe to moderate, but this has made me unable for my derm to consider acutane for me. Sad too my scars are awful and make my face look discolored. Candice's skin is compltetly gorgeous I'd love to have skin like hers!
Thanks a lot for sharing such a nice and interesting thoughts..
How to use Accutane
Thanks so much for sharing your story Candice! I'm 33 – have been dealing with mild acne since my 20s and in the past 6 months have had the worst flare and now have rosacea. My doctor wants to put me on low dose accutane for 6 months. I'm so nervous about it – mainly because I don't want my rosacea to get worse. Your story has made me feel a little better 🙂 PS – i'm also getting married in 5 months!