Starting roaccutane. Any tips

[happytiredmummy]

I'm starting roaccutane after suffering for years with acne which has got so much worse the last year after trying different types of hormone birth control. I heard it makes your skin very dry. Any advice for what to use on my skin? How were peoples results. How was the side effects?

I took it in my late twenties. It made me quite tired, didn't really affect my life but I did need a lot more sleep than normal!
V dry lips, lots of lip balm.
Other than that I don't remember much else.
It totally worked as well by the way.

Carmex tube for your lips and a decent moisturiser for your skin, I found the skin on my hands and forearms very thin and it ripped easily. Keep a stock of painkillers for any painful joints.
My liver was unhappy and my cholesterol went up dramatically so make sure you're getting your bloods done regularly. BUT it was all worth it.

My sons just started on roaccutane he uses blistex ( I think that is the correct name in a little tube with a red lid ) which he says is the best for dry lips and washes with ceraVe moisturizing wash. Plus ceraVa moisturiser, as his dermatologist recommended. So far his skin isn't too dry at all.
He also acid tones with pixi glow tonic though if you have never used an acid toner be careful. Acid toning eats up all the dirt that causes clogged pores, but it is quite strong for sensitized skin.

I'm on it now.

Carmex or Aquaphor for lips
Cerave moisturiser

Sunscreen if it's remotely sunny, I've got sun damage from sunburn when I was young and on it. And yes to the good moisturizing lip balm, not the vaseline based ones!

Saline drops to keep the inside of your nose moist. Mine was incredibly dry and painful, as everything dries out. Also don't be surprised if you find your bits are drier than usual...

Thanks everyone so much for your replies. I'm going to Egypt in April whilst taking it so I guess I just need to use a high SPF like a 20

No you'll need a factor 50.

20 isn't high at all is it? Needs to be maximum in Egypt.

I was on this last year when I was 27. Deffs something for your lips as they get very dry. Apart from that I didn't get much other symptoms. It was the best decision of my life to go on it after suffering years of bad skin. X

Heavy moisturiser at night, bloody good lip balm, drink lots of water and get regular check ups.

If I could go back in time, I would have never taken it. My skin cleared up but I was left a different person for years. Be careful and look after yourself.x

How are you getting on with it happy?

I've just taken my first tablet (20mg) and my anxiety is through the roof, I'm so paranoid about tree side effects but desperate for clear skin.

The not tree!

Sorry name changed for another thread. I don't start it until the 20th of this month. I'm still really apprehensive about it, but also desperate to have clear skin. How are you getting on MySkirtHasPockets ?

Why's that rabbitfoodadvocate ?

So far so good, no side effects as yet. My lips are a bit drier than normal but nothing a bit of lip balm can't sort out! I have bought some cetaphil moisturiser for when my skin starts drying out but it's fine so far.

What dose have you got Marie?

I have no idea what they are starting me off on. Has yours improved at all yet? I've been told the acne can get worse before better when starting treatment.

I normally have a lot of spots on my cheeks and haven't had as many breaking out since I started but that could just be a fluke!

I only asked about the dose as my dermatologist has started me on a low dose but he said that some dermatologists prefer to go for a higher dose for a shorter length of time.

Yes I was told it can get worse before it gets better, the results are so amazing though so I'm going to ride it out, whatever happens!

My lips are really dry today and slightly cracked at the side but no other side effects apart from that.

You will need a full block for Egypt or stop it for a month before. I don’t generally burn but tan really well but on roaccutane I can burn really really easily.
Start on the lip balm before your lips start to crack because once they crack it’s hard to repair them

Thanks so much for everyones feedback. I burn really badly anyway so I might mention to my DR and see if it's worth stopping briefly before I go

MySkirtHasPockets how are you getting on now? I'm on 60 atm. i'm 12 days in and my face on my skin very flaky and dry. I did break out, but slowly clearing a bit now. Gone on to tinted moisturiser instead of foundation. Lips very dry and back of hands. I don't think the weather helps either. I've invested in some la roche posay products after doing some googling online on what best to use on my skin. The best thing so far is my hair isn't as greasy and doesn't need washing as much.

Anyone suffer with painful and achey joints? I feel like an old lady by 5pm

Yes I’ve been a bit achey. I’m
Only on 20mg a day too but I’m extremely ridiculously tired and get achey by the end of the day.

@Troton glad it's not just me then, I've started taking cod liver oil in the hope it helps. Hows your skin atm? Have you been on it long? i'm about 6 weeks in now.

I am three months in. My skin was amazing after about 6 weeks but weirdly I’ve had a few spots this last week or two and also very rough skin texture around my cheeks and chin. It looks like rosacea and it’s quite red. I don’t know what to think at the moment my skin seems to have gone from one problem to another!!