accutane advice

[pocketandsweet]

Hi my 13 year old has just started taking accutane (actually it is called Epuris). I was just wondering if anyone had any direct experience/ advice that might be relevant. We have been told to expect very dry lips but wondering if anyone had any suggestions for cleansers, etc that were helpful. Thanks.

I've taken roaccutane and so have both my daughters, the elder one is on it now. There are some amazing You Tube videos, Katie Snook was particularly good, have a look.

A simple cleanser like Cetaphil is good. Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream is amazing, start applying it early and slather it on often. It's worth every penny IMO. DD uses coconut oil for her hair and has to go very heavy with Optrex, because her eyes get very sore. DD has a hydrocortisone ointment for the corners of her lips, but she uses it VERY sparingly and only when they flare.

thanks so much cathyandclare that was really helpful... off to check out Katie Snook now.

Yep, cetaphil or another gentle cleanser, ditch any acne skincare he has, it’ll be too drying. I use aquaphor on my lips. Get loads of lip balms and stick them in coat pockets, school bags etc. I’ve bought so many when out and about and I’ve forgotten to pick one up, it’s really sore if they dry out and you can’t put something on.

My top tips:

• Expect skin to get worse before it gets better, but it will get so much better
• When it does get worse, avoid touching the spots because of the accutane you are much more likely to scar. I ended up with my only acne scars from this period

You can use nipple cream on lips, Superdrug’s is only 99p but has lanolin in it.

Watch her mood. Has been linked to depression - both my sisters have taken and one was fine but the other only lasted 3 weeks before she experienced crashing depression and weepiness and had to come off.

Try and get Hylo-Forte either on prescription or over the counter. My eyes unfortunately got so dry that my epithelial cells were worn away and it caused permanent visual changes. I'm a glasses wearer anyway so other than a change in prescription and continued slight blurriness nothing too dramatic. However even now 5 years since stopping it (they took me off it after 3 months due to above) I still get floaters and have to use the Hylo-Forte at least three times a day x