Roaccutane WWYD??

[RD15]

So, today I’ve picked up my prescription for roaccutane. I would say that my acne is mild/moderate, but persistent. I’m really hesitant to go straight to the ‘big guns’ as I don’t feel like I’ve tried everything else. I asked about alternatives- like topicals (I’ve tried Differin) or other antibiotic (I’ve had Lymecycline) but his response was very much along the lines of, ‘What’s the point?’ In his view, they were short term solutions and topicals don’t target the problem from the inside. I felt a bit strong armed into it.

Anyway, I’m petrified of the side effects! The leaflet inside is like bloody War and Peace the list of potential problems is so long 🙈. I have taken it before, about 15 years ago and just had the usual run of the mill side effects, in addition to a HORRENDOUS initial outbreak 😫. I just don’t know whether to go for it or not?

It’s taxing on your liver so the leaflet they gave advised abstinence. I had a glass of wine for our wedding anniversary so missed my dose that night.

Threading you need to check with the therapist, I epilated and got scabs on my face but not legs/underarms.

Nipple cream for the lips. Superdrug do one for 99p.

My skin care regime is a little 'extra' but I'm happy to post it if you want to see!

Re drinking; I have had a glass now and again but I'm not a drinker anyway!

@littlepeaegg I’m very happy to see! What’s your regime? Xx

@Fluffycloudland77 thank you. To be honest I’m not a big drinker anyway, but I do have a few social events coming up. Perhaps I’ll be cautious of the threading xx

My friend got pancreatitis when she was on it. It was very bad for her, her health is ruined. It’s a known side effect but not that common. I definitely absolutely 100% would not drink on it.

I started my course on 1 December 2018. I drank on NYE but I was sensible and thankfully didn’t suffer any effects. Since then I’ve not had a single drink. I tend to drink non alcoholic alternatives and tbh I don’t mind.

NO to threading! Or waxing. I stupidly waxed and took skin off my eyebrow. No scarring thank god. Now I just tweeze my eyebrows. But I’m looking forward to getting them threaded once I’ve finished my course.

I use Nivea SPF 15 rich day cream and I’ve not had any issues. At night I use Simple light moisturiser. Eucerin Aquaphor is your friend for lips and nose. I wouldn’t be without it. I’ve tried loads and loads and nothing comes close!

Thanks for the advice- I’ll definitely abstain from alcohol for the duration of my treatment. The no threading is going to be a pain- I’ll hunt out my tweezers!

Just taken my first pill- went in at 20mg. 🤞 the side effects aren’t horrendous!

I'm assuming you are UK and with a consultant as I'm not aware of GPs prescribing roaccutane? So all the more reason to crack on with it under their care. Lymecycline worked for me but I had to be on it ALL the time, it didn't fix the issue permanently. I had some awful symptoms on roaccutane but it was worth everyone of them, permanently sorted it. Mine was largely on my chin, so not riddled, but persistent.

No waxing but I continued to get my eye brows threaded. Nipple cream for your lips! Cheap Superdrug vitamin E cream worked fine for my face.

@avalanching, yes I’m under a dermatologist- back there in a month for me next blood and pregnancy test. I was also on lymecycline for 6 months, but as soon as I stopped it the acne cake back. Mine is also mainly on my chin and is persistent. Fingers crossed this works for me 😊

Hey everyone!

So I’m 12 days in to my prescription and I think my skin is freaking out a bit. I haven’t had a breakout as such, but the skin texture on my cheeks has gone a bit like sandpaper. It’s awful 😢. It’s a bit like the effect when you’ve been lying on a patterned pillow case and it leaves an imprint on your cheek (if that makes sense). I don’t tend to get spots on my cheeks at all, so I’m feeling a bit anxious about this development. Please tell me that it’s temporary 😭. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Xx

I had similar red sandpaper texture on 20mg a day. It calmed down when I dropped to 20mg every other day and also treated my skin very gently - no harsh washes or scrubbing etc. After a few weeks I returned to 20mg a day and the sandpaper effect didn’t cone back nearly so bad

Have you used benzoyl peroxide?

Thanks @Troton, I did 20mg for the first 9 days and this only happened when I went up to the prescribed 30mg- I wonder if I should go back to 20mg? 🤔 I am using gently products.

@itsbetterthanabox, no, I haven’t used benzoyl peroxide since I was a teenager.

Your purging, it'll go away. It can take a couple of months though - trust the process!
Wouldn't rec using strong products like benzyl peroxide. I haven't used any 'acne treatment' skin care products, they're just too strong when your skin is so sensitive and they won't work so no point. Stick with a simple, alcohol and fragrance free routine with a good moisturiser

Thanks @g0bbledyg00k that’s good advice to ‘trust the process’. I am only using gentle products for sensitive skin from bioderma and la Roche posay...so tempting to scrub though! Obviously I won’t 🙊

Hi everyone,

I thought I’d give everyone an update in case they stumble across this thread.

So I’m now into my 5th and last month on roaccutane and my skin has been completely clear for at least a month: no breakouts, no blackheads or congestion.

In terms of side effects, I’ve had very dry lips, the odd nosebleed and some skin flaking/peeling but nothing bad at all.

I never went above 40mg and that was my personal choice to avoid side effects.

So, I’m very glad I did it. So nice waking up and not worrying about what may have erupted overnight xx

Hi op I'm surprised that it's still prescribed.
There is a lady on you tube called Nerida joy. She does facials for celebs in America, and is totally against this cream because of the side effects. It might be worth watching her videos and seeing what you think.

Hi op I'm surprised that it's still prescribed.
There is a lady on you tube called Nerida joy. She does facials for celebs in America, and is totally against this cream because of the side effects. It might be worth watching her videos and seeing what you think.

Roaccutane is not a cream.
Most people choose to trust medically qualified experts rather than celeb facialists.

My DD is just coming to the end of 6 months on Roaccutane and has had minimal side effects. Dry lips, a bit of eczema and clicky hip joints. It took a few months to really work and only totally cleared it once Ethromycin was added in.

Oo, good news OP. Yes? It’s so nice isn’t it? I think it’s only once you have clear skin that you realise how much time you spent thinking about the spots! I don’t have much scarring so I can literally put mascara and lip balm on before work now, such a difference!

Yeah I’m going to trust some facialist over a consultant dermatologist 🙄

Have you even had cystic acne @ISawyouinTescoyesterday? It’s soul destroying.

Op is right, it’s a revelation that you can wake up without three new lumps on your face throbbing way while your older spots ooze for three weeks before scarring.

@Fluffycloudland77 @GumboDrop yes, you’re both right. Now that I’m not suffering with them anymore, I realise how much of my time and energy was spent covering them up or worrying if my makeup had slid off them during the day. I know there’s worse problems, but it had a huge impact on my self-esteem xx