One Month on Accutane

All cystic acne-prone folks know the anxiety that comes with posting an unfiltered photo of their skin. In many ways, it's an act of bravery to post one. The photo attached to this post was taken today, March 23, 2021. Today marks the conclusion of my first month on Accutane. For the sake of sharing information, and documenting this experience, I am going to share my experience leading up to the decision to begin Accutane, what it is, how it's been for me, and what comes next. 

I have struggled with cystic, chronic acne since the age of 13. The worst part of my acne wasn't actually the acne, but the redness and scarring left behind after each breakout. For over 10 years, I have had every doctor, family member, acquaintance, and stranger comment on the condition of my skin. I have been on what seems like every antibiotic, tried every avenue, every product, every treatment under the sun and nothing has ever worked. The idea of going on Accutane was presented to me as early as age 16 but, given the mental health issues I was struggling with at the time, I did not pursue the option. Going on Accutane is a heavy decision that should not be taken lightly -- not only does it completely mess with your body for the duration of your time on it, but it is also a huge responsibility and undertaking. Someone once said that the number 1 side effect of Accutane is unsolicited opinions and boy did I find that to be the case. This was a decision I had to make on my own. I didn't ask anyone's permission, only for their support. 

 For those who don't know, Accutane is a vitamin A derivative that treats severe acne. It is only available through a prescription -- which is obtained and maintained by negative pregnancy tests for female patients and, in non-COVID times, monthly blood work. It has intense side effects, ranging from joint pain to birth defects. 

I had gotten to yet another breaking point at the end of 2020 about the condition of my skin. Having cystic, chronic acne literally plagues my every waking moment -- it impacts my perception of myself, my self-confidence, my view of my worth, the food I eat, the things I drink my ability to find pleasure in the experiences of life. In fact, this past week was the first week in over a year of remote learning when I didn't want to cry looking at myself on Zoom. It was, before beginning Accutane, the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I thought about for going to sleep. I was given a dermatologist referral by my allergist (again, every single doctor brought up my acne) and sent her current acne pictures. Within 5 minutes of our initial appointment, she said I was a perfect candidate for Accutane. Hearing that was simultaneously crushing and invigorating -- my skin was horrible enough to need Accutane, but I was finally able to try what has always been touted as "The Ultimate Acne Solution." I had to submit two negative pregnancy tests, one in January and one in February before I was able to obtain my prescription.

One of the biggest reasons folks report increased depression is because of the purging period at the beginning of taking Accutane. In order to calm this period down, my doctor had me on an anti-inflammatory for the month before I began Accutane and through the first month. For the first month on Accutane, I was on 40mg of Claravis. I took this every morning with a fattier breakfast (fat helps the Accutane better absorb). The only side effects that I experienced in my first month were drier skin (mostly on my lips), slight joint pain if I sat still for too long, and a flakey scalp. The purging period was not a fun one, but I honestly felt so great during that period because I knew it was beginning to work. Being on Accutane for this month has completely empowered me and made me feel so excited about the future of what my skin can look like. I have been breaking out so much less, my scarring is going down, my perception of myself is changing daily. I know I'm one of the lucky ones, as a lot of folks report a really bad first month, but I really feel so incredible. I know I'm doing the right thing, even if it's scary. 

Starting tomorrow, I am increasing my dosage from 40mg to 80mg. I am expecting to feel more joint pain, increased sun sensitivity, and potentially some increased hair loss. Thankfully, none of these side effects is long-term. I am hoping to do these Accutane updates monthly, or at least bi-monthly, and will provide an update as to what side effects I see then. 

I may do a "Things I've Been Loving on Accutane" post, which will include some of the products I've been using on my skin, supplements I've been taking, and routines I've built that have helped me have a fantastic first month on an otherwise unpleasant drug. As always, please feel free to ask any questions if you are considering going on Accutane!

- A.