Tips for teens beginning Accutane

[Anonymous]

All of these suggestions are great. My only addition is to have alot of patience. It took many months to see any progress with my DD. There was alot of crying that it wasn't working. She had aches and pains and dryness. She was on it for 8 months, and I wish I could remember when she turned the corner. The results are amazing. She looks like a new person and has an amazing amount of confidence in high school now. Like the PP, do not underestimate the emotional toll that severe acne takes on your kid.

[Anonymous]

Watch for depression. It’s a known side effect and can be tricky to spot.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this is common, but my acne got MUCH worse before it got better when I was on Accutane over 10 years ago. It cleared it up in the end, but I still have scars from that really bad period. I used Cetaphil lotion and Nivea lip balm. I know I tried a lot of different chapsticks before I found Nivea. While I do not regret going on Accutane (it changed my life), I do think it contributed to my dry eyes, much drier skin, and I still need to use chapstick on a pretty regular basis.

[Anonymous]

Cortibalm was great for my kid's dry lips. He aLso bloodwork every month, fasting so we tried to do it on Saturdays or Mondays to not miss school, then schedule the MD appts for Wed or Thurs--once the bloodwork wasn't in and it took the doctor a week to get back to us so he did miss two days but they said it stays in your system 7 days so no biggie. My kid is on the last month, dropped dose to half of what it has been Oct-Dec. He will have only been on it Sept-Feb but they say he has met the dosage threshold.

[Anonymous]

Whatever chapstick he wants. He needs to stay out of the sun. Wear a baseball hat, sunscreen, stay on the shady side of the street.

I just used the same lip balm from the Gap that I'd had for six months and everything was fine.

[Anonymous]

Due to the monthly labs and doctor visits, get this done prior to going away to college. My friend’s son needed a second dose of Accutane while he was in college and it was a PITA to figure out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was finally approved to start taking Accutane. What moisturizer, lip balm, and other general recommendations do you have for starting it? Thanks!

There are other options to try first. Have you tried clindomyacin pads or lotion? Also Benzl peroxide face wash?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS was finally approved to start taking Accutane. What moisturizer, lip balm, and other general recommendations do you have for starting it? Thanks!

There are other options to try first. Have you tried clindomyacin pads or lotion? Also Benzl peroxide face wash?

I answered this yesterday at 22:12.

[Anonymous]

Accutane changed my life! I had horrible cystic acne on my face and back and it was gone after only one 5 month course at 17. It has stayed gone for 30+ years! Nothing else helped and my teen years were hideous.

That said, dry skin was real: I don't think it matters what you use, just use it a lot! I was also achy. And as others have said--stay out of the sun.

[Anonymous]

Lots of water. My DS drinks at least 30oz with some Gatorade powder on it.

Aquaphor for dry lips and any dry area.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer.

Lip balms, lots of them.

It took us over a year to finally get approval for Accutane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this is common, but my acne got MUCH worse before it got better when I was on Accutane over 10 years ago. It cleared it up in the end, but I still have scars from that really bad period. I used Cetaphil lotion and Nivea lip balm. I know I tried a lot of different chapsticks before I found Nivea. While I do not regret going on Accutane (it changed my life), I do think it contributed to my dry eyes, much drier skin, and I still need to use chapstick on a pretty regular basis.

I’m a PP and unfortunately my son has had the same experience. You have to go off all the face creams, antibiotics, etc before starting accutane- my son had been doing a full regimen of antibiotics, trentintoin am and pm, and while his acne was still bad while using those, when he went off them his skin was awful for several months until the accutane started working. He has terrible scars now but his dermatologist says wear lots of sunscreen, be patient and if after a year or so there is still significant scarring, he can do laser treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this is common, but my acne got MUCH worse before it got better when I was on Accutane over 10 years ago. It cleared it up in the end, but I still have scars from that really bad period. I used Cetaphil lotion and Nivea lip balm. I know I tried a lot of different chapsticks before I found Nivea. While I do not regret going on Accutane (it changed my life), I do think it contributed to my dry eyes, much drier skin, and I still need to use chapstick on a pretty regular basis.

I’m a PP and unfortunately my son has had the same experience. You have to go off all the face creams, antibiotics, etc before starting accutane- my son had been doing a full regimen of antibiotics, trentintoin am and pm, and while his acne was still bad while using those, when he went off them his skin was awful for several months until the accutane started working. He has terrible scars now but his dermatologist says wear lots of sunscreen, be patient and if after a year or so there is still significant scarring, he can do laser treatment.

I completely understand, even though my son says I don't. (I never had acne) I already told him we will definitely get a laser treatment afterwards. He has light skin and some redness and marks. But the big painful cystic acne breakouts are gone. He's a different kid for sure.