Back...

Yes, it's been a long time, but my blog's still alive...

So, after years of trying everything on earth to make my skin look flawless I decided to get on isotretinoin (Accutane/Roaccutane, Claravis - in Portugal it is called Orotrex). I don't have cystic acne or even severe acne - I have a moderate comedonal acne (with open and closed comedons, mainly on T-zone) that is very persistent (I think I have it for 12 years now) and resistant to the appropriate skin care and topical medication (Isotrexin, Differin, Epiduo...yes, I've been on all that).

After doing my homework (read papers, studies and do my online research) I did the blood tests and started my 6 month course on a 20 mg dose (contraception is MANDATORY and I was already on it). After 20 days I increased the dose to 40 mg/day.

Now, the aim my first post about Accutane (I'm calling it Accutane because is the most common name) is to talk about the side effects and how to minimize them. For those of you who are thinking about taking this drug:

1- Your skin will dry...

I started to get dry skin on day 3 - depending on the weather, on if I wear make-up or not or on how much liquids I drink, my skin flakes a lot or a little. When my skin is not flaking a lot I do my usual routine - clean my skin with a mild gel, spray it with mineral water, use a moisturize and, if i'm going out in the sun light, protect it with solar filter. If my skin is really dry, besides my usual routine, I use a richer cream, specific for extreme dryness, at night. When I get cracked skin, besides all that I apply a specific balsam (like Eucerin Aquaphor).

2 - Your lips will get miserable...

Prepare to spend lots and lots of lip balm - if you are careful enough you can overcome this side efect. When my lips are NOT chapped but are flaking I do a light exfoliation with my toothbrush or with sugar and apply lip balm after...it really helps.

3 - If you wax your upper lip, peel flaking skin, use pore strips, pull out black heads with your fingers or pop zits it will get a mess...

...so, DON'T do it.

4 - Your nose may bleed...

...but a nose hydrating spray/gel will take care of it.

5 - You may loss your appetite...

...but, unless your BMI is extremely low, I don't see a problem in that.


I'm currently on my 31st day of Accutane and I'm so happy I've started it! I didn't have that "inicial flare" yet, and I think that is because I don't have inflammatory acne. My skin has cleared up a lot.

My next post on Accutane will be on my skin routine while on this drug.


Have a nice week :)