You did it! You finally started your Accutane journey, and now your lips and face are peeling off? Woo-hoo, you’re in for one wild ride! Don’t worry, though, we’ve got your back. You’re probably questioning your decision right about now – is the acne or the side effects worse? Well, we think it’s a no-brainer, the acne has got to go, and we’re here to give you some tips to make your Accutane adventure as smooth as possible.
If you’re part of the 99% club (and let’s be real, who isn’t?), you’re probably dealing with the most common side effect of all – dry, chapped lips. Yep, Accutane works its magic in all sorts of ways to tackle your acne, and one of the many things it does is reduce the amount of sebum (that’s the natural oil your skin makes). Great for the acne, not so great for your poor, thirsty mucous membranes. Those lips, nose, and eyes are the first ones to take a beating. Get ready for dry, cracked lips, a dry nose that might even start bleeding, and possibly even some dry, itchy eyes.
Since dryness is basically a given during your Accutane treatment, we like to say: don’t wait for it to happen, know it’s coming, and be proactive in fighting it off.
Lips: For your lips, ointments such as Aquaphor, Vaseline, or CeraVe Healing Ointment, work wonders. They come in large and small tubes so you can have some at home and the rest in each pocket of everything that you wear, just remember to remove them from your pockets before washing your clothes!
My go-to for painful, dry chapped lips when the above recommendations fail is Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm. The difference between this lip balm and other traditional chapsticks is the Hydrocortisone 1%, which helps reduce inflammation and cracked lips almost immediately.
Eyes: For your eyes, make sure to moisturize just like you would the rest of your face. You don’t need a separate eye cream, your facial moisturizer should be just fine. If your eyes are still dry and you are drinking lots of water you might want to try these eye drops which we’ve seen these work great, Systane Lubricant Eye Drops and Refresh Tears Lubricant Eye Drops.
Nose: Are you blowing your nose and seeing blood on the tissue, Accutane may also be responsible for this. The same ointments you would apply to your lips work great inside your nose. Most people prefer to do this at night before bed. Don’t pick your nose and if you want just a little more help to stop those annoying nosebleeds, look into a humidifier for your room.
Oral Omega-3 and Dryness: A published article in 2018 (PMCID: PMC5996413) compared the effects of 118 patients taking Accutane (isotretinoin) with and without supplementation of oral omega-3. They found that the group taking Accutane in conjunction with oral omega-3 at 1 gram per day, had fewer complaints of cheilitis (inflammation of the lips), xerosis (abnormally dry skin), dryness of the nose, and overall dryness, compared to the group that received isotretinoin without oral omega-3. Most capsules are large and hard to swallow so we’ve listed a product that was introduced to us by parents trying to get their kids to take a tastier liquid version, Barlean’s Omega-3.
Skin: Some people may develop a rash, most commonly on their arms and hands but can occur anywhere while taking Accutane. This rash, known as retinoid dermatitis, typically appears as small red bumps in patches and can be itchy.
The good news is that this rash can usually be managed with regular use of a moisturizer. If you’ve been consistently applying a moisturizer but the rash persists, let your healthcare provider know. They may prescribe a temporary steroid cream to help calm the inflammation. These are some of our favorite moisturizers. Eucerin Advanced Repair Body Lotion, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, and Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, are some of our favorites.
Hair: Many love this drying side effect of Accutane because it may reduce the need to wash your hair so often. Others complain of dry, itchy flaky scalp and are looking for a solution. Well no look further than your kitchen, yep try applying some olive oil to your scalp. Part your hair, massage it in, and let it make contact with your scalp for at least 1 hour then rinse off. You can also try Nizoral shampoo, Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo or Head and Shoulders, and again if this is not enough, let us know so we can send a prescription if need be.
In conclusion, navigating the Accutane journey can be challenging, but with the right skincare strategies, you can overcome the dryness. By addressing these side effects head-on, you can focus on the end goal of clear, healthy skin and the confidence that comes with it.
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