Skin care while on Roaccutane

irish life

I was at the dermathologist today and I'll be prescribed Roaccutane when I go back next week after blood test results are in. I'll ask the doctor for recommendations but I might as well ask here too.

I'm not looking for any anti-acne washes or creams. acne-friendly is obviously an advantage but my acne isn't mild. I'm just looking to get using skin care products that a man with average skin can use.

So any tips on face wash, body wash, moisteroiser and any other products for the skin? I'd probably need 2 different face washes for morning and evening as I think too much of the one thing can be bad for the skin?

Thanks in advance.

taram

The key for being on Roaccutane is putting moisture into your skin, and protecting it from the elements. I used an extremely mild body shop face wash, and an intensive moisturiser, think it was Clinque? And pots and pots of Carmex lip balm, and aloe vera Vaseline up my nose due to the dryness you get there. And never, ever forget sunscreen, or to bring moisturiser with you if you're outside in the cold wind we have at the moment.

irish life

Cheers.

http://www.menessentials.com/oxid.php/sid/7131524ea2aa78f66d7f1ab8c542ef02/cl/info/tpl/beginners_bible4.tpl
I've been reading the likes of the above site and it seems I'll need a cleanser, Toner and Moisturiser for my face. What brand would people recommend?

Also, all the skincare sites seem to just focus on the face. How often should we use a body wash and again what type?

Amalgam

Don't skimp on moisturising your lips and around the nostrils. Remember to stay hydrated as well. Be patient, it isn't instant. Good luck.

beardo81

Just a quick warning, I used Roaccutane a few years back and there were a lot of stories at the time about patients suffering severe bout of depression while using it. I didnt use it for long enough to notice it personally but just giving you a heads up. If you notice any change in moods etc. go back to your GP.

And best of luck with it mate, hope it works for you

MissLe

Yeah I've known a few people that became depressed on the drug. Perhaps coincidence but be careful. And I know it may go without saying but don't over take your dosage. I've seen the results and a night in a & e with a friend hallucinating was not pretty....

EastWallGirl

I was speaking to a friend abou it the other day, both he and his sister got depressed on it, my understanding is that it is not a coincidence, he stopped after further reading and tried to discourage his sister, but she wanted to try it.

Please read up on it and if there are still the side effects of depression that were reported initially, make sure your friends and family know what you are taking, so they can keep an eye on you.

Best of luck with whatever you go ahead with.

Pythia

Use sun protection! You will be much more sensitive to UV light.

taram

I was advised to skip toner by my dermatologist, but ask their advice, different types of acne should be treated differently. Similarly, the advice about depression or any side effects should be discussed with your dermatologist or GP, but I know 4 people who were on it, none were depressed, and I personally was able to stop going to my counsellor due to my self-esteem being restored for the first time since puberty. If in doubt over ANYTHING to do with the treatment, ask a professional. Here ends the disclaimer

Roaccutane should really help your body acne, cleared mine 99% within two months. Clinque have a good blemish soap bar, Neutrogena have a foaming acne body wash, there's plenty of body washes out there. Brands will depend on your pocket, type of skin and how you react to Roaccutane.

Mild is the key, your skin will be under enough stress from the inside that the outside should be treated carefully, don't use acne products that have exfoliating beads in them, it'll strip your skin.

Random things:
*soothing masks like oatmeal and honey if your skin is tender help, or clay masks help draw out impurties, just don't go overboard
*lipbalm is your friend
*buy a light moisturiser for your body, tesco do an aloe vera body lotion, put very thin layer on, but pay attention to places like your hands, feet, elbows, knees, they're likely to get dry
*watch out for air conditioning and too hot radiators, towards the middle of your treatment your skin can react a lot to them

Good luck!

irish life

I started an 8 month course on 23rd February. I got a break out last week but my face has pretty much cleared up already and I just have a few "live" spots on my neck. My shoulders are clearing and I can see them being pretty much clear by next week. It feels so good waking up in the morning without feeling the spots and grease on my face.

Anyway, I know I was told not to drink but the way I looked at it was I would regularly have 2-3 day non stop binges as it is so I'm sure my liver would cope with 1 night out a week. I was wrong. I went out with my job on Thursday and had to run to the toilet with a nose bleed.

Now that I know not to drink I'll definitely stay off it until I go on holidays in June. I'm going to west America for 3 weeks. There's 10 of us going and I'm meeting my brother (coming from Sydney) for the first time in a couple of years. I'm definitely going and I just wouldn't do it without drinking.

I know it's only 8 months of my life but this is the holiday of my life time. So a few questions.

Should you be off the roaccutane for a few weeks before you go back onto the drink or does it make a difference?
Is it possible to take a break from the tablets for a month and then do the remaining 5 months when I'm back?
If I stopped my course after the 3 months will I see any permanent results or will my skin go back to the way it was? As I said my acne is mild.


I'll ask my dermathologist anyway when I'm in next but I have a feeling I might still need the answer to question 3 as she's strongly against drinking on this course.

lizzyvera

I was on that twice. It seems horrible to naturally greasy people who shower every day, but you have to stop washing so much when you're on it. I ended up only washing my hair twice a week it got so dry.
Cetaphil face wash was the best for me, and dipro base, E45 and silcock's base were the best moisturisers. Silcock's base is great for dry lips too.

biddywiddy

I am on Roaccutane at the minute, two months done. Unbelievable difference already though! My skin has never been so clear - almost glowing! Woo!

My skin is getting drier and drier though and really really sensitive. I picked up Aveeno ultra-calming facewash in the States a couple of weeks ago which is doing the job nicely. I'm using aqueous cream and an Aveeno face moisturiser with SPF15. Up until this week I could get away with using the aqueous cream at night and Aveeno during the day, but now I need to use lots of both together to stop my face getting all flaky. My face stings as well if I rub it with a towel so make sure to just pat your face dry after washing. I keep forgetting that in the gym tho...ouch!

My hands are dry and red too, especially if I forget to bring gloves when I'm cycling. Using lots of handcream, Elizabeth Arden eight hour handcream is working well, and I quite like some of the L'Occitane handcreams. The best lip balms for me are vaseline (also for my nose), Elizabeth Arden lip protectant stick and blistex. My hair is also ridiculously dry - anyone recommend a good moisturising shampoo/conditioner?

As regards drinking alcohol, my dermatologist told me to stay away from it for the first month. Then I had my check-up and all my bloods were normal, so she said that I could have a glass or two of wine with dinner, but no more than that. I have my next check-up on Monday so we'll see if everything is still ok. I've had a couple of glasses of wine once or twice a week since the last check-up.

Not sure about your other questions about stopping and starting again, OP. Best ask the derm!

lizzyvera: where did u get the cetaphil facewash? is it just available in the chemist?

Drodan

I was on tetralysal for 5 months, did an ok job, acne wasn't completely gone but there was a huge improvement. Anyway I've been off them for about 2 weeks now and I've noticed my face and back in the morning is getting fairly greasy and im getting spots on my chin and upper lip with a couple nasty ones around my sholder blades. I'm reluctant to go on roaccutane because an old friend of my parents are certain that their son commited suicide because of it(there has been no concrete evidense what so ever so if you on it please dont worry or panic) and because I was on another form of medication in 5th year and it did mess me up. My dermatoligist tells me that none of his patients have reacted badly to roaccutane and he thinks it only happens when someone is enclined that way, cleary i was.

I really could do with going on something but I'm not sure what. The tetralysal in his words "moderatly well controlled" it, is there anything inbetween that anyone else has been on and could tell me what it was like?

Also are the bloods obligitory to take regularly because I have a pretty bad fear of needles, as if i need more bother lol.

Pythia

Drodan wrote: »

I really could do with going on something but I'm not sure what. The tetralysal in his words "moderatly well controlled" it, is there anything inbetween that anyone else has been on and could tell me what it was like?

The pill will work quite well, if you're a girl obviously! I noticed a big improvement from tetralysal.

Drodan

Nope sorry, I gots me a penis, haha

Btw word of advice on tetralysal, never and I mean never take it without a glass of water and before you go to bed. I was watching a video on my zen, felt a little tickle in my throat, gave a weak cough, and then puff, a cloud appeared in front of me, followed by 45 of pain in the bathroom and one destroyed throat later.

Have you noticed any change between drinking milk and not? I'm on a weights programme which involves a lot of milk, around 1.5littres a day, I cut done to about 750mls. I really love milk..........

Pythia

Drodan wrote: »

Nope sorry, I gots me a penis, haha

Btw word of advice on tetralysal, never and I mean never take it without a glass of water and before you go to bed. I was watching a video on my zen, felt a little tickle in my throat, gave a weak cough, and then puff, a cloud appeared in front of me, followed by 45 of pain in the bathroom and one destroyed throat later.

Have you noticed any change between drinking milk and not? I'm on a weights programme which involves a lot of milk, around 1.5littres a day, I cut done to about 750mls. I really love milk..........

Yeah, that's happened me with fibre tablets. Super horrible.

I don't actually drink milk so I couldn't say but one of my friends gets spots from drinking milk but they are only the small kind, not the evil ones which live on your back.

Depression is one of the things associated with roaccutane, however, correlation doesn't imply causation - i.e. maybe people who go on roaccutane are more depressed to begin with because of their bad skin. Dry skin, sensitivity to the sun and cracked lips are more effects. You also can't drink while on it.

Drodan

Il be going back soon enough, just to finally sort it all out, although the way he pushed for roaccutane and how his coffee mug and pen used to wright the prescription having roaccutane pasted on it made me a little wary.

The drinking thing wouldn't bother me, I'm not a big drinker at all and it would same some cash for the summer.

Do you have to get blood tests regularly aswell??

rantyface

Yup.
For me, the most annoying thing about Roac was getting monthly blood tests because I had to take lectures off. They need to check liver function and for pregnancy in women.

I wouldn't worry about the Dr. being swayed by drug companies, Roac is simply the best thing for acne and you could spend years trying antibiotics etc that don't work, meanwhile you end up with scars, and a strain of superbugs.

biddywiddy

Yep, as rantyface said, blood tests every month. I get mine done for free in college a week before my checkups.

I think you should give Roaccutane a go. It does work. I spent years trying different products, thinking something was bound to work. I went on the pill, and while it helped massively, it still didn't get rid of everything. My skin is completely clear and I'm almost 3 months in now. You will be started on a low dose (dosage is worked out according to your weight) and you can see how you feel on it. My dermatologist just said that if I notice any change in my moods, just stop taking it. Pharmacist gave me a similar warning!

Drodan

Dosage is by wieght, jesus I hope they charge that way too, I'd be sorted that way, I'm only 55.4kg last time i checked.

I would prefer to avoid it if I could, and strangely enough my skin is getter better over the last few days, maybe my body is getting of it's arse, doubt it though unfortunetly.

I think I'm going to a different derma next time, this one apparently makes up her own type of cream that is suppose to be awesome. Wait and see I guess.

MoonDancer

Do you mind if I ask a quick question?
For the people that used roaccutane, did you try antibiotics first & it didn't work or something?
I was offered roaccutane from my doc but I'm trying the antibiotics at the moment & its working well, so I'm just really curious.

Dante

MoonDancer wrote: »

Do you mind if I ask a quick question?
For the people that used roaccutane, did you try antibiotics first & it didn't work or something?
I was offered roaccutane from my doc but I'm trying the antibiotics at the moment & its working well, so I'm just really curious.

Nope, I was never prescribed anything before hand, just slapped my on two tablets a day for 6/8 months! Its well rough while you're on it but its definitely worth it in the end....I took it almost 3 years ago and had no real problems since.

SprostonGreen

MoonDancer wrote: »

Do you mind if I ask a quick question?
For the people that used roaccutane, did you try antibiotics first & it didn't work or something?

Yes

Oxytetracyline - twice or thrice
Hostacylcine
Any some other-cycline

They all cleared up my spots but they eventually came back.

Roaccuntane worked straight away and has cleared them up, no sign of them in nearly 9 years since taking it.

Ponds cold cream and Labello to answer the origin question.

taram

MoonDancer wrote: »

Do you mind if I ask a quick question?
For the people that used roaccutane, did you try antibiotics first & it didn't work or something?
I was offered roaccutane from my doc but I'm trying the antibiotics at the moment & its working well, so I'm just really curious.

Tried every topical and antibiotic out there, then roacctuane, still on birth control for acne, but about 1000 times better than pre-roacctuane.

mini mouse

yeah use very gentle hydrating products while on roaccutane!

be careful that none of the products you use contain salycilic acid/ AHA's ( fruit acids that exfoliate the skin) .... roaccutane thins the top layer of the skin so DONT exfoliate while you're on it !

sunscreen is a must ....I would ask the doctors advice before you go on hols esp about stopping and starting again!

products containing lavender ( good for healing ) , tea tree ( antiseptic/ anti inflammatory) chammomile ( soothing ) may be helpful! Try Dermalogica / Elemis ranges - Ive used both and they really do what they say on the tin !

rantyface

About the dose actually, my weight went from 50 to 45kg while I was on it and I was on too high a dose as a result. I think that's why my side effects were so severe.

cityworker

I was an Roacc. about 5 years ago for 9 months - i have to say that it was the best thing I ever did.
I havent got a single spot since and i had boils at the side of my face !

would say I has really really bad hangovers if i drank so it wasn't worth it.

I found La Roche Posay products fantastic - you get them in Chemists. They have extra moisturising face creams for people esp for people on Roacc. and the prices isnt that expensive around 15eur I think.