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Hey everyone, feeling pretty hopeless today and felt the need to talk it out!
I've been on Accutane now (actually Epuris as im currently living in Canada!) since 20 September 2023. I'll be at 6 months on 20 March 2024.
Dosage--> 1x month 20mg, 2x month 40mg, 2x month 60mg and now a couple of weeks away from 1x month on 70mg. 90% of the time I have food with it (apple & peanut butter, porridge) but my derm confirmed this doesnt matter too much as the medicine absorbs a lot better than it used to back in the day..!
Skincare routine--> Wash face with Cetaphil gentle foaming cleanser, mousturise with Cetaphil moisturising cream for dry/very dry skin, always make sure i change pillow cases weekly etc. SPF when I do use it is La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Fluid 50+.
Skin type--> normal / combination skin, rosacea, sensitive, pale. Mainly suffer with hormonal acne on cheeks / jaw line.
My acne was never extremely severe, i'd say it was moderate but extremely stubborn and consistent for years. I finally managed to go on accutane after trying other creams and meds, and i've definitely improved, just not as much as i'd hoped by almost 6 months.
The kind of spots i'd suffer with are a variety of big painful whiteheads as well as small whiteheads or just small red spots.
The plus side is the big painful whiteheads have very recently started to subside which is great, but very recently i've noticed random small whiteheads and other general little spots (the ones that cause texture) appearing again, and i'm really struggling to stay positive.
I know there has been change, but every time I see new spots (for example i just had a shower and immediately got a new one!) it makes me doubt the medicine is working and spiral a bit.
Has anyone else had this at the almost 6 mth point in their accutane journey? I dont know if this is connected to any of the products im using or if thats my paranoia, I'm just at such a loss today and really feeling down about it.
Ive heard stories of people suddenly clearing up on month 7 etc, but right now i just cannot see it happening 🙁 . Would be great to hear from others.
Also as a side note - I have never found SPF that doesnt break me out so any reccos there would also be amazing!
It's not normal to be breaking out at month 6.
Some brands of Isotretinoin these days absorbs better but still not super great. You want to take it with a fatty meal. Not just a little peanut butter, but like an actual fatty meal. I wonder if that could be the issue. Does your brand specifically say it's made to be taken without meals?
And yeah, sunscreen can be awful for acne. I wish I had recommendations for you. Hopefully people will chime in. I'd go with a more mainstream, less expensive brand aimed at younger people. Your sunscreen has a highly comedogenic ingredient as the 4th ingredient, isopropyl myristate. Doesn't seem great for your situation.
hi Dan, thanks for getting back to me! My derm just told me that about the meds and absorption, I dont think it specifically says that on the packaging but it is Epuris.
Ive read a fair few stories from acne sufferers on these meds saying they were still having some breakouts at this time but became fully clear right at the end or even a month after, which was initially reassuring? My breakouts are never big painful whiteheads like previously, more small spots, so my skin has definitely improved but again still experiencing some small breakouts on forehead, chin and under eyes.
Will definitely take more with a fatty meal, did you have any suggestions on a good (cheap!) breakfast that would be suitable? I currently have an apple, two big spoons of peanut butter and some oak milk porridge with honey. 🙂
I have also recently stopped using that SPF and instead have been using Cetaphil daily facial moisturiser with spf 50 which seems ok..!
Yeah Epuris is the kind that is designed to not have to be taken with fatty meals, but from what I recall reading, it's not as good as taking regular isotretinoin with a fatty meal. So, basically you want to take it with a fatty meal to get it to still work as well as possible.
Maybe a few eggs cooked in plenty of butter. That's pretty cheap.
As far as fish oil and zinc, because isotretinoin is so powerful and serious, you want to ask your doc is that's cool. But just had a thought that if he/she says it's fine to take these, you could always add in the fish oil to the meal and up the fat even more!
Thanks so much Dan - big help!!
Breakfast wise ive upped to 50g of fat - natural yoghurt (full fat) with a bit of granola, 2x eggs, and an apple with 2x tablespoons of PB. Will ask my derm this week about the fish oil and if all good, will take that too alongside. 😀