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Hello everyone, I have moderate acne around my mouth and chin area at the age of 24. I was tired of dealing with it so I went on my second course of accutane. I'm 165 pounds and my doctor started me off at 20mg and said he would want me to do blue light for 10 weeks WHILE on accutane in order to avoid Initial break outs. He even offered me a deal of 150 dollars for the 10 treatments instead of 550.
I have never heard of light therapy and accutane being used together (since it makes your skin more sensitive) and I have a couple red marks/scars that I don't want to run the risk of damaging with while being on blue light while on accutane.
Now on my 2nd month visit to get my blood work he tells me that my acne hasn't improved (which it usually doesn't until later) and that i'm getting forehead pimples (which im not concerned with cause there just regular pimples and i never scar/prolong redmark on my forehead. He advises me on the blue light again and raises me to 40mg saying that he would've gone higher but he doesn't want to risk of me getting an IB since im breaking out from 20mg. (I'm breaking out more or less the same than when I was before accutane tho, just more on my forehead but just one here and there.)
He did tell me that if the 40mg was to make me break out a lot to stop it immediatly and call me so it seems like he cares. The guy seems like a nice, cool guy and I want to trust him but I just have simply never heard of these two things being used together.
Guys can you please help me? I have until next week to cancel my appointment so input would be greatly appreciated on what you think is the smart decision. I'm not breaking out that bad and don't feel theres need for the blue light but I don't want to offend the doctor which might lead to him not giving me the right dosages of accutane on my later months. (I want him to move me up to 60mg next month)
Please help and tell me if it's ok to do the blue light because the price isn't the issue, I'm just scared of it damaging red marks or my skin.
In my research on dosage, 20mg really is not a lot and normally people don't see improvement. But that is all internet research and reviews extending over a 4 year debate on whether or not I should go on Accutane, lol! 40mg seems to be the best place to start to really knock it out.
And as far as I am reading online for the Blue Light treatment, it looks to be safe on such a low dosage of accutane, however, it doesn't appear to be completely effective. Since he upped the dosage to 40 I would stray from it, it can still damage skin and if you aren't healing quickly your skin will heal even slower on accutane.
Also! For the initial break out period of Accutane, you most likely won't see any effect or your acne will get worse over the first 2-4 months. Most people start clearing around those benchmarks. And it can get worse! Just make sure you clean with a gentle cleanser and take your meds with healthy, fatty foods. Also, take a vitamin E tablet with your pill, it's supposed to offset some of accutane's side effects. And moisturize! You should see dried out skin around a week into your 40mg treatment.
Now all of my information is based off what my own dermatologist has said and a ton of internet research (if Googler was job description I would be that), but I am confident it is pretty well rounded.
In my research on dosage, 20mg really is not a lot and normally people don't see improvement. But that is all internet research and reviews extending over a 4 year debate on whether or not I should go on Accutane, lol! 40mg seems to be the best place to start to really knock it out.
And as far as I am reading online for the Blue Light treatment, it looks to be safe on such a low dosage of accutane, however, it doesn't appear to be completely effective. Since he upped the dosage to 40 I would stray from it, it can still damage skin and if you aren't healing quickly your skin will heal even slower on accutane.
Also! For the initial break out period of Accutane, you most likely won't see any effect or your acne will get worse over the first 2-4 months. Most people start clearing around those benchmarks. And it can get worse! Just make sure you clean with a gentle cleanser and take your meds with healthy, fatty foods. Also, take a vitamin E tablet with your pill, it's supposed to offset some of accutane's side effects. And moisturize! You should see dried out skin around a week into your 40mg treatment.
Now all of my information is based off what my own dermatologist has said and a ton of internet research (if Googler was job description I would be that), but I am confident it is pretty well rounded.
You don't even know how much I appreciate this post. Seriously so many answers to so many questions. Funny my own dermatologist doesn't give me this much useful information.
Ok well I am now into my 2 month and am on 40mg (feel like I should be on more since I weigh 158lbs) and have only took 4 pills so far. I haven't been drying out and am breaking out more, have 5 current pimples and other blemishes (other breakouts healing up, my skin takes while to heal). I'm on my 1st week of month 2 and breaking out worst than month 1, is that normal?
So I'm happy you told me not to go on the blue light because I don't feel comfortable doing it on accutane even though my dermatologist has received good reviews and claims "he's used it with all his patients to success".
I just hope he's not offended that I canceled my appointment for blue light and went against his advice (or orders?). I'm scared he may not up my dosage for month 3 (I'm around 160 so I expect to be on atleast 60-80mg month 3, if he keeps me at 40mg I'll be very upset.) because I didn't listen or he might tell me "if I'm not going to listen to him theres no point in taking the accutane". He can't do that right?
Thanks and sorry if it's a silly question, this whole blue light thing has just cause more stress than anything, I just wanna go on my regular course of accutane like everyone else and feel i have the right to do so.
Thanks SO much for helping me and your information has relieved LOADS of stress off my shoulders and will help me sleep better tonight literally! 
No problem! Feel free to ask me any questions, I feel like I know too much about acne from my years of googling lol.
And it will get worse. Sometimes way worse; and then one it will just get better. The most important things to remember are how you are treating your skin and body on Accutane.
It normally takes a week to hit the incredibly dried out phase. If you are typically oily, your skin will get more oily the first few days which can result in some instant breakouts. Think of 40mg as your first month because 20mg is not really anything strong enough to affect heavier acne; it's more a dosage to wipe out small white heads, blackheads, and redness.
Your derm shouldn't be upset with your choice! It's a smart decision and he is a professional. And you are right for dosage amounts, but it will completely depend on your blood work.
I posted a journey forum on this forum as I have just started Accutane (3 days in!) and posted what I am using and doing according to all my research and had it backed up by my own dermatologist. It's been doing me good!
Also, first few days up through 2 weeks, stick with your salicylic / benzoyl cleanser and slowly work in a gentler cleanser, preferably a moisturizing one. And if you can, pick up some tea tree oil and coconut oil. Tea tree oil is 3$ at Sally's and you want the Virgin Coconut Oil UNREFINED 10$ at Publix. I like to cleanse with that and follow with my typical cleanser to keep in moisture, and those oils are good for reducing redness and pulling dirt.
After about two weeks bring your cleanser use down to twice or three times a week, and use your gentle or moisturizing cleanser every day 1-2 daily.
Biggest thing I notice with Accutane use is people will quit all the regimens they use to keep the acne at bay, and since it takes months to take effect, this can cause the severe breakouts familiar to the first two months.
No problem! Feel free to ask me any questions, I feel like I know too much about acne from my years of googling lol.
And it will get worse. Sometimes way worse; and then one it will just get better. The most important things to remember are how you are treating your skin and body on Accutane.
It normally takes a week to hit the incredibly dried out phase. If you are typically oily, your skin will get more oily the first few days which can result in some instant breakouts. Think of 40mg as your first month because 20mg is not really anything strong enough to affect heavier acne; it's more a dosage to wipe out small white heads, blackheads, and redness.
Your derm shouldn't be upset with your choice! It's a smart decision and he is a professional. And you are right for dosage amounts, but it will completely depend on your blood work.
I posted a journey forum on this forum as I have just started Accutane (3 days in!) and posted what I am using and doing according to all my research and had it backed up by my own dermatologist. It's been doing me good!
Also, first few days up through 2 weeks, stick with your salicylic / benzoyl cleanser and slowly work in a gentler cleanser, preferably a moisturizing one. And if you can, pick up some tea tree oil and coconut oil. Tea tree oil is 3$ at Sally's and you want the Virgin Coconut Oil UNREFINED 10$ at Publix. I like to cleanse with that and follow with my typical cleanser to keep in moisture, and those oils are good for reducing redness and pulling dirt.
After about two weeks bring your cleanser use down to twice or three times a week, and use your gentle or moisturizing cleanser every day 1-2 daily.
Biggest thing I notice with Accutane use is people will quit all the regimens they use to keep the acne at bay, and since it takes months to take effect, this can cause the severe breakouts familiar to the first two months.
I'm using cetaphil facial cleanser the normal one and using cerave moisturizer even though my skin doesn't even dry out. I think I'm just on too low of a dosage for my weight.
I love tea tree oil Ima pick that up.
I just hope on my appointment october 19th this doctor doesn't get offended I didn't do his bluelight "he does with all his patients" and bumps me up to 60mg or 80mg so I can get the show on the road and move on with my life.
In my research on dosage, 20mg really is not a lot and normally people don't see improvement. But that is all internet research and reviews extending over a 4 year debate on whether or not I should go on Accutane, lol! 40mg seems to be the best place to start to really knock it out.
And as far as I am reading online for the Blue Light treatment, it looks to be safe on such a low dosage of accutane, however, it doesn't appear to be completely effective. Since he upped the dosage to 40 I would stray from it, it can still damage skin and if you aren't healing quickly your skin will heal even slower on accutane.
Also! For the initial break out period of Accutane, you most likely won't see any effect or your acne will get worse over the first 2-4 months. Most people start clearing around those benchmarks. And it can get worse! Just make sure you clean with a gentle cleanser and take your meds with healthy, fatty foods. Also, take a vitamin E tablet with your pill, it's supposed to offset some of accutane's side effects. And moisturize! You should see dried out skin around a week into your 40mg treatment.
Now all of my information is based off what my own dermatologist has said and a ton of internet research (if Googler was job description I would be that), but I am confident it is pretty well rounded.
You don't even know how much I appreciate this post. Seriously so many answers to so many questions. Funny my own dermatologist doesn't give me this much useful information.
Ok well I am now into my 2 month and am on 40mg (feel like I should be on more since I weigh 158lbs) and have only took 4 pills so far. I haven't been drying out and am breaking out more, have 5 current pimples and other blemishes (other breakouts healing up, my skin takes while to heal). I'm on my 1st week of month 2 and breaking out worst than month 1, is that normal?
So I'm happy you told me not to go on the blue light because I don't feel comfortable doing it on accutane even though my dermatologist has received good reviews and claims "he's used it with all his patients to success".
I just hope he's not offended that I canceled my appointment for blue light and went against his advice (or orders?). I'm scared he may not up my dosage for month 3 (I'm around 160 so I expect to be on atleast 60-80mg month 3, if he keeps me at 40mg I'll be very upset.) because I didn't listen or he might tell me "if I'm not going to listen to him theres no point in taking the accutane". He can't do that right?
Thanks and sorry if it's a silly question, this whole blue light thing has just cause more stress than anything, I just wanna go on my regular course of accutane like everyone else and feel i have the right to do so.
Thanks SO much for helping me and your information has relieved LOADS of stress off my shoulders and will help me sleep better tonight literally!
Hi anthony, just wanted to mention that I'm male, on 20mg dosage a day and around 190lbs..and been on this treatment for almost 3 weeks....I did a higher dosage over your standard 6month course about 7 years ago and even tho my skin improved greatly since that course, my oily skin returned after 12-18months after treatment so I'm now doing a low dose of 20mg daily but over a longer period. Recent research seems to shown that lower dose over long period works just as well as higher dosage over a shorter time period...but the lower dose has less (milder) side effects......I've also used Panoxyl 10 ( 10% Benzoyl peroxide) for many years and my derm agreed, that while accutane is starting to work, I could still use the Panoxyl 10 cream and even tho both are making my skin very dry, I've already noticed my skin is less oily(As Luna mentioned, I think some people stop their regular regimens as soon as they start accutane and this sometimes doesnt give accutane enough time to work) ...I'm taking accutane to control (shrink) my oil glands, as my acne is only mild but even tho I'm only taking 20mg daily (at 190lbs) I've already noticed improvements with my oily skin..You know your skin better than anyone, and its not one rule for all.....As mentioned in the thread, your skin is very sensitive while on accutane so not sure bluelight is the right step for everyone so think carefully before making up your mind......Hope your treatment goes well..