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Hey guys,
I have had very mild acne for a while but recently (5 mos) had a bad cyst in the middle of my forehead that has left a pretty bad scar. I have been on Accutane for 2.5 mos, 2.5 mos left to go, and want to know what treatment options I should consider for after I have been off 6 months to 1 year. My confidence was sky high before this and now I am at rock bottom and my perception on life seems to have reversed completely. The top crater truly didn't bother me until I got the bigger one below it, only now do I notice both. Please help. Thank you so much.
Don't panic. Accutane dehydrates your skin, which can magnify the appearance of imperfections. Also, it's a new scar. Give your skin some time to repair itself before rushing off to the dermatologist for chemical peels and laser treatments.
In the meantime, the best thing you can do is protect your skin from any sun damage, which may inhibit your skin's ability to heal itself, with daily sunscreen. Since you're on Accutane, don't hold back, go with SPF 50, everyday no excuses. If you're out in the sun, be liberal and reapply often.
As to minimizing the appearance of the scar for right now, look for a silicone-based sunscreen that references "blurring" or "pore minimizing" in the description. The latest generation of silicones have light-diffusing particles that can reduce the appearance of imperfections. I know MD Solar Sciences Mineral Cream SPF 50 (the red tube) has this feature. It will give a white cast to your skin, so if you're not pale, it might not be the best option. Alternatively, you can use the sunscreen of your choice and then apply a silicone primer that has the blurring/minimizing particles in it. Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser is a good, cheap option ($7-9 at the grocery store). Get the clear/untinted one (I'm pretty sure there's a tinted and untinted version - it will say tinted if it's tinted). It won't look like you're wearing makeup. You'll just look a little photoshopped. 