Thanks @HuskyChefWe actually had a megaposting on this some months back 😉 It is now known you can do non ablative procedures, subcision, and filler before the typical 6 month wait period after tane. Several studies. The skin is still extremely fragile and needs to heal. Anything ablative or drying, ... acid peels, resurfacing, etc is not good to do until after 6 months post. Some people cannot treat at all if their skin is in bad enough shape while on tane. Lasers to treat PIE and PIH / Hypierpigmentation color can be used during this period for the reds.

Papers confirm what clinicians have known for years. Gives credit to all the US dermatologist, and plastics who have taken their time to give evidence in regards to peer reviewed standards. If any scar revision expert is unaware of these papers, they should be be revising scars IMO as they do not keep up to date with research, methods, technology and everything else involved in scar management. A good test is to see if your specialist are aware of these papers (not the video)- but recent JAMA paper 28th June 2017.

Thank you derms who did this research:

FYI

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170628131504.htm

Thanks a lot guys! A lot of great info here   Do you think low dose 20mg a week would be okay with ablative procedures like erbium or any skin resurfacing lasers?

No you cannot do ablative resurfacing / Peels until 6 months after Accutane. This has not changed. What has changed is non ablative laser, subcision, and **possibly Infini because it protects the epidermis, though the dermis is thinner on tane and would be best to wait. I can see some Drs also screwing up and treating you aggressively while your skin is in terrible shape and getting other side effects, loosing fat, or having healing issues. It really depends on the shape of your skin and healing capabilities. I have done tane 3 times and there is no way I would do something to drastic.

Now back to the other part of your question, if you were on low dose, and would stop 3-4 weeks before and after you heal, with no active breakouts (infection), possibly then yes ablation is possible depending on the thickness of the skin and condition. In this case you would be only using Accutane occasionally as needed.

It's just another variable to add to your Dr that if they don't know their stuff they could screw things up. Sub makes the most since in this case. With lots of time to heal in between. Filler can also be done with the sub.

"Now back to the other part of your question, if you were on low dose, and would stop 3-4 weeks before and after you heal, with no active breakouts (infection), possibly then yes ablation is possible depending on the thickness of the skin and condition. In this case you would be only using Accutane occasionally as needed."

wow, really?! Only 3-4 weeks off low dose and I'm ready for ablative (depending on my skin)? My current situation is..I've done 2 high 1mg-1kg accutane courses for 9 months each..I've currently been off accutane for exactly a year now because I knew I wanted to get lasers for some scarring. I still get mild acne tho so I wanted to do 20mg a week low dose accutane. 10mg on Monday and 10mg on Friday. I now know I can do non ablative stuff while on, but correct me if I'm wrong..if I want ablative lasers I just get off my 20mg/w accutane dosage for 3 or 4 weeks on my current dose first?

wow, really?! Only 3-4 weeks off low dose and I'm ready for ablative (depending on my skin)? My current situation is..I've done 2 high 1mg-1kg accutane courses for 9 months each..I've currently been off accutane for exactly a year now because I knew I wanted to get lasers for some scarring. I still get mild acne tho so I wanted to do 20mg a week low dose accutane. 10mg on Monday and 10mg on Friday. I now know I can do non ablative stuff while on, but correct me if I'm wrong..if I want ablative lasers I just get off my 20mg/w accutane dosage for 3 or 4 weeks on my current dose first?

You just said you did 2 treatments of "high" dose. you MUST wait 6 months for ablative treatment. Just because you jump to low dose the body still must recover from high dose. When I say low dose, I mean that's all you have done and you use it as needed, not consistently. So again even if you went high, to low, your skin may still need time for ablation, most skin is thinned out and in bad shape. It also effects healing, those in the study who had ablation had some bad outcomes if they did not wait. You can subcise now with the weeks wait on low dose.

Be very careful, just because we can do something does not mean it's best. Drs can screw up your face. You must goto a specialized acne scar dr who does tons of cases not a general derm or plastic. They cannot account for your bodies ability to heal. If you have infection from breakouts all over the face this also can cause further issues if laser is done. Your putting your trust in you doctor with another variable. I would do Infini RF or Vivance or Intracel or Intensif or Secret over laser as the epidermis is still protected. Laser seems harsh when the body is like this from Tane.

I have been off Accutane for exactly a year tho so I'm not just jumping on to low dose, I've had a year to heal my skin. I wanted to get on 20mg a week low dose now after a year of being accutane-free. I just know I'll probably want ablative in the future so I don't know if I should just stay off accutane until then? I'm breaking out mildly and my diet is really depressing me right now because I've been eating SO clean for the last year to prevent breakouts, I'd love to just go on a maintenance dose.. ideally 20mg a week and and having the ability to get off for 3-4 weeks when I have the money for ablative lasers.

That's fine man. Get someone with experience acne scar expert, who actually feels your skin, uses indirect lighting, has you animate aka smile, and takes a full history. Stop for a month, and you should be fine to do ablative, don't start up again until your fully healed. You can spot treat zits with sulfur or BP if needed while recovering.

Do you possibly have fungal acne, discuss with a doctor and google it. Accutane is not effective for this type of acne. Fungus causes the zits. Just a idea, the DR can do tests.

How would I know if I'm fully healed?  I've been off a year but my face and lips still require moisturiser.. I'm thinking that's just a permanent side tho and to be fair it's NOWHERE near as bad as when I was actually on one of my courses.

I don't think it's fungal tbh because accutane works absolutely amazing when I'm on it..absolutely no blemishes! It's just about 3 months after I had come off it.. the mild acne returned. I've spent the last year testing every diet/vitamin cure I could find.. I cut out gluten/wheat, dairy, processed oils, etc and although it has improved my skin..it's never cured it. I also have been eating the EXACT same food for 365 days (torture) and I'm still noticing my skin get worse over time.. starting to get bigger and bigger spots. I feel low dose accutane is the only solution because this diet and the constant worrying has really put a damper on life/relationships.    20mg a week and going off it for a month for ablative lasers when I could afford them would be AMAZING!

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Sorry got busy, ... you guys got excited posting, so much to respond to ;-P

@HuskyChef: "How do I know if I am fully healed." You may not, but a doctor does if hes good. Typically it's the thickness of the skin and the condition it's in. Accutane can thin out the skin sometimes, make it overly dry, fat deficient, or easily cut.

It may be your epidermis acid layer is damaged on the surface, and you don't want to do exfoliation or harsh treatments while you rebuild that. You can do filler, subcision, and vascular laser. A doctor would know best looking at you the condition of the skin, make sure they know you have done multi courses of tane and all that.

Fungal, Accutane can work, until you stop it. But you might be right, might be just hormonal stuff. You may have allergies, someone tested recently and found this as a issue. Cool do this "20mg a week and going off it for a month for ablative lasers when I could afford them would be AMAZING!"

Hi I would like yo know of its safe tohavea laser treatmentfracctionalCo2, while onaccutane20mg daily?