Fun fact: An estimated 9.4 per cent of the global population suffers from acne, making it the eighth most common disease worldwide. If you are among the acne-prone, you’re probably familiar with either your dermatologist’s office or the countless forums available online (or both!). And, if you’ve looked hard enough, you’ve probably heard of one “miracle” medication: Accutane. Whether you found out about the medication through hours of online research or through a chat with your derm, if it has piqued your interest, there are a few things you need to know.
READ: Guide to acne: We break down why you break out
For starters, Accutane—also known as isotretinoin or 13-cis retinoic acid—is a vitamin A derivative. It’s an oral medication that works at a genetic level to normalise the way your skin grows and shrink your oil glands, thus preventing clogged pores and breakouts. While this is great for the treatment of acne, it does come with its drawbacks on a skincare-related level (and on other levels too, but we’ll get to that another day). Namely, the effects of isotretinoin on the oil glands have been known to cause excessively dry skin with peeling, tightness, and redness as well as increased sensitivity to the sun.
READ: How I cleared my hormonal acne up after 10 years
Basically, when you’re on the medication, your entire skincare routine needs an overhaul. Ahead, we’re covering all the do’s and don’ts of skincare while using isotretinoin, from avoiding spot treatments to skipping the scrubs:
The Do’s
Invest in gentle, hydrating cleansers
When it comes to cleansing on Accutane, harsh and stripping cleansers are a no-go. Think of it this way—your skin is already a desert, so taking away even more moisture will do nothing but leave you cracked, crusty and sad. So, instead of foamy formulations, reach for hydrating, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic formulations instead.
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Go hard on the moisturiser
It’s a no-brainer, really—when your moisture barrier is compromised (and, believe us, it will be on this medication), your products need to work overtime to keep your skin happy. A richer moisturiser with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and occlusives will work wonders to keep your skin barrier protected and hydrated.
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Keep your lips plump and pouty
One of the first places you’ll probably notice dryness in when starting Accutane are your lips. To avoid getting chapped and cracked all around your mouth, you’ll want to keep on top of your lip care routine. Make sure to carry a trusty lip balm around with you everywhere (or, if you’re in need of some extra TLC, a lip mask), and make sure your daytime lippy has some SPF in it too.
READ: The best lip balms for any and all of your #lipgoals
Remember your SPF
While it’s never too good in excess, sebum does actually play a pretty important role in your skin. Namely, it helps to protect your skin from dehydration and some of the damage caused by environmental factors such as temperature and UV. In fact, while on isotretinoin, you’ll probably find that your skin is more sensitive to the sun.
That’s why a major must-have for any Accutane routine is a good SPF—preferably one within the SPF50 range that comes with an extra dose of moisture.
READ: Sunscreen 101: Your guide to all things SPF (and PA++++)
The Don’ts
Needless to say, when it comes to isotretinoin, it’s all about babying your skin. So, while you may be used to a thrice weekly exfoliation and a nightly spot treatment, while you’re on this medication, you’re going to need to strip your routine back down to the basics.
That means avoiding anything and everything that could even potentially cause any irritation or further dryness—this includes your beloved retinols, chemical exfoliants (yes, even the salicylic acid in your spot treatments) and any physical scrubs.
All in all, isotretinoin is a complete game-changer for those who struggle with acne. That said, though it does come with its drawbacks, we’d say that a clear(er) complexion is worth the skincare overhaul. We hope our guide to Accutane skincare helps you on your way to spotless skin!
Find more skincare advice like this here.
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