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a40 aristocrat
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Introduction:
This is my first guide but I wanted to make an in depth thread on Accutane, my experience on it and how to maximise its effects.
Skin is one of the most important features, it effects how people judge your hygiene, health, discipline and genetics.
Take it from me, people genuinely treat me differently compared to when I had acne. Clearing my skin took me from LTN to MTN by itself, and am probably HMTN now due to softmaxxing.
The Studies:
Studies have proven that clear skin is associated with:
- Balanced hormones
- Good immune function
- Youthfulness
- Good general hygiene
Acne is one of the most brutal facial folios because it directly triggers disease-avoidance psychology. It means people literally avoid you because they subconsciously think you're contagious.
Because of this, acne:
- Lowers perceived attractiveness
- Reduces first impression trust
- Causes people to focus on your skin instead of any good features you have
That’s where Accutane comes in.
Before and Afters. They look like different people.
What Accutane Actually Is:
Accutane is a systemic retinoid that permanently alters how your skin functions.
Acne has four core drivers:
- Excess sebum
- Clogged follicles
- Acne-causing bacteria
- Inflammation
Accutane hits all four at once, but its main weapon is sebum suppression.
This is my first guide but I wanted to make an in depth thread on Accutane, my experience on it and how to maximise its effects.
Skin is one of the most important features, it effects how people judge your hygiene, health, discipline and genetics.
Take it from me, people genuinely treat me differently compared to when I had acne. Clearing my skin took me from LTN to MTN by itself, and am probably HMTN now due to softmaxxing.
The Studies:
Studies have proven that clear skin is associated with:
- Balanced hormones
- Good immune function
- Youthfulness
- Good general hygiene
Acne is one of the most brutal facial folios because it directly triggers disease-avoidance psychology. It means people literally avoid you because they subconsciously think you're contagious.
Because of this, acne:
- Lowers perceived attractiveness
- Reduces first impression trust
- Causes people to focus on your skin instead of any good features you have
That’s where Accutane comes in.
Before and Afters. They look like different people.
What Accutane Actually Is:
Accutane is a systemic retinoid that permanently alters how your skin functions.
Acne has four core drivers:
- Excess sebum
- Clogged follicles
- Acne-causing bacteria
- Inflammation
Accutane hits all four at once, but its main weapon is sebum suppression.
What Accutane does biologically:
- Shrinks sebaceous glands (oil glands) by up to 90%
- Dramatically reduces sebum output
- Makes the follicle environment hostile to acne bacteria
- Normalises skin cell turnover inside pores
My Full Guide to Accutane:
Dosage:
For dosage, the rule of thumb is usually 0.5 to 1 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day (convert that into whatever metric you use). However, this decision ultimately comes down to your dermatologist.
My derm started me at 20mg for the first 2 months, then bumped me up to 40mg where I stayed for the rest of my course. This was significantly below the dosage rule of thumb and I pleaded to get a higher dose but the derm said it was unnecessary.
My course duration was about 8 months - this varies but the average course is about 6 months.
Take your tablet with a high fat meal, I often took it with eggs on toast and some avocado, the high fat helps with absorption.
The Purge:
It is common to experience a 'purge stage' for the first 2-6 weeks of your treatment. This is due to your skin dramatically increasing skin cell turnover which rapidly pushes deep-seated oil, dead skin and clogged debris to the surface. Ultimately, it's a good thing and shows that the Accutane is working.
To minimise this effect, take an antihistamine tablet with your Accutane pill, while this is only necessary during the purge stage, I took an antihistamine daily for my entire treatment.
The Side Effects:
There seems to be a scare campaign against the side effects of Accutane, while there are some mild side effects, they're 100% worth it for clear skin.
Some common side effects you'll experience are:
- Dry lips
- Dry skin
- Dry nose (possible nose bleeds)
- Dry eyes
- Mild joint stiffness
Later in this thread I will go over my experience with these and how I offset them.
My Accutane Protocol:
I did plenty of research before starting my treatment, so I knew what I was getting myself into. Let me start off by saying it's a lot better than people say.
Throughout the duration of my course, this was my non-negotiable protocol:
Skincare:
AM:
- Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser
- QV face ultra calming moisturiser
- Avene Sunsitive Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50+
PM:
- Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser
- QV face ultra calming moisturiser
- Lather my lips with lip balm, as well as my nostrils if they were dry.
As I said before, I would take my tablet with a high fat breakfast meal, an antihistamine and a fish oil tablet.
Throughout the day I would also apply Dermal Therapy Ultra Moisturising Lip Balm - This was a life saver as my lips would dry out every hour or so. I tried several lip balms but none as good as the one I mentioned, I highly recommend it.
What To Avoid:
Avoid any skincare products with any active ingredients, especially harsh cleansers, acids, exfoliators, etc. Just let the Accutane run its course.
It is also commonly told to avoid alcohol, personally I got shitfaced probably 4-8 times (I was on Accutane when all my friends and I were turning 18) I didn't notice any side effects but it probably wasn't good for my liver.
The sun. This is a big one. Your skin becomes WAY more sensitive to the sun, you'll literally burn in 10 minutes, and it's deep and painful burns. I started my treatment at the start of Autumn with this in mind (as summers in southern hemisphere are brutal).
End of Your Treatment:
After you purge, your skin will progressively improve until the end of your course.
Prior to Accutane I had a very strict diet, I even cut out dairy at one point. Around month 3-4 of my course I experimented with unhealthy foods and found it had no effect on my skin anymore. I ate like shit for the remainder of my course as I was bulking and had 0 side effects - not a single pimple.
Once your treatment ends, the derm will tell you how Accutane stays in your system for 1 month and to keep that in mind. This isn't entirely true. By 7 days, it's basically cleared from your blood, but traces will remain for about 1 month. I kept the same skincare/antihistamine routine for about 14 days, until I became noticeably less dry.
Post-Accutane Skincare:
I finished my treatment about a month and a half ago, and this is my plan for the coming months.
Accutane got rid of 95% of my scars and I am yet to have a pimple since my course ended. I still use the same strict skincare routine as I did during my course, but I plan to start using Tret in about a month for anti-aging and collagen benefits.
Conclusion: Why Accutane is the holy grail of skincare
Regardless of the side effects, Accutane is the best solution to persistent acne. Literally nothing comes close to it.
It permanently removes one of the biggest falios and changes how you're perceived by everyone.
I had persistent acne for 1 1/2 years, I tried basically every treatment, cleanser, product, tablet. Nothing worked. While Accutane is often seen as a last resort, I believe it should be one of the first things someone with persistent acne does. It literally changed my life.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this thread. I'm happy to answer any further questions about my experience or advice for someone taking Accutane. With hindsight I could've done more during my treatment to maximise its strength and minimise its side effects, so I'm happy to help out.
