RetinoidAbuser
Iron
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I made this guide on a different forum around 2 weeks ago, will copy it here.
Colors did not transfer from my nutria post so it looks like big blocks of text, although I think this guide is worth sharing here as well as it will reach a big audience.
Do I recommend this Retinoid? Yes. As someone who has tried most Retinoids, This is what truly cleared my Acne. I do not regret taking it and I am on my course as I am writing this. This can be a miracle drug for people who have Acne! If nothing else has worked so far, it is worth reading this guide to see if it is worth it for you.
Please Rep as this took a while
remember it is NEVER OVER if you have acne and there is always a fix. you guys can correct me if I got anything wrong.
Struggling with acne? tried everything but nothing works? want to use the one method which might clear it permanently?
Welcome to the nuclear option
ISOTRETINOIN
in this guide I will go over Isotretinoin, what it is, what it does, how it works, side effects and how to minimize them and some other miscellaneous stuff.
Welcome to the nuclear option
ISOTRETINOIN
in this guide I will go over Isotretinoin, what it is, what it does, how it works, side effects and how to minimize them and some other miscellaneous stuff.
Isotretinoin a synthetic Vitamin A Derivative (under the brand name Accutane, Roaccutane, Aknetrent, Accufine, Accuret, etc.) it is a pill, an oral retinoid which is used in dermatology for patients struggling with acne who did not get great results from antibiotics (cope anyways). Under the chemical name 13-cis-retinoic-acid, it was originally developed in the 1960s by Hoffmann-La-Roche in the country of Switzerland in hopes of it treating skin cancer (this failed), But Dr.Gary Peck from the National institutes of Health was the one who discovered its efficacy for treating severe nodular/cystic acne in the 1970s. (or moderate acne which did not respond to other treatments)
Isotretinoin is a pill taken orally most commonly every day or every other day, It works at the Cellular level and targets all of the four root causes of acne, which include: 1. Shrinking the Sebaceous (oil) glands 2. Preventing pores from clogging with dead skin cells 3. Reducing inflammation 4. Killing bacteria which causes acne (Cutibacterium Acnes). This amazing combination can cure acne easily and permanently, this is why models frequently use it to get "glass" skin. It is also fat soluble, make sure to take it with 20g of dietary fat.
Isotretinoin is known to be pretty rough, I personally think it is heavily fear mongered. Although precautions should still be taken 100%. 1. Dry Lips: For sure the most common Side effect, affects around 90% of users, Lips can start bleeding and peeling if left untreated. Use petroleum frequently (Pure Vaseline or Aquaphor). Make sure to apply a Heavy layer when you wake up, at night before sleep and before you work out. regularly reapply petroleum (around once every 60-90 minutes, if lips are really dry more frequently) 2. Dry Skin: Another really common side effect, skin can get thin and peel, bruise easily and get sunburnt easier. Make sure to moisturize your whole body after showering and moisturize your face once in the morning, once at night (more if skin gets really dry) ALWAYS use a non comedogenic, fragrance and paraben free moisturizer (like CeraVe plain moisturizer). you HAVE to use a minimum SPF-50+ sunscreen daily, even if you are indoors because UV rays can penetrate glass. reapply when needed. 3. Dry Eyes: Again, a really common side effect especially if you wear contacts. eyes can get insanely uncomfortable and red, Really simple to fix just use lubricating eye drops (Artificial Tears) whenever they get dry. 4. Dry Nose/Nosebleeds: not as common as the previous ones but more prone in dry climates. Can be really uncomfortable, can cause trouble breathing and may even "harden" boogers. (Absolutely Disgusting). To fix this you should utilize a saline nasal spray to rehydrate nostrils and also apply a thin layer of petroleum (not too much as you may have trouble breathing). 5. Joint/Muscle Pain: A well documented side effect, affecting up to 25% of users (those who frequently exercise are more prone to it) most common in the lower back and ankles. the only "true" fix to this is to lower the daily dose. Although research suggests high quality omega-3 oils could possibly help (NEVER COD LIVER OIL, I will get into why later. It is high in Vitamin A.) Omega-3s could also potentially help other sides. Consume around 1000-2000 combined DHA+EPA. (I would be careful with going up to 2000 as fish oil is known to cause easier bruising and bleeding, which your skin is already prone to on this drug. 6. Purging: Just like other retinoids, It could cause an acne purge in the early stages. meaning everything under is getting pushed out of your skin. this is a good thing, it means the drug is working and you either raw dog it or use oral antihistamines. Affects up to 30% of users. 7. Pregnancy Risk: The drug is known to cause horrible birth defects, it should NEVER be taken if you are a female who is expecting to get pregnant. The kid will be heavily deformed and will struggle to live life (some sadly do not even make it). Monthly tests (like IPLEDGE in the US) and birth control can help to minimize the chances of this happening. This is by far the most serious side effect and there is a label on every box indicating that it should never be taken while pregnant or for a few months following your course. 8. Blood Work Problems: Known to increase cholesterol and triglycerides. This is monitored monthly via blood tests (if prescribed). To counteract this try to live a healthy life, meaning eat clean, exercise and yada yada (y'all hopefully should know how to live a healthier life). You could also take omega-3 fatty acids to help with lowering triglycerides, but it mostly comes down to general lifestyle. 9. Depression/Mood Problems: Research suggests the drug does not even cause this, and in fact this stems from people being in a bad mental state due to their severe acne. Even then this is something that derms take really seriously and should still be monitored (there have been cases of suicides while on the drug, although we do not know if it directly caused them). just try to enjoy your life and do stuff you love (dopaminemaxxing jfl) 10. Hair and Nail Thinning: This can occur in some users, including myself. avoid tight hairstyles and harsh hair products as well as nail biting. Biotin supplements are frequently recommended although it is not that bad. SOME users experience shedding, if your hair sheds a lot (clumps) immediately alert your dermatologist or if you are self-medicating, try to lower the dose. this is rarely permanent and frequently settles down a few months after treatment. you could also apply petroleum to your nail beds (petroleum is your savior on Accutane ) 11. Elevated Liver Enzymes: Since the drug is an oral pill, it can be hepatoxic, Severe liver damage is really rare. in clinical trials up to 15% of users had elevated liver enzymes, Just make sure to not overwork your liver so do not drink alcohol, live a healthy life, stay hydrated (this is CRUCIAL on Isotretinoin, helps with most sides). you could take ancillaries if it gets really bad, monitor your bloods. 12. Fatigue and Sleepiness: Affects up to 15% of users, Make sure you get your B12 intake in check and overall do not over exert yourself. No true way to counteract this. You could also check bloods for anemia, although rare. 13. Decreased Nigh Vision: Pretty rare side effect, affects up to 5% of people. Use lubricating eye drops if this happens, Usually goes away after your course has ended if it did happen.
Now for some of the extremely rare (<1%) but dangerous threatening side effects: 1. Pseudotumor Cerebri: This is when fluid builds up in your brain, increasing pressure. this can cause things like vision loss and to prevent this never take tetracycline antibiotics like Doxycycline or Minocycline while taking the drug and for 2 months after. 2. Severe Stomach/Rectal Problems: A dry anus is common on the drug(not kidding
) but if you ever have really painful and persistent abdominal cramps or rectal bleeding IMMEDIATELY alert your dermatologist or go to urgent care/ER. I have heard of 1 account of somebody getting rectal bleeding from this drug. Extremely rare side effects but should not be disregarded (at least the 2nd one, the 1st one you could prevent really easily.) There are some other sides which I will list, but they are less common or non-fixable/less serious: Delayed Wound Healing, Gum Bleeding, Different skin odor, Hearing Impairment, Bone problems and premature plate closure (I know this sounds scary, but this is mostly seen in long, heavy courses when patients do 2nd or 3rd rounds and when they go over their cumulative dose, and there is debate as to if this actually even happens (for plate closure). gastrointestinal problems. and of course you can have an allergic reaction just like with any other systemic drug, IMMEDIATELY go to urgent care/ER if you think you are having an allergic reaction. to know if you have one monitor your skin and symptoms closely. Check if your rashes blanch too as a non blanching rash could be serious (I had one for example but it turned out to not be serious) There is a small number of ones I left out, but they are extremely rare (genuinely mythical) or common sense, so I thought it is not worth mentioning them.
) 11. Elevated Liver Enzymes: Since the drug is an oral pill, it can be hepatoxic, Severe liver damage is really rare. in clinical trials up to 15% of users had elevated liver enzymes, Just make sure to not overwork your liver so do not drink alcohol, live a healthy life, stay hydrated (this is CRUCIAL on Isotretinoin, helps with most sides). you could take ancillaries if it gets really bad, monitor your bloods. 12. Fatigue and Sleepiness: Affects up to 15% of users, Make sure you get your B12 intake in check and overall do not over exert yourself. No true way to counteract this. You could also check bloods for anemia, although rare. 13. Decreased Nigh Vision: Pretty rare side effect, affects up to 5% of people. Use lubricating eye drops if this happens, Usually goes away after your course has ended if it did happen.Now for some of the extremely rare (<1%) but dangerous threatening side effects: 1. Pseudotumor Cerebri: This is when fluid builds up in your brain, increasing pressure. this can cause things like vision loss and to prevent this never take tetracycline antibiotics like Doxycycline or Minocycline while taking the drug and for 2 months after. 2. Severe Stomach/Rectal Problems: A dry anus is common on the drug(not kidding
) but if you ever have really painful and persistent abdominal cramps or rectal bleeding IMMEDIATELY alert your dermatologist or go to urgent care/ER. I have heard of 1 account of somebody getting rectal bleeding from this drug. Extremely rare side effects but should not be disregarded (at least the 2nd one, the 1st one you could prevent really easily.) There are some other sides which I will list, but they are less common or non-fixable/less serious: Delayed Wound Healing, Gum Bleeding, Different skin odor, Hearing Impairment, Bone problems and premature plate closure (I know this sounds scary, but this is mostly seen in long, heavy courses when patients do 2nd or 3rd rounds and when they go over their cumulative dose, and there is debate as to if this actually even happens (for plate closure). gastrointestinal problems. and of course you can have an allergic reaction just like with any other systemic drug, IMMEDIATELY go to urgent care/ER if you think you are having an allergic reaction. to know if you have one monitor your skin and symptoms closely. Check if your rashes blanch too as a non blanching rash could be serious (I had one for example but it turned out to not be serious) There is a small number of ones I left out, but they are extremely rare (genuinely mythical) or common sense, so I thought it is not worth mentioning them.Here I will talk about what not to take/do while on the drug. Do NOT take vitamin A supplements, Accutane is already a synthetic vitamin A derivative. they are heavily concentrated and can cause Vitamin A toxicity which is basically just Isotretinoin sides amplified 10x + more. Trust me you do not want this to happen, Always check your supplement labels to ensure you are not consuming excess vitamin A. You can still consume beta carotene (through food) as your body utilizes it smartly and will not convert it to excess vitamin A, but foods like animal liver should never be consumed as they have high concentrations of vitamin A. Do NOT overwork your liver, So do not drink alcohol, take other drugs which might stress the liver (although occasional Tylenol or light ones should be fine but still monitor them). Do NOT use active topicals, I will list what you should use later, But avoid topicals containing active ingredients. This includes but is not limited to (Tretinoin, Adapalene, Benzoyl Peroxide, Azelaic Acid) I would recommend to google whatever you think would be safe to apply just in case. Your skin is extremely thin and fragile while on this drug and you could possibly end up with irreversible skin damage due to active ingredients. Do NOT take tetracycline antibiotics, Like I mentioned before this could cause pressure to build up in your brain and cause vision loss. Tetracycline antibiotics include: Doxycycline, Minocycline, Tetracycline. Do NOT get a wax, tattoo, lasers or dermabrasion. Seriously, your skin can get quite literally Peeled Off. Stick to stuff like threading (even then make sure to treat the area carefully). Do NOT donate blood, during and 30 days after your course you should never donate blood. If a pregnant woman gets your blood.... the severe birth defect risk still applies.
Here I will tell you my personal stack I use while taking Accutane.
MAKE SURE
that anything you use is paraben, preservative and fragrance free. It has to be mild and easy on your skin to prevent irritation. If you use any other products make sure to double check the label and google if it is valid to use while on this drug.
MAKE SURE
that anything you use is paraben, preservative and fragrance free. It has to be mild and easy on your skin to prevent irritation. If you use any other products make sure to double check the label and google if it is valid to use while on this drug.
https://bhskin.com/blog/how-fast-do...matologists-insight-from-years-of-experience/
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/isotretinoin
https://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/30/1/from-the-annals-of-nih-history
https://www.drugwatch.com/accutane/
https://www.tareendermatology.com/managing-side-effects-of-accutane/
https://www.goodrx.com/isotretinoin...cx0v8dUiUWULWCbOJEZr1vCmFfXbk7POoABCG2_1sHIC2
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/isotretinoin
https://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/30/1/from-the-annals-of-nih-history
https://www.drugwatch.com/accutane/
https://www.tareendermatology.com/managing-side-effects-of-accutane/
https://www.goodrx.com/isotretinoin...cx0v8dUiUWULWCbOJEZr1vCmFfXbk7POoABCG2_1sHIC2
Colors did not transfer from my nutria post so it looks like big blocks of text, although I think this guide is worth sharing here as well as it will reach a big audience.
Do I recommend this Retinoid? Yes. As someone who has tried most Retinoids, This is what truly cleared my Acne. I do not regret taking it and I am on my course as I am writing this. This can be a miracle drug for people who have Acne! If nothing else has worked so far, it is worth reading this guide to see if it is worth it for you.
Please Rep as this took a while
remember it is NEVER OVER if you have acne and there is always a fix. you guys can correct me if I got anything wrong.
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