Side Effects Help
These are the products I'm currently using to curb the side
effects commonly associated with taking Accutane, such as dry skin and chapped
lips. I will update this page as I encounter more side effects and start using
more products.
Dry Skin
Currently, to keep my face from drying up and becoming a flaky
mess, I avoid using any type of soap on my face. I've found that Cetaphil Cleansing Bars and Cetaphil Facial
Cleansers work great! Cetaphil has a complete line of soap-free bars and
cleansers designed for dry, sensitive skin. (Perfect for the Accutane user) They
also carry a complete line of moisturizers. Most of these are oil-free,
non-greasy, and non-comedogenic. Also, some come with SPF 15 which is great due
to the fact that Accutane increases your skins sensitivity to the sun. In other
words, Cetaphil products are a must when it comes to taking care of your skin
while on Accutane. But, these products come at a price. Most products average
$8.00 ea. Pictured below is their complete line of products.
Chapped / Inflamed Lips
I use Aquaphor for chapped lips, as recommended by my dermatologist. I've heard it's better than normal chap sticks or medicated lip balms.
Because Aquaphor leaves a Vaseline look to your lips, I only use it
at the house or when I go to bed. When I leave the house, I use Cool
Aqua. It's a Re-hydrating stick with SPF 15 and
it works just fine until I can get home and use the
Aquaphor.
Dry Scalp / Dandruff
Week two brought on a severely dry scalp which in turn caused dandruff so I'm now using Head and Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo.
In week three, the problem disappeared. I continue to use the Head and Shoulders though.
Please e-mail me the names of products that helped you with any side-effects you experienced while on accutane. I will post them here.
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