Originally Posted by Peanut
I haven't read the rest of the thread yet but my advice would be DON'T DO IT.
Especially if your acne is "only" moderate. I have acne. I know how much it sucks, I do. But seriously, your overall health is SO MUCH more important.
I went on accutane when I was about 23 because, like you, I had been struggling with acne for about 10 years, tried every possible treatment available, and was verging on depression about the state of my face (it's really hard on the self esteem).
I was on accutane for 6 months and it was awful. Nosebleeds, dry eyes, dry lips, my skin was literally flaking off in chunks. Oh, and your acne also gets WORSE at first so you're dealing with more acne in addition to skin flaking off in chunks, lips cracking and bleeding, etc.
I gained a bunch of weight while I was on the drug, was likely depressed, and generally just felt like ####. However, it did clear up my skin and I enjoyed lovely clear skin for two years. BUT THEN, my acne came back. And it's back in a major way but I refuse to ever go on accutane ever again.
Oh, and I also have since struggled with liver, gallbladder and digestive problems that reared their head in my first pregnancy at age 27 - I ended up having to deliver my daughter early because my liver wasn't functioning properly (cholestasis was the medical term), and I've since suffered from severe gallbladder attacks (the most painful thing I've ever experienced, and yes I'm including labour in that list).
None of these liver and gallbladder problems are anywhere in my family history, and I'm pretty young to be experiencing them. So I do attribute them to the accutane. So now my liver is compromised, my gallbladder sucks and I bet I will likely have surgery to remove it eventually, AND I still have acne. It was NOT worth it for 2 years of clear skin.
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