When I first started taking roaccutane, it seemed like a never-ending journey; it was constant visits to my dermatologist, endless prescriptions and a whole nine months of aching joints, dry lips and tiredness. I've been off roaccutane for just over a year and a half (I stopped taking it in June 2019) and I still stand by the fact that it's the best thing I've ever done for my skin.
The biggest fear for any patient coming off roaccutane is the possibility that the acne could return. I had the same dread too. I'd already been on antibiotics which had cleared my skin up and the moment I stopped taking them, the acne came back within weeks. I didn't want that to happen again.
I've been looking forward to writing this roaccutane update and believe me, I've got so much to tell you about; from the side effects of coming off the drug, to skincare products and treatments I've been absolutely loving. There's quite a bit to get through!
So, Did my Acne Return?
When I was discharged from the care of my dermatologist, he prescribed me with Differin topical cream to introduce into my skincare routine. I had been using Differin previously whilst taking antibiotics and apparently it can be prescribed after roaccutane to help improve any scarring and pigmentation left behind. I started using it twice a week for two weeks, and then every other day after that.
You'll be glad to know that my skin stayed completely clear for a good few months after taking roaccutane and using Differin, ignoring the occasional hormonal breakout which we all get now and again. I noticed my skin start to break out slightly after I stopped using Differin in March, although I only used it sparingly as I didn't want my skin to get used to it.
Over the past year and a half, I have experienced breakouts mostly due to wearing masks, hormonal changes and other factors. However, my breakouts are nowhere near as bad as they used to be and are completely manageable with spot treatments, which I'll talk about in a bit. However, my skin is still pretty much clear and I'm so grateful that roaccutane helped me to achieve the skin I always wanted.
What About the Side Effects?
I experienced quite a few side effects whilst taking roaccutane, the most common being the dryness of skin and lips. I'm pleased to say that this disappeared very quickly, although my skin is nowhere near as oily as it used to be pre-roaccutane and I'll never be able to snap out of the habit of applying lip balm.
The side effect I've suffered with the most and one that I'm only just getting back to normal is my hair. Sadly, my hair continued to thin and fall out and I'm not going to lie, it really got me down. It's not something you're warned about but after talking to people who have also taken roaccutane, it is actually a very common side effect (more so when you come off the drug).
Looking back I don't think I looked after my hair enough when I was on roaccutane, I was too busy enjoying the dryness and not having to wash it every other day. In hindsight, I'd definitely start using hair oils and conditioning treatments more; your hair needs its natural oils which roaccutane actually strips it of. Some of my favourites to use are Argan Oil and the Garnier Hair Food Hair Masks. My other top tips would be to let your hair dry naturally and avoid intensive heat styling, give your hair a break!
Did your Mental Health Suffer?
If you've done your research on roaccutane then you'll be no stranger to the reports and horror stories about the effect it can have on your mental health. Whilst on the drug, I noticed a slight shift in my mood but nothing too drastic - I was just more emotional than usual. However when I stopped taking it, I noticed a massive change.
I've spoken about anxiety many times on my blog and in recent years it's something I've taken control of. However since being on roaccutane, my anxiety and panic attacks have slowly crept back in. I had my first panic attack in years whilst on roaccutane and also in the weeks coming off it. I've noticed that my low moods are more frequent and I seem to get down and anxious about things that would never usually have bothered me. I've also been dealing with other mental health issues since coming off roaccutane, but I'm not quite ready to talk about that yet - hopefully some day soon!
So, coming off such an intense drug coupled with living through a global pandemic, I suppose you could say my mental health isn't the greatest at the moment but I'm working on it.
Progress Photos
Skin Treatments
After finishing your course of roaccutane, it's recommended that you wait 6-12 months before you start having any skin treatments such as facials, tattoos or piercings. After six months I slowly started to introduce face masks back into my skincare routine but I personally chose to wait 12 months before I went for any intense skin treatments as I wanted to make sure my skin had fully healed from taking roaccutane and wasn't as sensitive.
Dermaplane
What is dermaplaning? I hear you ask.
Well, it's basically a deep exfoliation treatment which removes dead skin cells, trapped dirt and peach fuzz. It's all done using an exfoliation blade and aims to leave you with a glowing complexion whilst also helping your skin to better absorb the products you use day to day and help with acne scarring.
For those of you who know me, you'll know that I've always wanted to have dermaplaning done and I was literally counting down the months before I could book in at a beauty clinic. One of the most important things when booking any skin treatment is to make sure you go to a skincare specialist who is fully qualified and who you trust will look after your skin . I had my treatment at Pretty Faces in Merseyside and I can't recommend them enough!
I booked in for the Dermaplane Cocoa Oxygen LED Facial which has all the benefits of a standard dermaplane treatment as well as helping to reduce breakouts. My treatment was done by Charlotte and it was basically painless, I didn't feel a thing and she explained everything that she was doing it.
As you can see from the above before and after photos, my skin was left with the most stunning glow. It felt incredibly soft, my breakouts were reduced and when I next wore make up, the application was absolutely flawless. At the end Charlotte showed me all the trapped dirt that had come off my skin and it shocked me how much crap had built up over time, even with a good skincare routine. My skin glow lasted for ages and I'm already so excited to book my next treatment!
The Prism Lab AHA Overnight Serum
As I've previously mentioned, when I finished my course of roaccutane I was left with a little bit of scarring on my cheeks. I've tried many things to help with this including some must-have products from The Body Shop as well as the dermaplane facial, but one of my favourite solutions came from The Prism Lab.
Their best-selling AHA Overnight Serum is suitable for all skin types and has so many skin benefits including improving moisture levels, promoting a healthy complexion and improving the appearance of damaged skin, redness and scarring. I used this for around one month and it really gave my skin a boost; my scarring started to fade, my skin felt cleansed and every morning I woke up with a glowing complexion. I should also note that it smells insane and a little bit goes a long way, even my Mum started using it!
Skin & Me
I know so many of us have been suffering with 'Mascne', a term we'd never heard of this time last year but one we seem to have given to breakouts caused by wearing masks. It's been the bane of so many lives, including mine, so when I heard about Skin and Me I thought I'd give them a try.
Skin and Me are an online dermatology service based in the UK. They listen to your skin concerns and then prescribe you with a personalised solution which you apply every night before bed. I've been using my Skin and Me personalised solution for six months to help with my breakouts and I think the above results speak for themselves. It's so easy to apply and fits in perfectly with my skincare routine. Plus the dermatology team are so helpful and friendly - they even recommend the perfect products to use with your new solution! It's very quickly become a skincare favourite and I recommend it to everyone.
So there we have it, my one year roaccutane update!
It's so important to remember that the journey to 'perfect skin' is a marathon, not a sprint and if you persevere then you can find a solution because guess what? Perfect skin doesn't exist. I've come to terms with the fact that my skin is never going to be perfect. I'm always going to get breakouts, I'm probably always going to have scarring and I'll never have the airbrushed look that I wanted for so long and that's okay, it doesn't change who am as a person.
Having acne is so beautiful and you should never feel ashamed.
Our imperfections make us beautiful.
If you ever have any questions about roaccutane then feel free to message me on Instagram or Twitter, my DM's are always open and I'm always willing to talk skincare!
I hope you're all keeping safe and well in these crazy times, June 21st is fast approaching!
Lots of Love,
Meg x
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