It has been almost exactly 7 years since I started my 6-month Accutane treatment in May of 2015 and over 6 years since I posted my Accutane Survival Tips. A lot has changed with my skin since the end of my treatment and I want to share with all of you where my skin is at today.
Something that I was sold when I went on Accutane was that I would not have acne ever again once I completed the 6 months on the medicine. This has proved to be 100000% not true.
In 2017, about a year or so after finishing my treatment, my acne came back. It was certainly not as intense and painful as it had been prior to Accutane, but after being sold an acne-free life, I wanted an acne-free life. I spiraled back into over-drying and harsh skincare routines – salicylic acid washes, benzoyl peroxide spot treatments, topical Tretinoin, you name it. I managed to clear my skin up enough to not need to run back to my Dermatologist and demand the clear skin I was promised.
Fast forward to January of 2019, I could not handle the breakouts and peeling flaky skin any longer. I put the brakes on all of my topicals and after speaking to my doctors (dermatologist and ob-gyn) we decided the pill would be our best chance of getting my acne back under control.
My skin cleared up very quickly while on the pill which cemented the suspicion that my breakouts were hormonal all along, but the clear skin came at a heavy price – almost daily migraines and terrible mood swings.
After 2 years of trying different birth controls to mitigate the migraines and mood swings, I decided to opt-out of hormonal birth control altogether. My skin luckily did not react too much to coming off the pill. I researched a ton before I stopped taking it and started incorporating new supplements into my daily routine to try to eliminate any hormonal acne flare-ups that would result from getting off of the pill.
Supplements I take :
- Pantothenic Acid – also called vitamin B₅. The body needs Pantothenic acid to synthesize coenzyme-A which is essential for fatty acid metabolism.
- DIM – also called Diindolylmethane. Helps the body maintain healthy estrogen levels
- Magnesium – Is great for literally everything. I’m currently using Thorne’s Magneisum Biglycinate powder.
- Probiotic – Because I’m convinced a healthy gut is the key to good overall health. My favorite is Just Thrive Probiotic & Antioxidant
As far as my skincare goes, I started to really focus my routine on 3 things : chemical exfoliants, anti-aging ingredients, & sunscreen.
I know you didn’t hear “acne treatment” in any of those things and that’s honestly because I never had any luck with skincare that was marketed as an “acne treatment”. Plus the harsh products that treat acne didn’t allow me to be consistent with any one product because I was constantly battling the dry, irritated, flaky aftermath of the acne products. My skincare routine now is kind to my skin and gentle enough so that I can do the same thing every morning and every night.
My Morning Skincare Routine
- The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution
- SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
- CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
- CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 or Biore UV Watery Essence
My Night Skincare Routine
- On Nights I’m Using Tretinoin
- A cleansing oil if I’m wearing makeup
- CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
- CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion (ON WET SKIN)
- SUNDAY RILEY Auto Correct Eye Cream
- Tretinoin
- Weleda Skin Food Ultra-Rich Cream
- On Nights I’m Not Using Tretinoin
- A cleansing oil if I’m wearing makeup
- CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
- SUNDAY RILEY Auto Correct Eye Cream
- Weleda Skin Food Ultra-Rich Cream or Aquaphor (a few nights a week on non-tretinoin nights I will slug with aquaphor)
I really feel like my skin is the best it has ever been thanks to this routine. It took me a few years to find my ride-or-die products, but now that I’ve found them I don’t mix it up too much. I occasionally try a new serum, eye cream, or face mask, but these are my go-tos.
Love always,
*Disclaimer – I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. Please consult with a licensed health professional.
