Hello, my friends! It’s been a while since I’ve written an update on my second course of accutane. I didn’t want to bore you with the same-old updates, so I thought it’d be best to wait a few months.
Last time, I let you know that my skin was doing way better (goodbye, cystic acne) and that my mental health had improved significantly. I also let you know that I’d moved providers from AcneClear (which I would not recommend) to SkinDoc (which I would absolutely recommend).
So, what’s new? Let’s jump in 🙂
My dosage
I’ve been on 60mg for the past couple of months now – previously, I was on 40mg. Dr. Sree at SkinDoc suggested the increase because I was still dealing with some stubborn closed comedones that just wouldn’t shift, even after around eight months on Accutane.
This is the same dose I was on during my first round of treatment with the NHS, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. The side effects (which I’ll chat about next) have definitely stepped up a bit – but honestly, I still feel like it’s worth it.
My side effects
I’ve still got the expected accutane side effects like dry skin (especially on my arms), redness, dry-feeling eyes, tiredness and increased thirst. But since going up to 60mg, I’ve started to feel lower back pain and joint pain coming on, and the tiredness is much worse.
I imagine this is what I’ll feel like in 20 or 30 years, to be honest. I feel stiff when I get up from sitting down, I get way worse DOMs from the gym (but I refuse to give up strength training, it keeps me sane) and, weirdly, my back is worse during the night. It’s all good, though, as I know it’ll ease off once I go down to a lower dose.
My results
Okay, good news here. The last two weeks of March were the first time I didn’t have a single bump on my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been free of cystic acne for months – and if you’d seen me in person recently, you’d probably have thought I was completely acne-free.
But if you ran your fingers over my skin, you’d still feel a scattering of tiny bumps, also known as closed comedones. These weren’t particularly noticeable to others, but Dr. Sree was keen that we wouldn’t stop Accutane until they’d cleared.
Why? Because small comedones like these are basically the building blocks of inflamed acne – most start out this way, even if you don’t see them. So, making sure they’re gone before I finish my course should help reduce the chances of my cystic/inflamed acne coming back.
Also, I have BDD, which is a form of OCD, so the feeling and sensation of those bumps while washing my face really bothered me. They were a huge trigger for a picking-sesh, so I’m honestly so relieved they’ve finally gone.
Why I’ve been on accutane for so long
You might be thinking: woah, you’ve been on Accutane for a long time. And it’s true! I’ve been on this course for almost a year now – and honestly, I’m really pleased about that.
Some research suggests both the length of treatment and the cumulative dose can play a role in how likely acne is to come back. While the traditional route aims for a cumulative dose of around 120–150mg per kg of body weight, some dermatologists now lean towards longer courses – especially for people with persistent acne – to help reduce the risk of relapse. There’s even evidence that continuing treatment after the skin looks clear can help results last longer, by tackling microcomedones and low-level inflammation that aren’t always visible on the surface.
Of course, you’ll always get the Insta trolls shouting that ‘accutane is death’ or something equally dramatic – but for me, being acne-free has genuinely changed my life. It wasn’t just a skin thing; I’d dealt with acne for over 15 years, and it massively affected my mental health and self-esteem. So yeah, I’ll happily take a few short-term side effects in exchange for even a couple of years’ relief.
All medications come with potential side effects – so why is it only acne sufferers who get guilt-tripped for taking them? For so many of us, treatment like this isn’t just about clear skin – it’s about quality of life, confidence and finally being able to focus on everything else.
So, what’s next?
Now that I’m finally seeing full clearance, I suspect Dr. Sree will recommend moving me onto a long-term maintenance dose. I’m not totally sure what that’ll look like yet, but I believe it’s around 10mg a day or every other day – super low, barely any side effects (if any), but enough to help keep me clear.
Honestly? I’d happily stay on that forever. Not to repeat myself too much, but with BDD and a long-standing history of low confidence tied to my skin, I’m more than ready to leave the acne chapter behind. I feel like I’ve earned that peace, and tbh, don’t want to let it go.
The only catch is that you can’t take Accutane if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. And understandably, that tends to spark a lot of conversations about timelines, family and future plans – sometimes without much thought for where I’m at mentally. I know those comments usually come from a place of love, but it can be hard when people focus on what’s next without checking in on how I’m doing right now.
Has anyone else felt like once you hit your 30s, there’s this weird shift where people suddenly treat you like a ticking clock – like your main purpose is to become a breeding machine? Honestly, that can feel really dismissive when you’re still in the thick of working on your own mental health, but I suppose that’s just life. Ha.
We do want kids at some point in the next few years, but right now, that’s not an immediate priority because for me, protecting my mental health is essential. After all, future me can’t show up as the best mum possible if she’s experiencing the same struggles all over again.
So yes, for now, at least for the next few months, I’ll be moving onto a maintenance dose. I’m so looking forward to a few months without the side-effects of high-dose accutane, and without the worry of my acne coming back full force.
It’s nice being in a place where acne doesn’t take up so much of my brain space. And honestly, that feels pretty amazing 🙂 So for now, I’ll leave it there. Sending you all SO much love!
2 responses to “Accutane eight to eleven month update: Results, side effects & what’s next”
I definitely love your posts! I’ve recently started with dercutane due to same reasons as you. Your blog gives me patience, strength and confidence for the day when I’ll be acne-free.
Thanks you so much!
Accutane eight to eleven month update
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