smart! by K.Rae

Read and comment on this article at my new site, smartbykrae.com!

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been on Accutane in the past. The decision to start the medication was difficult for me, so I thought I’d write something to benefit those currently facing the same decision. See part one here.

If your acne’s bad enough for you to be considering Accutane, then I’m sure you have a well-established acne-fighting regime. And now, you’re going to be throwing that regime down the garbage.

First off, while on Accutane, you can’t be putting all the usual acne treatments on your skin: no AHA’s, no BHA’s (salicylic acid), no retinoids, no benzoyl peroxide. Nothing.

Second, your skin will be so dry, you’ll be spending all your free time moisturizing.

So, what should you be using then?

For moisture, I wholeheartedly recommend jojoba oil for day and Aquaphor for night. And yes, your skin will be so dry that you’ll want to put straight oil and petroleum on your skin.

They won’t make you break out any more than you would be otherwise, I promise. Aquaphor’s for night, because it just sits on your skin and acts as a barrier. It’s very greasy and unpleasant, but nothing works better for maintaining skin moisture levels. Jojoba oil can be used during the day, just apply it lightly and give it time to absorb before make-up.

I’ll admit, I occasionally broke the “no acne treatment” rule while on Accutane. Once in a while, there’s going to be a huge, huge zit that you just need to put something on.

The Boscia Willow Bark Breakout Treatment could be excellent for these days. Confession: I haven’t tried this yet, but I’ve been so impressed with Boscia’s other acne products that I feel comfortable recommending it. I think I might actually go and pick this up tomorrow, then write out a full review.

I also suggest using nasal spray to prevent nosebleeds. Look for one without preservatives, which can be irritating. Or, you could try a neti pot:

It’s Oprah-approved, which means it must be good! But seriously, I know people who think their neti pot is the greatest thing ever.

So what should you use to wash your face? I absolutely do not recommend Cetaphil. I dislike Cetaphil, to the point that I might eventually write a post on exactly why. Here’s an excerpt: the “Gentle Cleanser” contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a detergent which, according to The Journal of the American College of Toxicology, is used as an irritant in clinical studies. Why would you ever put that on your face, let alone when you’re on Accutane? I don’t even use shampoos with SLS anymore. Cetaphil also contains parabens, a type of preservative which have been loosely linked with cancer and are highly controversial. I noticed a huge difference in my skin when I started avoiding products with any type of preservative, and it’s definitely an approach I recommend if you’re fighting persistent acne.

When I was on Accutane, I think I was using Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, which I also don’t recommend since it contains menthol, another mildly irritating, albeit otherwise harmless, ingredient.

I have heard good things about Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple, although I’ve never used it.

Going along with my Boscia obsession, the Soothing Cleansing Cream could work well.

I can give you hundreds of recommendations for moisturizers, cleansers, whatevers, but there is one piece of advice you absolutely must follow: drink lots and lots of water! Cases! Buy a good water bottle that won’t leach chemicals (this site has tons of options at all price points). Believe me, you’ll use it so much, the investment will totally be worth it. If you’re a high school student, and your school is crazy like mine was, and won’t let you carry around a water bottle, try to get an exemption. It’s imperative that you stay well-hydrated while on Accutane.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! You can contact me either through the link on the sidebar or by leaving a comment.

Related:
Beautiful Girls
Just Add Water
Boscia Clear Complexion Kit