Accutane cycle prior to wedding

I would not do it. You couldn't pay me to take Accutane.

Look up the history of it. It requires serious birth control, usually at least two forms, monthly pregnancy and blood tests, and they're not 100% sure that it doesn't permanently affect the eggs in women, raising lifetime birth defect rates. There have been cases of people needing organ transplants due to this drug.

Definitely get more information, because it is a HUGE decision to make.

ETA: my dermatologist suggested this to me when I was 13 (13!!!) due to horrible hormonal cystic acne, after a year on daily antibiotics and topicals not working. I refused it when he told me I'd have to go on the pill And the shot even though I wasn't even remotely interested in guys yet, and hadn't even started my period!! Now, nope, nope.

I've never used it but I've heard of the effects that @mna listed. If you don't want to share, then I understand but I'm curious as to why you'd like to start before your wedding. Is it for photos?

FH took accutane when he was younger. Horrible side effects. I would not try it right now

A teacher in high school told our class about it that her son was on it and it made his acne terribly worse. She said it literally makes everything on the inside come on the outside.

Have you tried all your other options? I think I've finally found a good combination for my acne (topical and antibiotic) but I would risk it so close to your wedding. Some people get bad side effects and it makes their acne worse before it gets better.

My sister had really severe side effects from accutane. Everything from blistering from ten minutes in the sun to struggling with depression. My dermatologist suggested it several times in the year leading up to our wedding and I flat out refused each time. Eventually we found a combination of gels and medication that worked for me without the side effects of accutane.

I did have a lady give me a new tip to try for my cystic acne, which I can only assume is what you're dealing with, OP. A dermatologist doesn't usually prescribe it except in EXTREME cases, and usually for cystic acne because it can scar.

Try Nizoral shampoo. From what she told me it has been the only thing that has helped her cystic acne. I haven't tried it yet, but I fully intend to get some the next trip I make to the store. At least with it, if it makes it worse you can just stop, and you won't have possibly life-threatening side effects.

FH took accutane back in the day. He said his face was so so dry 24/7 like he was constantly putting lotion on. I had bad acne too but my dermatologist just put me on an antibiotic and a prescription face cream. I know antibiotics long term are not good so I think I was on them for about a year. I rarely get breakouts now and I just use cetaphil twice a day.

I took Accutane when I was 14 and have had nearly perfect skin since. But there is no way I would start it right before a wedding. It made my skin scaly and dry and I couldn't be in the sun.

What kind of acne are you dealing with? What else have you tried?

Accutane is HARDCORE stuff. It should be a last resort for serious, SEVERE, painful acne with large, deep cysts and nodules.

One of my college roommates went on Accutane. It worked for her, but it dried out her skin so much. She was putting vaseline on her lips constantly and had to do monthly blood and pregnancy tests, plus two methods of birth control. Each pill had a figure of a baby with a cone-shaped head on the blister that it was in to remind you not to get pregnant. You can't donate blood while on it because of the side effects, even from whatever amount gets in your bloodstream.

I am on it right now! It's great. My skin is clearing up! Highly recommend except that the qualification program (IPledge) is dreadful because every month is blood tests, see doc and make a "pledge" online to maintain two forms of bc and answer questions about it to avoid pregnancy.

My lips get very chapped, however, so I use Aquafor. It is true about the conehead baby on the packaging (not the pills) - really disgusting.

All said? Worth it.

Eta: My cysts cleared up in 4mos. You could have time to do it before the wedding.

I've been recommended for it then it was outlawed for a bit from the USA and recently I've been considering again. Although people may not consider my acne serious, I constantly have 10/20 zits just on my face. This doesn't include the pimples on my neck, chest and back. My mom almost went on it but didn't because she wanted to conceive at the time. I would do it if I was given the chance. My neighbor did it and it worked fantastic for her. She said it would always get worse on accutane before it got better but I'm not sure. I would do it if I could. But not before my wedding!

Eta: added last sentence

A woman I work with took it. Her lips, face and hands were soooooo dry. Her lips were always bleeding

I developed a stomach issue (very very sensitive)from taking it when I was younger... the problems comtinue today... apparently this is a very common side effect... I don't recommend it to anyone

I took my last dose last week. I stopped the treatment early because my skin tone is a bit uneven now, but my acne is gone. I also want to start trying to conceive next month. I hope there are no lingering side effects. It's my understanding that the washout takes 30 days.

I had acne for years and honestly the best thing I have ever used is just tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar. Put a small amount of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and drink it through a straw. The straw is important because of the acidity breaking down the enamel on your teeth or something. And I took tea tree oil and put it right on any breakouts

@OGAlecia: yest, first time

i always suffered from acne, as Im getting older it appears to be getting worse and im just getting sick of dealing with it and it ruining my skin, nothing has really worked, i have thought about doing it in the past as well, but my acne seems to be bipolar where one day its not too bad and another it gets worse. but recently i have been breaking out severely, where my makeup is not doing a good job covering as it did before. my dream would be to have clear skin not only for my wedding but also for life. i feel so self conscious just talking to people, i try not to get too close so they dont stare at my acne.

right not i have cysts all along my chin, i never had so many and some of them are very painful. i also noticed that im starting to develop those indentations in my skin from the scarring. in the past i tried antibiotics, creams, and some other pills.

i appreciate all of the advice everyone gave, but when some of you say "when i was younger and had side effects", how long ago was that if i may ask? im not sure if advances have been made in the drugs and if it has improved, i also am aware of the side effects and that one thing thats keeping me away from it.

I had a bf in high school who took acutane and whoa his face and lips were super chapped and his nose bled on my prom dress :-( I knew someone who had horrible acne and she started getting aloe injections and it helped get rid of her acne. I also know my cousin had bad acne and started tanning and it helped. It's important to consider changing your pillow case often, wiping your phone before talking with it, drinking tons of water, and eating healthier foods.

OP: it hasn't improved, unfortunately. They took it off the market for awhile, but eventually put it back on because people demanded it, so they made the regulations even more strict.

It's not a safe drug at all. I have the same issues as you do with cystic acne all along my jawline, and I won't touch Accutane. There are way too many potentially lethal side effects for me to even consider it.