Accutane cycle prior to wedding

I wouldn't start it just prior to the wedding as you don't know how your body will react.

Personally, I had a great experience. I took it at age 17 and it completely changed and cleared my skin. I have had no issues with acne in the 15 years since. Nothing else had worked up to that point. I had minimal side effects - dry lips and dry nose which led to a few nosebleeds. But nothing else. So, not all experiences are negative.

A friend of mine was on it for a while and I would not recommend it.

I took Accutane in high school and it did dry out my face but not too bad it was a last resort after years of trying everything. It was the only thing that helped my cystic acne. My mom was also on Accutane when she was younger for the same thing though they're much stricter now; two types of birth control, monthly blood drawn pregnancy test, and a monthly quiz about the side effects of the drug. Some doctors also require that you speak with a therapist before or during.

I've been accutane twice years ago, and it was a savior for me. I had severe acne on my face, chest, and back, and after 2 rounds, I literally have 0 breakouts. Like no zits.

BUT, when I was on it, my skin was horribly dry. I had to wrap my arms in bandages and Vaseline every night to keep them from bleeding. I'd give yourself about 6 months to let your skin bounce back after a cycle.

Did it in highschool. It was worth it then, I'm not sure if do it before a wedding just because the dry skin is so unpredictable, I didn't get nosebleeds, but I did dry out everywhere. Especially my face and chest. It's also really time consuming. Monthly blood tests and Drs appointments that have to be within a 5 day window of those blood tests.

But if you're really concerned about it, go to a dermatologist and maybe ask about other, less severe, options

ETA: I took it about 7-8 years ago. I think overall it was worth it. My acne is gone and has never come back, my face is overall less greasy. But as I said before, I would not do it Right before my wedding.

Proactiv was very effective back when I had issues in high school.

I was on it about 6-7 years ago. I had terrible cystic acne on my chest, back, neck, face. To the point where I couldn't wear any shirts that showed my chest, and I still have some scarring to this day. NOTHING helped, not in the slightest except for Accutane. I was hesitant but like many other prescription drugs out there, there can be side effects. So I went for it.

The first month was brutal, dry skin around my nose and lips. It was like my body was pushing out anything that was in my pores, as nasty as that sounds. After that it was totally fine. My Dr. prescribed 6 months and I ended up quitting at 5 because I started having some minor back pain, which is also a side effect. To me, having my blood drawn is NBD, I was already on the pill and my doc said that condoms counted as the 2nd form of BC. It can also cause some "air head" like symptoms and I do recall feeling that way a few times.

Everyone's experience is different. The worst part for me was not being able to get waxed during or for 6 months after! The only time I have had a bad break out since was last summer when I got back on the pill after about a year off.

I just thought I would share my experience

Hi Pszab,

Accutane is a very harsh drug. Works miracles though. My patients have had totally variable side effects from just some chapped lips to severe dryness, depression, etc. After it is used, acne is usually cleared up for good (about 80%). With your wedding still 8-9 months away (regular dose is usually 6 months), it could be an option for you to try before hand. Dr's won't necessarily prescribe it though unless every other option has been attempted and unsuccessful (at least in Canada). Let me know if you have any questions!

I took it years ago. Had dry, cracked, bleeding lips. Got eczema on my arms and was horribly sun sensitive. Another thing to consider is that you CAN NOT WAX while on it. I forgot about that and got my eyebrows waxed and it ripped skin off with the hair. Super painful.

I took it my freshman year of high school. The good news is that it works. But just like everyone else has said, it has sooooooo many side effects it almost makes it not worth it. 13 years later and I still can't stay in the sun for more than 10 minutes without getting fried. Plus, you have to be on 2 different forms of birth control because it causes severe birth defects, and I definitely wouldn't recommend starting new birth control right before your wedding. I personally have a healthy 2 year old, but there are plenty of women who have taken it and had babies with defects even years later. I'm with everyone else warning you against this.

I work for a dermatologist. We regularly see accutane patients and for the first month or so, symptoms get visibly worse before they get better. It's a marathon, not a sprint -PLEASE don't take it right before your wedding. If you get a bad, painful breakout you can always get a cortisone shot!!

My cousin was on it for a long time, and my aunt thinks it destroyed her immune system. She has been chronically sick her entire adult life. Thankfully, it's never been serious illnesses, but we think it has definitely affected her. I wouldn't recommend it as a quick fix.

Ugh I took it my last year of high school. The process was horrid and I was miserable the whole time with all the check up visits and the fact I had a boyfriend at the time required monthly pregnancy tests. In the end it was worth it but now I don't know if it's worn off or if it had a limited time frame but I'm starting to break out again. My suggestion is do your research first, it was worth it at first but not in kind of irritated I wasted all that time only to break out again.

I don't know if I would do it, especially if you want to be tan or are going somewhere tropical for your honeymoon.

I took accutane twice in HS and LOVED it but I had severe acne. I had to get evaled to make sure I wasn't depressed, take birth control and get pregnancy tested frequently, and have my blood tested to make sure my kidneys weren't responding negatively. Unless you have severe, severe acne it isn't worth it. It totally dries you out (which I loved for my hair) and makes you extremely sensitive to the sun.

Have you talked to a dermatologist?

ETA: in case someone asks: I know you don't usually have to take multiple rounds of it but my Dermatologist back then said that it was because the first round I took I was so young, 13 or 14 I think, that's why I had to take again when I was like 17.

I've had awful cystic acne around my jaw since puberty, they always pop up when I have PMS and then stay for at least 2 weeks. With lots of blackheads and red bumps in between. After being on antibiotics for 5+ years they just stopped working and derm tried to talk me into Accutane. I pretty much just refused because the psychological side effects can be brutal of you're prone to depression. I went on birth control instead and it has been MAGIC. Clearly mine was mostly hormonal. No more cysts, and hardly any red bumps. Maybe 2-3 with PMS.

Are you on BC??

ETA: Damn autocorrect!!

I'm a nurse, and what I know about accutane it's really intense. The side effects are HORRIBLE. And it takes months before any real improvement is shown and it always get worse before it gets better.

I wouldn't risk it. Just like I wouldn't do a chemical peel or microdermabrasion before the wedding either.

I hated taking accutane! Horrible side effects I'm still recovering from. It helps with acne, but at what cost?