Despite the known possible side effects of Accutane—including depression, vision impairment, and pregnancy defects—thousands of women continue to take the skin-clearing drug daily. And it’s easy to see why—acne affects 50 million Americans every year, with confidence-crushing effects.
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For one Reddit user (pointed out by Marie Claire), self-esteem was the biggest reason to try out Accutane. “After struggling with acne and confidence issues for as long as I can remember, my dermatologist put me on a 40mg Accutane course for 7 months,” writes /Lisalisa96 on a Reddit post. Along with her comment, /Lisalisa96 posted a side-by-side picture of her skin before and after Accutane, and the results are astounding.
Image courtesy of Reddit/Lisalisa96
Despite some commenter speculation on whether she’s wearing makeup in her after photo, /Lisalisa96 clears up the confusion, saying, “In the second picture I am wearing a 50+ sunscreen, it has light coverage and it’s from a Greek company called Frezyderm.”
Additionally, /Lisalisa96 was lucky enough to evade experiencing the more extreme side effects that are sometimes associated with the drug, and instead only felt minor changes in her body. “I definitely experienced some intense skin/lip dryness, some headaches and fatigue, but that was pretty much about it!” she explains in her post. “I realize that everyone is different and medication this harsh will affect everyone differently, yet, I strongly believe more positive Accutane experiences need to be heard.”
/Lisalisa96’s honestly is refreshing, and her courage to share her before and after pictures will hopefully encourage others to talk to their dermatologists about whether Accutane is right for them. After all, since side effects can be drastic, it’s important to do your research before starting Accutane, and speaking to your derm about it is certainly a good first step.
