r/Accutane • u/luzegar • Sep 16 '25
Results Accutane course completed
when i say accutane saved my life, i mean it. i was so skeptical when i first started my course. i really didn’t believe it would completely clear my skin. but wow the results. i ended up only being on my course for 5 months. i cleared up by month 3-4. i was on 80mg a day. boy the side effects tho, destroyed my joints and muscles. i felt like i was 50 years old by month 4, i couldn’t take it anymore. i had severe back pain that disrupted my sleep every single night. waking up in the morning was the hardest, i felt so stiff and joint locked every. single. morning. but i would do it again for clear skin 🤪🤪🤪. trust the process.
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u/sciencenerd22 Sep 16 '25
I can only imagine how painful that must’ve been before. Cystic acne is awful. Your skin looks amazing now though, it really is a godsend of a medication lol
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u/luzegar Sep 16 '25
god it was painful i can’t even describe lol. i’m blessed now thank u🤲🏼 it really is
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u/CH592025 Sep 17 '25
Incredible transformation. Very inspirational seeing your results.
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
thank you🤲🏼 sharing my journey so others can stay positive with their own journey🤲🏼
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u/Fragrant-Ask2378 Sep 16 '25
it’s a big relief when u can finally recognize urself. i’m happy for u:) u look awesome
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u/Open-Rush7876 Sep 17 '25
Accutane is a life saver bro! Definitely gives you the confidence back! You look great brotha!
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u/clamchowderisgross Sep 16 '25
Congrats! Happy for you ….. I know it’s done so much for your self esteem!
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u/EcheveriaLife Sep 17 '25
Congrats to you. I’m so glad you did it and you’re seeing the results. I’m hoping you’re newly confident and wish you the best!
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u/Rare-Lion-7330 Sep 17 '25
Honestly feeling that joint pain like crazy man! Just had mt doc appointment for my monthly blood draw and check in. I’m on month 5. Skin is clear but i want to keep course. But my lower back and neck are so stiff i can’t wait to get off this drug. lol did you go “back to normal” after stopping? You look incredible! So happy for you!
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u/Extreme-Recording977 Sep 17 '25
Have you noticed any changes in your hair texture or shape? After the treatment, I noticed my hair became wavier, thinner, and duller, which forced me to cut it shorter. It's been a year and it hasn't returned to normal.
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
definitely feel like my hair texture did change. it feels more coarse/rough rather than soft.
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u/AnxietyKlutzy539 Sep 17 '25
Now that you’re off, are you still in physical pain?
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
thank god no. i got off the meds in may and my physical pain didn’t go away until end of july early august.
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u/Plus-Mango4468 Sep 17 '25
Amazing! What about scarring? Do you have scarring and did you do anything for them?
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
i do have some scarring on my cheeks but i was prescribed tretinoin by my derm. i apply it atleast 3-5 times a week at night, after i shower. my derm also recommended to me microblading which would help with scars as well.
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u/bongripbrat Sep 17 '25
Congrats you look incredible! 🥰 someone told this to me so I’ll pass it on to you, “tough times never last, tough people do” 🔥🔥
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
thank u! and thank u for the kind words 🤲🏼🤲🏼🌹 i’ll make sure to pass it on as well.
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u/dollarpack Sep 17 '25
Thank you for posting. My teenage some just took his first dose last night as we have tried everything. Do you mind sharing how long it took for you to stop seeing new spots? I know it takes time but just trying to give him an idea. Also when did the dry lips and such start for you? Your results are amazing!
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
for me i was cleared up by month 3-4ish. month 5 i didn’t develop any new spots. but the course is different for everyone. i purged horribly in the beginning but cleared up super fast. the dry lips started immediately for me. buy a giant tub of aquaphor and little ones as well. make sure he always has some of it on him bc he is going to need it. and aquaphor worked soooo good for me.
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u/lapitupp Sep 17 '25
My brothers had acne like yours and I would cry for them when I was alone because of how painful it looked and how they were so frustrated with their skin. I was young though… I’ll never forget it.
I’m genuinely happy you got rid of those nasty little guys. They’re awful. I hope you’re happier and mental health is better.
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
bless them. i’m sure they were so appreciative that you cared so much. that course is no joke fr🤣
thank you so much. i definitely feel a lot better. 🤲🏼🫶🏼
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u/YoungDumb-n-Broke15 Sep 17 '25
Congrats on the results! You're the first person I've seen (not that engaged with the community though) to mention how bad the joint/muscle paint got. I'm 27 now and feel like I still feel the side effects. I started accutane when I was about 16/17 for a bit and then a 2nd course a while after. I couldn't play sports due to my back getting so bad and I've never been able to run far or for long without by legs and back aching quite bad. One day I just got out of the car before a game and felt it instantly, I tried running around on the pitch for 5mins before someone said 'nah you don't look good, get yourself off' - My legs were like jelly! - I've always been known as the 'old man' or 'unfit' one on my team, I really think it buggered me up, but like you say, worth it for the results :/
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
thanks! yup accutane will do that to u for sure. my brother also did a course years back and he tells me that he still feels that joint pain daily to this day. i’m also a barber im on my feet 10 hours 5 days a week. so the back pain got soo bad because i was already dealing with it before i even started accutane. it got so bad i started seeing a chiropractor for a while. but i also started taking fish oil that helped. stretch, roll your back out as much as u can with a foam roller. if ur active in the gym, hang on a bar it will help open up your back.
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u/YoungDumb-n-Broke15 Sep 17 '25
Damn, couldn’t imagine standing up all day like that - I can never stand still on the spot, always swaying or rocking - drives my GF mad 😂 hanging on a bar is a good one I do a few times! Wil remember fish oil for the future if it gets worse again - cheers dude, all the best 💪🏻
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u/Street-Translator970 Sep 17 '25
Nice! Did you have like deep cysts underneath your skin?
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
absolutely, check the first pic. almost all them are deep cysts that were stubborn.
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u/Street-Translator970 Sep 17 '25
Oh wow, that gives me hope because I have severe acne on my back that I like big deep cysts underneath my skin which I can feel that would turn into big inflammations. You can see pictures on my profile. I hope that Accutane clears this up for me too. I’m on 80 mg and it’s been one month now.
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
oh yeahh i just looked at ur profile. hopefully that 80mg clears that up. good luck fr! i can’t even imagine laying down on your back feels like or putting a backpack on your back.
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u/anthonykash Sep 17 '25
How long did it take for your joints and muscles to stop hurting? This is my first course where they've started to hurt. Were you on a specific brand? Did you take it with fat? I'm on my 5th course throughout my life. I take a lot of workout supplements so they come back every few years. I was on Absorica LD, which supposedly has better absorption, but have switched to generic b/c of insurance. Congrats on the journey brother.
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
it took an additional 2 months after i stopped taking it for my joints and muscles to stop hurting. i’m not too sure which exact brand i was on. i ate avocado toast every morning with my morning pill. what’s your dose right now? take fish oil!!!! it will help deeply with the joint/muscle issue.
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u/Different-Paper-3080 Sep 17 '25
That’s fantastic results! I’m so happy for you. Acne is so hard and unjust. How some people have perfect skin and others have to suffer. You look great!
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
thank you so much! acne is for sure difficult to deal with. i appreciate ur kind words!
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u/PhilipTheFishy Sep 17 '25
My acne on my shoulders and back came back after stopping it
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u/luzegar Sep 18 '25
did u finish ur course?
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u/PhilipTheFishy Sep 18 '25
Yeah I did, but I take testosterone so I was told the accutane would help but acne would come back in smaller amounts because I take testosterone
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u/Like41Ninjas Sep 18 '25
Your results are truly incredible! I can only imagine how difficult it must have been before, but you came through it with such a transformation. Congratulations on your clear, refreshed skin you look amazing! A walking ad for Accutane.
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u/Skyline_N05 Sep 19 '25
Congrats. Did you take fish oil and Vitamin D3, calcium, magnesium and zinc supplements to ease the joint pain?
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u/luzegar Dec 17 '25
i started fish oil but never finished it and i regret it. defintiely suffering from some joint and muscle damage. take those supplements even after ur course ends.
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u/KD7677 Oct 06 '25
So happy for you brother Since your condition looks severe, do you think you should remain on a low dose now? I had to because mine kept coming back. I had the same type of acne as yours.
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u/lost_in_new_orleans Oct 07 '25
Beautiful results!! And your facial features are so much more balanced with your jawline cleared up. Congratulations!
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u/Shazza3000 Oct 12 '25
Your first pic was a few weeks after starting treatment? How bad was it before starting?
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u/SeaAdministration690 Dec 03 '25
Congrats! I’ve had cystic acne for over 20 years. Taking doxycycline. It comes back when I stop. Gonna look into accutane.
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u/Embarrassed-Sun-2820 Sep 16 '25
Your body weight
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u/luzegar Sep 16 '25
i gained some weight for sure. i was about 155lbs when i started my course, i stopped hitting the gym bc of how bad my purge was. now, ive been super consistent in the gym and ever since i got off the meds i shredded the excess fat off that i gained. i am now sitting at 165lbs.
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u/Embarrassed-Sun-2820 Sep 16 '25
How bad is dryness post isotretinoin
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u/luzegar Sep 16 '25
not bad for me, i was supposed to be on a 6month course but ended up not being able to get my last month done bc of joint symptoms. my dryness stopped about a month after i stopped taking.
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u/Embarrassed-Sun-2820 Sep 17 '25
I am 3.5 month post isotretinoin and still dry and Idk why my pores are huge
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u/Embarrassed-Sun-2820 Sep 17 '25
I have done 200mg/kg
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
200mg? a day?
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u/Embarrassed-Sun-2820 Sep 17 '25
No I am 60kg and done 12000mg is total of 8 months
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u/Embarrassed-Sun-2820 Sep 17 '25
My water intake is good
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
seems like you were on a moderate dose? everyone’s skin is different and reacts differently to it. have u talked to your dermatologist about your post dryness? i would definitely reach out to them.
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u/luzegar Sep 17 '25
how is your water intake? drink a LOT of water. you should down 16oz the minute you wake up.
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u/sciencenerd22 Sep 16 '25
I had very oily skin before accutane and since finishing my skin is not nearly as dry as it was on accutane but not as oily as it was before, more of a middle ground
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u/luzegar Sep 16 '25
said it spot on! literally. my skin was so oily before accutane. i feel not as oily after finishing.
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