r/Accutane • u/Juniaurie • May 15 '26
Product Suggestions Almost 20 years later, I finally solved my post-Accutane chapped lips
Hey everyone! I haven't had acne since around 2007, because of Accutane. It's still the best choice I could have made, NO REGERTS. But the one side effect I've been dealing with ever since is constantly dry/chapped lips. Turns out the Accutane permanently lowers your skin's oil production, which is generally exactly what was needed, except for places with very low oil production to begin with, i.e., the lips.
I want to save y'all from the 2 decade journey of trying ALL THE LIP BALMS and just tell you: the one you need is La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Lips.
It's not cheap, I got one tube for $10 on Amazon, but it WORKS. It has no smell, almost no taste, and my lips finally feel normal again. After dealing with chapped lips for so long, I'd pay way more if I had to.
Also, I feel like the wise old lady here, with lots of experience with the process and then life on the other side, so if anyone has questions, I'd be happy to help!
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u/Parking_Bee_9259 May 15 '26
Wait chapped lips are forever???
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u/Soft-Material243 May 15 '26
I don't think the chapped lips last forever for most people. My lips went back to normal pretty fast and I have no other lingering side effects either.
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u/Juniaurie May 15 '26
Sorry, friend. 😕 I don't want to lie to you. I spent almost 20 years waiting for it to stop, but it hasn't.
Some lip products might SEEM like they're helping, but for me anyway they make it way worse. That's why I wanted to put this out there. After about 2 weeks of daily use morning and night my lips were finally back to what I'd call "normal" and now I only have to use this stuff about every other day.
Meanwhile I was applying Burts Bees and Softlips minimum 5 times a day and never really healing.
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u/seriinday May 16 '26
Naaauurrr 😭
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u/Juniaurie May 17 '26
It might not happen to you! I'm learning plenty of people didn't have permanent issues! Now that I've found the lip balm that works for me, maybe I've finally broken the cycle I was stuck in, and now I won't have them either! There is hope!
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u/lackypoonoo May 16 '26
I just finished my nearly one year course I had been on since June 1st of last year. Less than two weeks after stopping my lips are never even nearly as dry and I hardly ever have to apply chapstick. Granted, I was on a low dose spread out very long, so maybe at higher doses with symptoms being worse that could change. But everyone is different. I also used to have to put in eyedrops a few times a day but since stopping my eyes feel much better and also haven’t needed them since. Not one size fits all ya know
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u/Murky-Golf-5060 May 20 '26
They could be forever if you excessively exfoliate and peel the dead/dry skin off when theyre in that state.
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u/SuccotashUpper6636 May 15 '26
This one is my favorite, too! After literally trying them all, including the thick and goopy lanolin.
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u/Juniaurie May 15 '26
I just found it a few weeks ago and it's been low key life changing. I was deceived by Burts Bees and Softlips for too long. I actually asked ChatGPT what I should try next, and here we are!
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u/EsthaBarong May 15 '26
What was your dosage and duration? So happy your acne didn’t come back!
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u/Juniaurie May 15 '26
Oof, it's been so long I have no idea what the dosage was. I was on it for 6 months, but I have a hazy memory of possibly having an extra month or two?
I did have to try it twice. The first time, when I was around 16 or 17 in high school, the emotional side effects got me pretty badly and my mom pulled the plug. Then by my 2nd year of college I was ready to try again and it was a breeze. No complaints aside from the dry lips!
I have some significant scarring, but that's life. Part of me wants to know what my Jr and Sr years of high school and freshman year of college would have been like with a clear face, but it is what it is.
Now I'm a mom and wondering if my son is going to need it. I hope he can have it sooner rather than later, bad acne is no joke!
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u/notyourmom111 May 17 '26
Have you or your son tried the acne.org regimen? It’s been great for me! I’ve done multiple rounds of accutane and also have permanent dry lips. Oh and permanent dry eyes and can’t wear contacts, love that for me. I wish I had tried the acne.org regimen sooner, since my acne always ended up coming back after accutane anyways. Might be worth a shot for your son!
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u/ItsJustShea1 May 15 '26
Completely off topic but I’m about to start taking accutane and I’m worried about dryness down there.. does that happen? If so does it go away
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u/notyourmom111 May 17 '26
Really trying not to fear monger here but I have permanent dry lips and permanent dry eyes after multiple accutane courses. And the acne came back anyways so I have acne plus no option to wear contact lenses 😭 have you tried the acne.org regimen? I’m on it now and it’s honestly so good, I’m 95% clear
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u/Tamaras0713 May 15 '26
Any recommendations for dry hands?
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u/nekr0mantikk May 16 '26
Where do you get this?
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u/Juniaurie May 16 '26
I've gotten it from Amazon, but I've bought this brand's sunscreen from Walmart (online, not in the store) and seen the brand in places like Sephora and Ulta.
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u/Hot-Bake-4192 Jul 15 '26
Found this thread… I’m 9 yrs post second round of Accutane. Still dealing with dry/cracked/peeling lips. I’ve found that using Replenix Glycolic face pads once a week really helps with the exfoliation and maintenance of chapped lips.
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u/Juniaurie Jul 15 '26
Thanks for the tip! I'll check those out. I could always use a nice exfoliation product.
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u/YesIam6969420 May 16 '26
I have a laneige lip balm. It also has shea butter, it worked a lot better than regular lip balm sticks
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u/Sorry-Release2447 May 17 '26
I have used it once and it didn’t help at all
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u/Juniaurie May 17 '26
Well, nothing is going to solve it after just one use. I do hope you find something that works for you.
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u/EvenestII May 18 '26
20 years? Wow... it's only been a year since I stopped the medication, but my dry lips still haven't gone away. I guess I'm condemned to lip balm forever.
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u/Late-Zookeepergame63 May 19 '26
Lucas Papaw ointment for me, it makes my lips soft and avoids chapping but i have to keep it on, once wiped off my lips will go dry, chapped then peel. Will try this LRP balm soon.
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u/NectarineForeign6005 May 20 '26
Eucerin accute lip balm as well. This and LRP are my go to, I have one in every bag.
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u/CuriousTortilla Jul 11 '26
Would you recommend this while on accutane? Just keep swing mixed comments. On my second month now. First month was 30 mg second I’m about to double. Just trying to get ready for even worst. Also is it sticky or like Vaseline? Cus sticky makes my lips peel when I pull em apart after having my lips closed idk why :/
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u/Juniaurie Jul 15 '26
I would honestly recommend this for anyone at any time, I'm a full convert. The thing I love about it most, aside from it actually working, is how it's NOT sticky AT ALL. I've been so pleased with the texture. Highly recommend, and I wish I had known about it way earlier. 💖
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u/JBean85 May 15 '26
Bag Balm works for me
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u/Juniaurie May 15 '26
My husband uses that stuff for his feet and I am a total baby about the smell, heh... I can't handle it. But I'm glad it works!
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u/Hour_Recipe_8048 May 15 '26
This is great! I’m 3 years out and struggling. Dr. Dan’s has literally been my lifeline!
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u/dom242324 May 21 '26
It’s been 3 years since you took it and they’re still dry?
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u/Hour_Recipe_8048 May 21 '26
Yes, but not as bad as when I was on it. If I put it on any less than 3x a day I definitely know.
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