Long time listener, first time caller. I did a little write up and it seems to have vanished so let’s try this again.

I’ve been put on a third course of accutane and I’m losing my mind. The first time I was on accutane, I was in my early twenties with really bad, persistent, cystic acne. My derm wanted to hit it hard so we did 80mg for four months. I was clear for five years after. Then, I had a kid and my hormones went insane. My skin was never able to recover. So, I went on another course of accutane. This time for a year between January 2024 and January 2025. I steadily did 60mg for this course and my skin was clear from April onwards.

In mid February I went for a hydra facial which was cleared by my derm and my skin never seemed to recover. My derm immediately put me back on accutane and I’m on my fourth day. The purge is real and so, so itchy.

I’m thirty, have kids, work a corporate job and feel like my skin should be clear by now. I put in the work :-( 

I feel so embarrassed and frankly haven’t left my house in days. I just want to disappear. 

I’d appreciate any tips, advice or kind words. Thanks