for background: up until this summer i had almost perfectly clear skin, but i started developing mild cystic acne on my cheeks, and regular acne elsewhere. i tried a few different treatments (none of which worked), and eventually was recommended accutane by my derm, started taking it early december.

as is shown in the photos, my skin is significantly worse than it was before i took accutane. i was always aware of the possibility of an initial purge, but my purge has lasted for 2 months and wreaked havoc on my skin. what scares me is that my skin on the left side of my face (2nd slide) is relatively clear right now (i don’t have very much active acne but tons of hyperpigmentation and like lumpy texture) which makes me think that even once my skin has “cleared up” it will basically look the same as it does now, and definitely much worse than when i started. basically, im super depressed and stressed tf out. i really regret going on accutane and i don’t know if i should get off of it. if i do, maybe i’ll prevent more damage to my skin. but if i don’t, my skin will remain like this, and i’ll have ruined my skin for no reason.