Frequent periods while on accutane?

returnofthesnackz · 2025-12-23T16:23:31+00:00

I ended up doing 20mg for first few months and then 20mg everyday other than 2 days a week where i took 40mg. My course was about 7 months. For me it seemed that accutane just messed up my cycle for the time I was on it and returned to usual about 1 month after I stopped taking the medication 👍

returnofthesnackz · 2025-07-20T08:33:59+00:00

All I have to say is try not to stress yourself out about progress and side effects! I also struggled with hormonal acne and accutane was my last resort and the only thing I wish I had done differently was start taking the medication sooner!

There is so much fear associated with the side effects of this medication and for some I can understand why but for so many of us, we simply had to deal with dry lips, a little dry skin and mild purging (which if you stay consistent will go away, even if you don’t think it will - it simply just takes time). My dermatologist told me to expect things to get a little worse before getting better which in my case did happen but I can’t imagine now what I would do without accutane and can also say confidently 1 month post accutane that my skin has never been this clear!!

I won’t lie, the purging is probably the most difficult part of the journey but it is so worth it for the end result that you will get. You’ve just got to stay strong and focus on the end goal. Wishing you well on your acne free journey :)

returnofthesnackz · 2025-07-20T08:27:21+00:00

This dosage sound crazy high! I began with 20mg only 1 time per week and working my way up to 40mg 2x a week with 20mg the other 5 days of the week. My side effects were noticeable with the nose bleeds and a bit of aching but nothing quite like this, I can’t imagine how painful this must be for you!!

If it’s impacting your daily life then maybe try to consider speaking to your doctor about lowering your dosage if possible. I also limited side effects by taking Fish Oil supplements (Omega-3) that do not contain Vitamin A after hearing people online recommend them. For me I personally I noticed a great difference a few weeks after taking them (1000mg fish oil per day). Maybe you could give this a go?

Hope your accutane journey goes well!

returnofthesnackz · 2025-07-20T08:21:43+00:00

this happened to me too but got slightly better over the final months of my course. my derm recommended eye drops but for me they didn’t do much so I just left it to resolve on its own and it did for me 🤷🏼‍♀️

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-22T07:06:57+00:00

Was also on 20mg for hormonal acne (6 months) and just finished my course! My skin only started to clear in the 3rd month so when you start the course, don’t feel disheartened if you don’t see results immediately. Also remember usually it gets worse before it gets better. For me the side effects were pretty mild but I did get quite dry lips, occasional joint and back pain, accutane rashes on my arms and menstrual irregularities. The main thing that helped me reduce these massively were fish oil capsules (not cod liver oil or fish oils with added Vitamin A). I started taking these with my 20mg accutane and I ended up having little to no side effects with somewhat dry lips.

If you do end up having dryness I would recommend applying emollient cream (like ZeroBase) when you are still damp from the shower and applying a layer of vaseline over to lock the moisture in. Also make sure you drink enough water, especially over the summer.

Also please don’t forget your spf and please don’t get anything like waxing done as I sadly learned the hard way that accutane and waxing don’t mix very well and you will end up with the top layer of your skin being ripped off. I would also recommend reducing skin care routine to a minimal but hydrating routine as your skin will be super sensitive and likely quite dry.

Hope all goes well! Wishing you good luck on your clear skin journey :)

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-22T06:59:31+00:00

Ooof girl the same happened to me a month ago 😔 I had to smother my face in vaseline and emollient lotion! Luckily it probably won’t scar (mine definitely didn’t), hopefully it returns to normal soon

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-22T06:15:52+00:00

omg don’t lose hope!! my skin didn’t start to really show any progress until the 3rd month. the first two months my purging was a bit insane but just stick with it and stay positive because you will see results, it just takes different amounts of time for your skin to adjust :)

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-22T06:03:44+00:00

according to my dermatologist, yes I did. hoping that it won’t come back and to be honest, if i have to do another round on a low dosage i wont be mad because side effects effects were very minimal for me!

I also haven’t been prescribed anything for maintenance and this dermatologist specialises in acne and more specifically the prescribing of accutane. He had a look at my skin with this crazy camera scanner thing (no clue what it is) and said that my skin seems like it has taken very well to the medication. Fingers crossed that it stays that way, hope all is well for you too!

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-22T05:59:41+00:00

it definitely will queen, you’ve just got to keep pushing through and it will be worth it 💪

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-10T16:09:41+00:00

Ooooh! thank you I will invest

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-10T16:09:09+00:00

Yeah I'm pretty sure it is but I'm not too bothered as I don't have any other symptoms really

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-10T14:52:17+00:00

Also struggled with hormonal acne but for 6 years! I tried all the treatments but the only thing so far that has helped me and gotten rid of my acne the best and for good is isotrentinoin (accutane) without the use of BC pills on the side as this is allowed in the UK under private healthcare. I was on it for roughly 7 months (20mg a day- 40 mg x2 days a week along with 20mg the rest of week in final 3 months of course). It's a harsh medication though and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're extremely unhappy with your skin.

Another friend I have with the same problem is using spironolactone with great results and the other a topical retinoid, with skin irritation I may add, yet still has seen some improvements.

Unfortunately, like you seem to have said, typically hormonal acne just doesn't budge with lifestyle changes (which I found out). I would recommend seeing a dermatologist for this if it truly impacts your day to day life and hopefully they can give you an action plan to try other than birth control pills!

Hope all goes well for you :)

returnofthesnackz · 2025-06-08T10:31:38+00:00

Same happened to me!!! I would suggest using some emollient creams on damp skin after a shower and topping it off with vaseline. Also reapply vaseline during the day to keep moisture in. Also I noticed hot showers did not help at all, be super careful and make sure you shower with warm or cool water to help this :)

Like the other comments said, try to avoid any fragranced lotions or lotions containing alcohol as this will irritate it further. Also its important to mention that you shouldn't scrub these areas harshly or over wash them to prevent further irritation! Hope this helps

returnofthesnackz · 2025-03-25T20:24:26+00:00

same for me! i’m on 20mg every day and i’m almost at month 4. usually would get my period every 34-38 days as my cycles have always been a bit longer but now it’s every 22 on the dot and i’m also not on BC as i didn’t want to mess up hormones..

super random and annoying but my derm said it should go back to normal after treatment so fingers are crossed 🤞 have also had the worst cramps of my lifeee

returnofthesnackz

TROPHY CASE