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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at TAMU chapter.

***Disclaimer: this is based on my own experiences and is not true for everyone. ***

Acne has always been a source of insecurity for me ever since I was in middle school. Not having a clear face messed with my self-confidence growing up, and by the time I was a senior in high school I was tired of trying to pretend like it didn’t bother me. I tried a plethora of face washes and other hacks that I found on the internet, but no matter what I did, a new pimple would appear on my face every day. Eventually, I learned that I needed more than Google and YouTube videos to combat this. So, I eventually went to a dermatologist, and after years of trial and error with multiple prescriptions and topical creams, the result was all the same. Each solution was a temporary fix, but my clear face never lasted more than a couple months. So, it was time to go to my last resort, Accutane (Isotretinoin).

Accutane is an intense medication, so if you are thinking of starting it, here are a few things to consider!

Did You Try All of Your Other Options?

Before I started the process to get on Accutane, I had to make sure I tried all my other alternatives. My dermatologist was very clear about the potential side effects because it is a lot to put your body through. So, before putting yourself through the potential 6-8 months of side effects, make sure you have done all the alternatives.

It Requires a lot of Patience

Just to be prescribed as a woman, it took a month of pregnancy tests and questionnaires to make sure I understood the repercussions of pregnancy while on Accutane. It also took a while for me to see any results on my face. However, eventually the results will come, it just takes some time.

It Dries Out Skin A Lot!

Before I started Accutane I had relatively oily skin, however just a couple months in, I noticed not just dryness in my chapped lips, but also large patches of dry skin on my arms. Everyone’s experiences are different with this, but it was a large adjustment for my skin type to drastically change. I know this is typically the warning heard most often, but that is for good reason, because it is a lot more drying than people realize.

It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

After a month or two, I noticed that my acne was actually getting worse! It had made me so confused because this medication was supposed to be the “cure all” for acne. However, once again, it requires patience, and the results will eventually come.

Meredith Andalis is a member of the Texas A&M University chapter of Her Campus. In addition to being part of the social media committee, she enjoys writing about her personal experiences, discussing local restaurants, and covering events on campus. As a member of the social media committee she submits posts once a week for the chapter’s social media pages. Outside of her role at Her Campus, Meredith has had a variety of on campus jobs. She is continuing her over two years of work as a residence hall tour guide and spent the last year helping revise a textbook for one of the English courses at TAMU. Recently she started a new position as a consultant at the University Writing Center. She is also in her final year at TAMU finishing her degree in English with a minor in Communication. For fun Meredith enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending her paychecks on coffee. Her favorite movies include “When Harry Met Sally” and anything from the Captain America trilogy. She is also committed to finding cute coffee shops and bookstores wherever she travels to. She also enjoys writing which is why she loves being a part of Her Campus TAMU!