The best skin care products to use if you’re on Accutane, according to experts
Accutane can help with controlling oil production and acne breakouts, but can be drying on all skin types.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
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Shortly after starting Accutane, most patients develop dry skin, which can persist throughout the treatment course, according to my experts. “Accutane reduces sebum production, which can lead to dryness across the body,” says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green. “While this dryness can be very uncomfortable, it is harmless and can be managed with over-the-counter moisturizers.”
When shopping for skin care products to use alongside Accutane, experts recommend considering the following factors:
I spoke to dermatologists about their favorite skin care products for Accutane users and put together their recommendations below. I also included a few products NBC Select editors love based on their guidance. This list includes products across skin care categories, including cleansers, sunscreens and lip balms.
Sunscreen is a daily necessity, especially for Accutane users since the medication can lead to photosensitivity, says Green, who recommends this formula from Aveeno. It’s a chemical sunscreen that converts UV rays into heat energy and releases them from the body and has SPF 60 along with a trio of oats — oat oil, oat extract and oat flour — to keep the skin soft and moisturized, according to the brand.
I use this sunscreen and love the dewy finish it gives my extremely dry skin. It doesn’t leave behind a white cast when blended, which makes it a great pick for days I’m not wearing makeup. Because it has a runny consistency, I recommend shaking the bottle thoroughly before squeezing out the product.
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman, the most classic presentation of Accutane-related dryness is on the lips in the form of dry, peeling skin. Accutane causes the skin on the lips to shed so quickly that it can cause thick, chunky flakes to come off, which can worsen and become red if you pick the skin off, says Goldman. He recommends this repair balm from Aquaphor, which has two types of moisturizers: shea butter, an emollient, and panthenol, a humectant. It also has chamomile essence, which helps soothe skin and is particularly helpful if your lips feel chapped or raw from picking, according to Aquaphor.
Green recommends this cleanser from CeraVe because it’s gentle enough for those experiencing dryness and sensitivity as a result of Accutane. It has hyaluronic acid and ceramides in it that cleanse the skin without disrupting its natural moisture, she says. Rather than a foaming or gel consistency, which can feel dehydrating on those with dry skin, this has a creamy texture that may help keep the skin feeling moisturized for up to 24 hours, according to the brand. It’ll also help cleanse away dirt, oil and makeup sitting on top of the skin, which can clog pores. You can also use it as a body or hand wash.
Former NBC Select production coordinator Kelsey Fredricks is a fan of this cream from First Aid Beauty. It has colloidal oatmeal to calm itching, shea butter to maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and allantoin to hydrate. “My skin was severely dry during my time on Accutane and this was my go-to moisturizer since my skin was extra dry and sensitive while on it,” she says. “I used this on my face and neck morning and night and couldn’t go a day without it.”
If you’re experiencing dryness on your body, consider this Goldman-approved lotion from Cetaphil. As with most products in Cetaphil’s line, this is fragrance-free and gentle enough for reactive skin types. This is one of my favorite body lotions as I’m transitioning my skin care from fall to winter. While it’s not rich like a body butter, it has a lightweight, nonsticky consistency along with glycerin, panthenol and avocado oil to keep skin hydrated. I also appreciate the pump applicator because it makes things less messy to apply compared to body lotions housed in a tube you’d have to squeeze.
Regularly using sunscreen is critical since Accutane can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, says Marmon, who recommends this facial sunscreen from EltaMD. This is a mineral sunscreen that won’t clog your pores, so you can continue to use it after you’ve completed your treatment course to prevent future breakouts. It features a medley of nonproblematic ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and antioxidants, and because it’s tinted, it won’t leave a white cast after application, says Marmon.
Serums deliver a higher concentration of active ingredients to the skin and are a good option if you’re looking for potent products. For those struggling with dryness, Green is a fan of this serum from Kiehl’s, which has hyaluronic acid. “The serum is fragrance-free and formulated with minimal ingredients, making it excellent for those experiencing sensitivity,” says Green. To use, apply two to three drops after cleansing, using passing motions to press the formula into the skin.
Marmon says this moisturizing gel from Clinique helps combat dryness and irritation during the treatment course. Though it has a gel consistency, which is more suited for those with oily skin or combination skin types, it’s gentle, noncomedogenic and has moisture-attracting ingredients like hyaluronic acid, says Marmon. The formula is also free of any harsh ingredients like fragrance, acids or exfoliants.
This scalp oil is primarily for those struggling with scalp conditions like eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis, but because it helps alleviate itchiness and dryness, it makes for a great treatment for Accutane-related dryness. It has tea tree leaf oil to clarify buildup on the scalp, and to keep the scalp moisturized, it has aloe vera juice as well as olive and jojoba oil, according to the brand.
My scalp tends to get dry, flay and itchy leading up to wash day, so I love using this scalp oil on the day or two before I’m about to wash my hair. There are a few different ways to use this oil. You can apply one to three drops onto your fingers, work it into your scalp and style as needed. Or, you can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment by applying it to your scalp for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing out.
NBC Select editorial intern Andriana Kourkoumelis experienced dry, flaky skin around her eyes when she was on Accutane, and this hydrating under-eye cream was a huge help. “I normally have very dry skin and itchy eyes, so being on Accutane naturally made this worse. I used this hydrating eye cream twice daily and it kept the skin around my eyes from flaking,” she says. The eye cream hydrates, depuffs and brightens dark circles using key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, caffeine and green-tea extract, according to the brand. Plus, it’s made for all skin types, especially sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Chapped lips to the point of inflammation is a common side effect of Accutane. Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm is one of our favorite lip balms because it not only hydrates lips, but it also helps heal cracks and irritation. It has hydrocortisone, which reduces inflammation, and hydrating ingredients like beeswax, petroleum jelly and mineral oil, according to the brand. NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi says that this product is highly recommended by her friends who have been on Accutane and suffer from severely cracked, dry lips.
Experts note that Accutane-related dryness is common on all parts of the body, particularly for skin on the scalp, face, lips and body. Here are their suggestions to consider while shopping for the best products for Accutane users.
While taking Accutane, it’s important to seek gentle, hydrating formulas that are noncomedogenic or oil-free to avoid clogging pores, says Green. Some key hydrating ingredients to look for include hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and glycerin to help lock in moisture. Since Accutane disrupts the skin barrier while taking it and for several months after, you’ll want to incorporate ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to help to reinforce the skin barrier and make it less prone to irritation during the treatment course, says Goldman.
To minimize skin sensitivity, you should avoid certain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid, which can be extremely irritating while on Accutane, says Goldman. Finally, skip face scrubs, dermaplaning and at-home peels until the treatment course is completed.
Rather than incorporating a single hydrating product like a serum or moisturizer into your skin care routine, consider your routine as a whole. “A gentle, hydrating cleanser, a serum enriched with hyaluronic acid, a ceramide-based moisturizer and a broad-spectrum sunscreen will increase moisturization, strengthen the skin’s barrier and protect against UV exposure while avoiding irritation,” says Marmon.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Michelle Rostamian has more than 10 years of experience covering beauty and skin care topics. For this story, Rostamian spoke to board-certified dermatologists and included their direct recommendations and products based on their guidance.
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