By the time I decided that I would take isotretinoin, I was already on a journey to be healthy in all areas of my life. I had tightened up my diet, was consuming more water than I typically would, and I was working out consistently. Although those things aren’t prerequisites for taking the treatment, I figured it would behoove me to do all I can to ensure an easy process and a desirable result. What would be the point of me going to all this trouble to achieve clear skin only to continue living a lifestyle that could trigger acne and inflammation? If I was going to take the leap, then I wanted to take it seriously.
For years, I had been falling in and out of a healthy and not-so-healthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, I kept trying. It’s all about progress, not perfection. Since the beginning of this year, I have been able to drastically change my eating habits to a combination of plant-based and pescatarian. I very rarely eat any traditional meats like red meat, turkey, chicken, etc., and I cut out my use of dairy (which can be inflammatory, thus possibly being a trigger for acne) by 90%. I try my best to eat a lot of whole foods and I swapped out the white/bleached flours for whole grains and whole wheats.
Sugar is still a work in progress, but I significantly cut the added sugars and I stay away from high-fructose corn syrup. I also take supplements that I know I was deficient in, like magnesium (nothing that will interact with the meds). I’ve been making sure to drink at least 2 liters of water every day and I try to get at least 30 minutes of activity/exercise 3-6 days per week. Now, I am not saying that these things influence how I respond to my acne treatment. But, again, I want to prepare myself for life after treatment, reducing the possibly of any relapse and continuing to be as healthy as possible.
Another thing that I’ve had to change is my skincare products. If you know anything about acne, you’ll know that it’s usually coupled with oily skin. In my case, I was combination; being normal in some places, but oily in others. However, one primary side effect of this medicine is dryness. That meant that all the skin care I was used to having in my routine that catered to my oily skin had to be swapped out for products that catered to dry skin. The good news is, I was already used to the morning and nightly skincare routines. The frequency of performing these actions wouldn't be a problem; it’s second nature to me. The hard part was reconfiguring my mind to reach for emollient products rather than oil-control. Luckily, I’ve found a good combination that keeps my skin feeling comfortable throughout this process. For my morning cleanser, I am using the Everything Cleanser from a brand called Non Gender Specific. Even before I started my medicine, I used this cleanser because of its gentleness and clean ingredients. It also addresses multiple concerns such as hyperpigmentation, texture, and moisture, all of which applies to me. For my cleansing tool, I am using a Foreo. It gives me the deep clean I need without being abrasive.
Following my cleanser, I use a glycolic toner from The Ordinary at night and 100% aloe vera sometimes both morning and night. I follow-up my toner with a concoction of oils: 100% vitamin e and vitamin c serum from Ole Henriksen. Finally, I use the Healing Ointment from CeraVe as my moisturizer morning and night, topping it off during the daytime with the Clear Cover spf from the cosmetics brand Cover FX. A bonus skincare product that I love is my Fresh Vitamin Glow Water. If my skin starts to feel a little bit dry in the middle of the day, then I’ll give my face a good spritz. You can keep this spray in the refrigerator, too, which is cool, and it feels amazing. As of right now, I am foregoing the use of masks just because I don’t want to overwhelm my skin. I will most likely work them into my routine within the next month or so and will only use soothing and hydrating ones (absolutely no peel-off masks, though).
Oh, and perhaps the most important thing that I must mention is my lip products. Currently, I have about six in rotation and the brands range from drugstore like EOS (one of my faves—the mint one) to *high-end* like Kari Gran (also a favorite). My lips are much drier than the rest of my skin, so it is imperative that they are always moisturized. Seriously. I even add on a thick layer of balm before going to bed at night. If I decide to wear lipstick for whatever reason, then I'll layer a balm underneath to make sure my lips are getting enough hydration. Thankfully, I’ve only experienced excessive peeling and not the painful cracking and bleeding. I make sure to occasionally lightly exfoliate my lips with a damp washcloth which helps as well. Because I am a bit of a product junkie, I know I’ll continue to try different skincare products and combinations as I go along, and I’ll be sure to give periodic updates on that.
Just a few other beauty/health habits I’ve developed include using either disposable wash cloths or a fresh wash cloth every single time I wash my face, using a satin or silk pillow case to minimize germs and bacteria, and keeping a few clean pillowcases so that I’m able to switch them out every few days. Since my acne has been a nuisance for well over a decade, I’ve had quite some time to figure out what can act as contributors to my breakouts and how to minimize them. My routines may seem a bit overwhelming, but it has helped. And now that I have some extra assistance, I’m confident that these good habits will increase my chances of yielding positive results that will last.