What should you know about roaccutane before and after?

Before starting isotretinoin, the prescriber confirms the diagnosis, reviews medicines and medical history, and explains monitoring and pregnancy precautions where relevant. During treatment, oil production and acne activity may change while the skin becomes drier and more sensitive. After the course, improvement may continue to settle, and some people still need a maintenance plan for acne. Dark marks or scars are separate concerns: clearer acne does not automatically remove established texture or pigment. Photos can help a clinician compare progress when taken in similar lighting and without filters.

Before treatment, list every medicine, supplement, cosmetic procedure, and skincare active you use. During and after the course, wash gently, moisturise, protect your skin from sunlight, and use lip balm. Avoid picking active lesions. Ask before waxing, aggressive peels, or energy-based procedures; recently treated skin may need a cautious plan. Keep follow-up appointments and do not restart leftover capsules if acne returns. A dermatologist can decide whether maintenance treatment or an acne-scar procedure is appropriate once the skin has been assessed.

Contact your prescriber quickly for pregnancy or suspected pregnancy, severe headache with visual changes, pronounced mood or behaviour changes, severe abdominal pain, yellow skin, or a serious rash. After treatment, seek review for persistent painful acne, unusual scarring, or a reaction that worsens instead of settling. Emergency care is needed for breathing difficulty or swelling of the face or throat.

What should I stop or change before starting? When can I safely resume waxing, peels, lasers, or other procedures? How will we manage a return of acne or remaining scars?