isotretinoin and going on holiday

[Hthurston]

Hi...been on isotretinoin for 8 weeks and no acne has appeared for 4 weeks... no major side effects just itchy dry patches of skin and lips!! i go to mexico in 6 weeks and been told no sunbathing and factor 50! Hospital said to 40mg for 4 weeks and 20mg for 2 weeks....wont be taking tablets while im away. Wondered how other people got on while on holiday ?

[GDwyer]

Hi,

Sounds like so far so good with your experience!

I went to Italy in August right in the middle of my course of treatment, roughly high 30s every day...!! I was super worried after being told to avoid any direct sun exposure but it was just a case of being really careful and diligent with protecting the skin.

Best advice I can give is to make sure you take a massive sun hat with you (honestly mine was huge) but it really helped protect my face from any direct sun exposure as well as neck, shoulders etc. Isotretinoin makes your skin so sensitive to sunlight and you really really don't want pigmentation. I'd also recommend investing in a suncream that's good for sensitive skin - you'll be wearing so much of it all day every day you don't want it to irritate. I use Alturist SPF 50 which is so really good. I actually found because I was permanently topping it up it actually kept my skin quite moisturised. Not going to lie, having to be so obsessive with protecting the skin was hard and it did get a bit annoying sometimes but it's definitely worth it in the long run.

Good luck and have a nice holiday!

[Hthurston in reply to GDwyer]

Thank you for your reply. makes me feel a little less worried about going!

I will make sure i get a hat and good suncream!