Skincare Routine While on Accutane: What the AAD Recommends

Quick answer: The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a 4-step skincare routine while on Accutane® (isotretinoin). The steps are a gentle cleanser, an oil-free moisturizer on damp skin, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen outdoors, and lip balm or petroleum jelly. The AAD also says to avoid retinol on the skin, benzoyl peroxide, vitamin C skin care, exfoliants and toners while you take the drug. The Accutane® label adds that wax epilation and skin resurfacing procedures, such as dermabrasion and laser, should be avoided during treatment and for at least 6 months after it ends.

This page recommends no skincare brands and shows no patient photos. The medical facts come from the AAD, the FDA, MedlinePlus and PubMed. The service details come from our own site, and the process notes come from running iPledge logistics month after month. The AAD itself says the products you use don’t need to be expensive, and you may already own some of them.

What does Accutane do to your skin?

Accutane® commonly dries out the skin, lips and eyes, and the AAD says it may make you sunburn more quickly. The AAD says dry skin, chapped lips, dry and irritated eyes, and even nosebleeds are common while taking isotretinoin. The label lists dry lips, dry skin, dry nose and fragility of skin among its skin reactions. MedlinePlus also lists peeling skin on the palms and soles and slowed healing of cuts as side effects to report if they’re severe or don’t go away.

Your routine also has to plan for sun sensitivity. The AAD says your skin may sunburn more quickly and unexpectedly, and that this effect goes away once you stop. The label tells patients to avoid prolonged exposure to UV rays or sunlight, and its patient guide says to avoid sunlight and ultraviolet lights as much as possible.

Your acne may also look worse before it looks better. The AAD says acne may worsen for 1 to 2 months before it begins to clear, though this doesn’t happen to most patients. The label calls it a transient flare, generally seen early in therapy. If your acne worsens, the AAD says to tell your dermatologist. Our article on the Accutane purge covers that stretch in more detail.

The dryness doesn’t last forever, and the AAD says that once you stop taking isotretinoin, the dryness will clear.

What is the AAD’s 4-step skincare routine on Accutane?

The AAD’s plan has four steps: wash with a gentle cleanser, moisturize while your skin is still damp, protect your skin from the sun, and care for your lips. According to the AAD, the right skin care can help reduce discomfort from dry skin, cracked lips and sun sensitivity.

Step 1: Wash with a gentle cleanser

Look for “gentle”, “hydrating” or “sensitive skin” on the label, the AAD says. It adds that emulsion cleansers such as micellar water can help keep skin clean. Apply cleanser with your fingertips and limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. Skip abrasive scrubs and any cleanser that contains an exfoliant.

Step 2: Moisturize while your skin is still damp

Right after you wash, while your skin is still damp, apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer, which the label may call “oil-free”. The AAD says to use it on your face, neck, shoulders and back, and again whenever your skin feels dry. After a bath or shower, it suggests a rich, creamy moisturizer or emollient, used as needed. Our article on moisturizer for dry skin on Accutane goes further into which label words matter.

Step 3: Protect your skin from the sun

Outdoors, the AAD says to seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing and use sunscreen. Pick one that’s oil-free, broad-spectrum and water-resistant, with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply it at least every 2 hours, and again after swimming or sweating. Because your skin may be sensitive, the AAD says a mineral sunscreen with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or both can help. It also recommends sunglasses with UV protection, which can help dry eyes feel more comfortable.

Step 4: Use lip balm or petroleum jelly on your lips

Outdoors, the AAD says to use a lip balm with SPF 30 or higher. Indoors, it suggests petroleum jelly throughout the day and before bed. The AAD adds that skin care isn’t just for your face, so use gentle cleansers, oil-free moisturizers and sunscreen on your body as well.

Here’s how those four steps fit into a normal day, in our arrangement rather than a separate AAD schedule. Every step here comes from the AAD’s plan. In the morning, use the gentle cleanser, moisturizer on damp skin, sunscreen if you’ll be outdoors and SPF lip balm. Through the day, add moisturizer whenever your skin feels dry and reapply sunscreen outdoors at least every 2 hours. After a workout, wash again with the gentle cleanser and moisturize right away. At night, use the cleanser, moisturizer on damp skin and petroleum jelly on your lips before bed.

Which skincare ingredients help while you’re on Accutane?

The AAD names six kinds of ingredients that can help strengthen your skin while you take isotretinoin. Humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin help hydrate the skin, and aloe vera soothes and moisturizes. Biosaccharides help skin feel smooth, oligosaccharides help balance the skin barrier, and ceramides help your skin retain moisture. Squalane is an emollient, which the AAD says soothes skin.

The AAD says to look for products with one or more of these on the label, and that’s why this page doesn’t recommend brands. A cleanser and moisturizer you already own may fit the AAD’s advice if they’re gentle, non-comedogenic and free of fragrances and dyes.

What should you stop using while on Accutane?

Stop the specific products the AAD names, starting with vitamin A supplements. The AAD lists what dermatologists recommend you avoid while taking isotretinoin:

• Vitamin A supplements, because isotretinoin is derived from vitamin A.
• Retinol applied to the skin, which can irritate sensitive skin.
• Benzoyl peroxide or sulfur, which can increase irritation and dryness.
• Vitamin C skin care products and toners, which can be too harsh.
• AHAs and BHAs such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid, plus sugar, coffee grounds and exfoliating beads.
• Fragrances and dyes, which often irritate sensitive skin and may cause an allergic reaction.

The label backs up the first item, advising patients against vitamin supplements containing vitamin A to avoid additive toxic effects. Toners made the list because the AAD says they can be too harsh while you take isotretinoin, so set yours aside and ask your prescriber before you bring it back. Our article on using retinol or tretinoin while on Accutane covers prescription retinoids, so ask your prescriber about yours.

Can you wax or get laser treatments while on Accutane?

The Accutane® label says to avoid waxing and skin resurfacing such as dermabrasion and laser during treatment and for at least 6 months once it ends. The label uses the terms wax epilation and skin resurfacing procedures, and it gives the possibility of scarring as the reason. Its Medication Guide says not to have cosmetic procedures to smooth your skin, including waxing, dermabrasion or laser procedures, for at least 6 months after you stop. MedlinePlus says to avoid waxing, laser skin treatments and dermabrasion for 6 months after treatment, and to ask your doctor when you can safely have them.

A 2017 systematic review with consensus recommendations in JAMA Dermatology looked at procedures during or soon after isotretinoin. It noted a widely taught idea that isotretinoin within 6 to 12 months of skin surgery contributes to abnormal scarring or delayed wound healing. The review found that idea is based on 3 small case series from the mid-1980s. Its expert panel found insufficient evidence to support delaying laser hair removal, superficial chemical peels or fractional laser procedures. It still didn’t recommend mechanical dermabrasion or fully ablative laser in the setting of isotretinoin treatment. The current label still says to avoid wax epilation and skin resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion and laser. Talk with your dermatologist before you book anything.

The label doesn’t address shaving or makeup. Our Accutane FAQ says to ask your dermatologist in the dashboard, with a photo of the product, when the label is silent.

How do you care for dry lips, eyes and nose on Accutane?

The AAD says treating dryness inside your nose as soon as you notice it can prevent or reduce nosebleeds. For that dryness, it suggests a moisturizing nasal spray or a very small amount of petroleum jelly just inside the nostril. It also says not to snort or inhale the jelly. For dry, irritated eyes, it suggests saline eye drops or artificial tears, and medicated drops only if your dermatologist recommends them.

Contact lenses can get harder to wear. The label says patients may have decreased tolerance to contact lenses during and after therapy. MedlinePlus says isotretinoin may make your eyes feel dry and make contact lenses uncomfortable. The label’s patient guide says to stop Accutane® and call your doctor right away for any problem with your vision, or for eye dryness that’s painful or constant. If something feels like an emergency, call 911.

How do you keep the routine going for the whole course?

Buy your supplies before you need them, and line the routine up with the monthly rhythm of treatment. The AAD says a doctor can only prescribe isotretinoin for 30 days at a time, and you check in each month to get a refill. It also says to mention any change in how you feel at those check-ins, even if it seems unrelated.

From running iPledge logistics, we see people get stuck on the dryness routine in months 2 and 3. Ordering lip care after your lips crack means a bad week. Have a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, sunscreen, SPF lip balm and petroleum jelly at home before your first dose.

The refill clock matters for your skin as well, because a missed pickup means a gap in treatment. Under today’s label, patients who can become pregnant must get the prescription within 7 days of their pregnancy test’s specimen collection. Patients who can’t become pregnant have 30 days from the office visit. In our experience running the process, iPledge doesn’t send a warning email when a pickup window is missed, and nothing tells the patient. That’s why our iPledge Concierge tracks the windows, and every window-open and window-closing event triggers an alert. Our article on the missed prescription window explains what happens next.

As of October 8, 2026, approved changes to iPledge aren’t in effect. The FDA approved them on February 9, 2026, and later moved the implementation date to November 15, 2026. Until the November 15, 2026 changes take effect, the current rules apply. Pre-treatment pregnancy tests happen in a medical setting both now and after that date. Our iPledge FAQ lays out what changes on that date.

What should your skincare routine look like after Accutane?

Once the course ends, a few of the label’s limits still apply. The AAD says the dryness clears and the sun sensitivity goes away once you stop taking isotretinoin. The label’s wait for wax epilation and skin resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion and laser lasts at least 6 months after therapy. MedlinePlus says to ask your doctor when you can safely undergo these treatments. The label also says patients may have decreased tolerance to contact lenses after therapy.

None of the sources we checked gives a date for bringing back retinol, acids, vitamin C or toner after a course. Ask your prescriber before you restart them.

One process note from the final month: the course isn’t over until the last fill is in your hands. People who feel almost done sometimes stop the logistics early, and the last refill lapses in its window.

Where does The Goal Is Clear fit in your routine?

The Goal Is Clear connects you with a board-certified dermatologist licensed in your state, who decides whether isotretinoin fits your case. You take a quiz of about two minutes, upload a front photo and a side photo, and check out on a Clear Course plan. A board-certified dermatologist reviews your case within 24 hours, and a prescription is never guaranteed. The company doesn’t use nurse practitioners or physician assistants to diagnose acne or write prescriptions.

During treatment, you can message your board-certified dermatologist through the dashboard with side-effect reports and photo updates, and a real person reads every message. Every Accutane® patient gets an iPledge Concierge that tracks monthly windows, pregnancy tests and refills, as our Accutane FAQ explains.

Care is one flat price, listed on the pricing page. Medication is billed separately by the pharmacy, as low as $0 for the prescription with insurance. You pay at checkout and get a full refund if your board-certified dermatologist doesn’t prescribe. BNG Health Services, LLC operates the brand and is not the prescribing physician.

Common questions about a skincare routine while on Accutane

Can you use toner while on Accutane? The AAD lists toners among the products to avoid, saying they can be too harsh on your skin while you take isotretinoin. Set the toner aside and ask your prescriber before you bring it back.

How often should you moisturize in a skincare routine while on Accutane? The AAD says to apply an oil-free moisturizer when your skin is still damp after cleansing and whenever your skin feels dry. After a bath or shower, it suggests a rich, creamy moisturizer or emollient, used as needed.

What face wash should you use while on Accutane? The AAD suggests a gentle or emulsion cleanser, with “gentle”, “hydrating” or “sensitive skin” on the label. It says to limit washing to twice a day and after sweating, and to avoid abrasive scrubs or cleansers with an exfoliant. Benzoyl peroxide and sulfur are on its avoid list.

Can you get waxed or have laser hair removal on Accutane? The Accutane® label says to avoid wax epilation and skin resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion and laser during treatment and for at least 6 months after it ends. The label’s Medication Guide says not to have laser procedures in that window, though a 2017 review found insufficient evidence to support delaying laser hair removal. Ask your dermatologist before you book.

When can a skincare routine after Accutane go back to normal? The AAD says the dryness and sun sensitivity go away once you stop isotretinoin. None of the sources we checked sets a date for restarting retinol, acids, vitamin C or toner, so ask your prescriber first. The label’s wait of at least 6 months for waxing and laser still applies, and it says to check with your doctor about timing.

What’s the simplest skincare routine to start on Accutane?

Start with the AAD’s four steps: a gentle cleanser, an oil-free moisturizer on damp skin, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen outdoors, and lip care that matches where you are. Put the retinol, acids, scrubs, vitamin C skin care and toner away, as the AAD advises. The label says to avoid waxing and skin resurfacing such as dermabrasion and laser during treatment and for at least 6 months after, so check with your doctor before booking. Stock everything before your first dose, so you aren’t ordering lip care after your lips crack.

If you’d like a board-certified dermatologist to look at your case, take the two-minute quiz and upload a front photo and a side photo. The skincare on acne medication article covers other treatments, and the about page explains who runs the company.

This article is general information, not medical advice. A prescription is never guaranteed, and treatment decisions stay with the board-certified dermatologist who reviews your case. Accutane® is a registered trademark of its respective owner, and isotretinoin is the generic name. The Goal Is Clear is operated by BNG Health Services, LLC, which is not the prescribing physician; independent board-certified dermatologists prescribe.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology, Isotretinoin: The truth about safety, side effects, and skin care
• Accutane (isotretinoin) prescribing information and Medication Guide, DailyMed
• MedlinePlus, Isotretinoin
• Spring et al., Isotretinoin and Timing of Procedural Interventions: A Systematic Review With Consensus Recommendations, JAMA Dermatol 2017
• FDA, iPLEDGE Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)