By Stacia · Updated March 2026 · Acne & Treatments
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe in.
Accutane — also known as isotretinoin — is the last resort. Dermatologists prescribe it when everything else has failed. Months of antibiotics, topical retinoids, hormonal treatments — and still the acne is there. If your dermatologist has recommended isotretinoin, it means your acne is severe enough that the risk-benefit calculation has shifted, and this is genuinely the most effective treatment available for persistent cystic acne.
It works. For most people it works extraordinarily well. But it comes with side effects that are significant — and the most universal of those is extreme dryness. Isotretinoin works by dramatically reducing your skin’s oil production. This clears the acne, but it also strips away the natural oils your skin, lips, eyes, and nasal passages need to function. Every person on isotretinoin will deal with dry lips, dry skin, dry eyes, and dry nasal passages to some degree. How well you manage those side effects determines how tolerable your course of treatment is.
The products below are the ones dermatologists and experienced isotretinoin patients consistently recommend. They are not optional extras — they are the foundation of surviving a course of Accutane comfortably.
1 — Lip Balm — Your Most Important Purchase
Over 95% of people on isotretinoin develop severely dry, cracked, and painful lips — called cheilitis. This is the side effect that most commonly causes people to want to stop treatment early. The right lip balm applied constantly — before bed, after eating, every time you think of it — makes the difference between tolerating your Accutane course and suffering through it.
Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm is the single most recommended lip balm for Accutane users in dermatology. It was developed specifically for isotretinoin-induced cheilitis and contains hydrocortisone to calm the inflammation that drives the cracking. Nothing else available OTC comes close for active cheilitis.
→ Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm on Amazon
For overnight repair, the LOOPS Overnight Hydrogel Lip Mask is a game changer on Accutane — a hydrogel mask you wear overnight that intensely hydrates, reduces puffiness, and plumps the lip barrier while you sleep. Apply over Cortibalm before bed for maximum overnight repair.
→ LOOPS Overnight Hydrogel Lip Mask on Amazon
2 — Thick Moisturiser — Apply Constantly
Isotretinoin strips your skin’s ability to produce its own oil. This means your skin cannot maintain its own barrier without external help. A thick, ceramide-rich moisturiser applied immediately after cleansing — and reapplied throughout the day whenever skin feels tight — is not optional. Thin lotions will not be enough. You need a proper cream with ceramides, glycerin, and barrier-supporting ingredients.
Apply within 60 seconds of washing your face while skin is still slightly damp. This locks in hydration before transepidermal water loss begins.
| CeraVe Moisturizing Cream | Vanicream Moisturizing Cream |
| Three ceramides + hyaluronic acid + MVE technology for 24-hour moisture release. The most dermatologist-recommended moisturiser for isotretinoin users. Non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and genuinely thick enough to manage Accutane-level dryness. | Free from dyes, fragrance, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde releasers. Developed for the most sensitive and reactive skin. Particularly good for anyone whose skin is responding with redness and irritation in addition to dryness. |
| Shop on Amazon → | Shop on Amazon → |
For body dryness — which is just as significant as facial dryness on isotretinoin — Eucerin Original Healing Cream is the dermatologist-recommended body moisturiser for isotretinoin users. Apply to the entire body immediately after showering while skin is still damp.
→ Eucerin Original Healing Cream on Amazon
3 — Aquaphor — The Most Versatile Product on This List
Aquaphor Healing Ointment is the most multi-purpose product you will use during your Accutane course. Use it on your lips when Cortibalm is not enough. Use it on dry cracked corners of the mouth. Use it on any area of skin that has cracked or become painful. Apply a thin layer inside your nostrils at night to prevent nosebleeds caused by nasal dryness. Use it on dry hands, elbows, or anywhere dryness becomes severe.
Buy the large tube. You will go through more than you expect.
→ Aquaphor Healing Ointment on Amazon
4 — Nasal Saline Spray — Non-Negotiable
Isotretinoin dries out the mucous membranes inside your nose just as aggressively as it dries your skin and lips. This causes nasal dryness, crusting, and nosebleeds that can be frequent and uncomfortable. A saline nasal spray used multiple times a day keeps the nasal passages lubricated, prevents crusting, and significantly reduces the frequency and severity of nosebleeds. Use it morning, evening, and any time your nose feels dry or uncomfortable.
This is one of the most underrated products on this list — most people do not buy it until they are already suffering. Buy it before you start your course.
→ Simply Saline Nasal Spray on Amazon
5 — Preservative-Free Eye Drops — Essential for Contact Lens Wearers
Isotretinoin reduces the function of the meibomian glands — the glands responsible for producing the oil layer that keeps your eyes lubricated. This causes dry, irritated, and uncomfortable eyes for the majority of people on isotretinoin. If you wear contact lenses, your dermatologist may recommend switching to glasses for the duration of your course. Preservative-free eye drops used several times a day manage the dryness and prevent the irritation from becoming severe.
Always choose preservative-free — the preservatives in standard eye drops can irritate eyes that are already compromised by isotretinoin.
→ Preservative-Free Eye Drops on Amazon
6 — SPF — More Important Than Ever
Isotretinoin significantly increases photosensitivity — your skin burns faster and more severely than it would without the medication. SPF is not optional on Accutane. Apply every single morning without exception, even on cloudy days, even if you are staying indoors near windows. A mineral SPF with zinc oxide is preferred as it is less likely to irritate the compromised skin barrier.
→ EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 on Amazon
7 — Gentle Cleanser — Once a Day Maximum
On isotretinoin you should be cleansing once a day in the evening only. In the morning, rinse with lukewarm water and go straight to moisturiser. Any more cleansing than this strips the minimal oil your skin is still producing. Use the gentlest cleanser available — no acids, no foaming agents, no fragrance.
→ CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser on Amazon
What to Avoid Completely on Accutane
- All exfoliants — AHA, BHA, physical scrubs. Your skin cannot tolerate them
- Retinoids — you are already on the most powerful retinoid available. Never double up
- Waxing — the skin is too fragile and will tear. Use other hair removal methods
- Vitamin A supplements — isotretinoin is derived from vitamin A. Additional vitamin A is dangerous
- Alcohol — significantly increases the risk of liver damage while on isotretinoin
- Harsh cleansers — anything foaming or designed for oily skin
- Tanning beds or prolonged sun exposure — photosensitivity makes sunburn much more severe
The Complete Accutane Survival Kit
- Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm — #1 derm-recommended lip balm for isotretinoin cheilitis
- LOOPS Overnight Hydrogel Lip Mask — overnight lip repair
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream — facial moisturiser
- Vanicream Moisturizing Cream — alternative for reactive skin
- Eucerin Original Healing Cream — body moisturiser
- Aquaphor Healing Ointment — everything rescue balm
- Simply Saline Nasal Spray — prevents nosebleeds and nasal dryness
- Preservative-Free Eye Drops — essential for dry eyes
- EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 — mineral SPF for photosensitive skin
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser — evening cleanse only
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally tested and genuinely believe in. This is not medical advice — always follow your dermatologist’s guidance throughout your isotretinoin course.