This Woman's Before-and-After Acne Photos Are Going Viral on Reddit

There's no cure for acne, but the skin-transformation photos one woman shared on Reddit look pretty damn close. Given that up to 50 million people experience acne (and that's just in the U.S.), science has put a lot of resources into figuring out treatments that can help — there's even an acne vaccine in the works. What works for some to clear up blemishes might not work for everyone, but whenever we see results as dramatic as the before-and-after photos Redditor lisalisa96 shared in post in the Skincare Addiction subreddit, that treatment is definitely worth giving a closer look.

The treatment

Taken before starting treatment with Isotretinoin (commonly referred to by one of its brand names, Accutane, even though its manufacturer pulled it from the market in 2009) one year after using the treatment, the before-and-after photos are shocking.

In the first photo, you can see cystic, inflamed bumps and pustules on the cheeks and chin but in the after photo, not only is there not a blemish in sight, there's no trace that any blemishes ever even existed. Users commented on the porcelain nature of lisalisa96's skin in the after photo — so flawless it looked like she’d never had a pimple in her life.

"After struggling with acne and confidence issues for as long as I can remember, my dermatologist put me on a 40mg Accutane course for seven months," lisalisa96 wrote.

Accutane as a last resort

Before trying the treatment, often seen as a bit of a last resort by dermatologists, she shared she had tried just about everything else — chemical peels, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, a dairy-free diet — all to no avail.

"Nothing worked, my acne kept returning," she said. "I've heard horrendous things and read every possible Accutane-related horror story, however things thankfully worked out just fine [for me]. I definitely experienced some intense skin/lip dryness, some headaches and fatigue, but that was pretty much about it."

Why Isotretinoin?

So, what's the deal with Isotretinoin's seemingly magical powers? The drug has a reputation for delivering powerful results when nothing else works. As Allure previously reported the acne drug is a vitamin A derivative — what dermatologists call an "internal retinoid." It works by addressing all four major acne-causing factors by reducing oil production, boosting skin cell turnover, zapping naturally occurring P. acnes bacteria on the skin, and calming inflammation.

But the drug formerly known as Accutane also has some serious side effects including, other-worldly dryness, serious warnings about getting pregnant, and a potential relationship to increasing your risk of depression and anxiety. It's serious stuff and should be discussed with your dermatologist in detail.

The results

"I realize that everyone is different and medication this harsh will affect everyone differently, yet, I strongly believe more positive Accutane experiences need to be heard," lisalisa96 wrote. "Never lose hope, always listen and be kind to your bodies, be patient with your skin!"

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