Viewers were shocked after an anonymous user posted a photo of their severely sunburnt thighs from spending a few hours on a boat while taking Accutane, a medication used to treat acne.
The original poster (OP), known as u/dasisgoodya, posted about the incident in Reddit's popular "Well That Sucks" forum where it received more than 32,000 upvotes and 2,300 comments.
What Is Accutane?
Isotretinoin, also known as Accutane, is a vitamin A derivative often prescribed to treat severe acne. According to Healthline, the medication treats clogged pores, bacteria, inflammation, and oil production.
The drug is also notorious for causing dry skin, mouth, nose, and chapped lips. Accutane also makes skin more sensitive to the sun and can be at more risk for serious scarring.
Often, second-degree blisters lead to scarring on the burnt area.
'Well That Sucks'
In the Reddit post, u/dasisgoodya shared an image of their severe blisters.
"Went out on my boss' boat for a few hours while on Accutane and got 2nd degree sunburns," the post read.
In the photo, the OP showed two large blisters surrounded by severely burnt skin on both thighs. One blister on the OP's right thigh appeared to be about the size of a baseball.
Tips to Heal Sunburns
- DO NOT touch blisters
- Take pain relief pills or use gel
- Stay extra hydrated
- Protect the burn from additional sun
- Take a cool bath/Place a cool towel on burns
- Moisturize burn, avoiding products containing alcohol
Sun Poisoning
However, if you are severely sunburned and experiencing the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care for potential sun poisoning, according to GoodRx.
- Dehydration
- Confusion or lethargy
- Fever or chills
- Dizziness or fainting
- Nausea or vomiting
- Skin rash or blistering
Redditor Responses
More than 2,300 users commented on the post, many shocked by the severity of the sunburn and the size of the blisters.
"Holy s**t! Looks like you dropped a blowtorch on your legs," one user commented.
"Accutane is, for me at least, the poster child of 'what doesn't kill makes you stronger,'" another user commented. "Accutane is a GodSend for people that have some serious acne...but man is it a poison. The list of side effects and cautionary advice is longer than my arm."
"I took it maybe 15 years ago, two rounds. Never had such horrible nosebleeds and chapped lips," another user wrote.
"That looks painful as hell though," one commenter wrote. "Hopefully it doesn't scar, you're much more primed to scarring while on that medication."
Newsweek reached out to u/dasisgoodya for comment.
In another viral Reddit post about a suntan gone wrong, a man was compared to a tiger after his wife's sloppy sunscreen technique.
Another woman shocked viewers online after she received severe facial burns from allegedly expired sunscreen. One woman was criticized online for telling her boyfriend he did not need to use sunscreen because of his "dark skin."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Samantha Berlin is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on trends and human-interest stories. Samantha ... Read more
