When creams, serums, and spot treatments aren’t enough to clear stubborn acne, Accutane is typically the go-to intervention. But lately, it’s been gaining attention for a different—and unexpected—perk: the claim that it can make your nose smaller.
The theory has been long viral online, with TikTokers—and even celebrities like Alix Earle and most recently, Kendall Jenner–crediting the medication for their subtle glow-ups. “I swear to God, on everything that I love, I’ve never had a nose job,” Jenner said while addressing rhinoplasty rumors on the In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele podcast. “I did Accutane for my acne. And there’s a theory on TikTok that Accutane shrinks your nose. And you guys, I swear to God, it’s true.”
What may sound like a clever deflection of plastic surgery speculation actually does hold some scientific truth, according to the dermatologists we spoke with. As an oral retinoid medication, Accutane (the now discontinued brand name for isotretinoin in the US) works by reducing excess sebum—the thick, oily substance naturally produced by your skin’s sebaceous glands that can clog pores and cause breakouts, Ife Rodney, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Eternal Dermatology in Maryland, tells SELF.
“By decreasing oil production, Accutane will shrink the glands themselves—including the ones on your nose. That’s why this area in particular tends to show a great level of improvement when taking the medication,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology in New York City, tells SELF. That, along with “a decrease in swelling” (thanks to Accutane’s anti-inflammatory effects) may result in the tip of your nose looking slightly smaller. Still, dermatologists caution, the effect is nowhere near as dramatic as some viral “before-and-after” transformations suggest.
A more likely explanation, other than Accutane alone, is timing: Many people start the medication to address hormonal acne during their teen years, Dr. Rodney points out—a period when our faces are still developing. Whether or not you take the medication your features (nose included) are bound to change as your body matures into post-puberty adulthood.
Something else to keep in mind: “At baseline, most people on Accutane likely have really oily or acne-prone skin to begin with, which might make any affected area seem slightly larger or more inflamed,” Dr. Rodney says. So it’s not that your nose is actually shrinking. Rather, what you’re probably seeing is that pre-existing puffiness, swelling, and inflammation caused by deep, cystic breakouts creating this illusion.
