18 replies to this topic

[karam]

is it true that accutane actually DAMAGES your oil glands & that's what keeps your acne away for a long time?

[iXtReMe]

is it true that accutane actually DAMAGES your oil glands & that's what keeps your acne away for a long time?

it doesnt damage it, it dries it up, meaning no more oil resulting in clearer skin.

[SClippers]

^ That. Had I known I don't think I'd take it, I think I'll look like a prune when I'm 40 haha

[Warrior of Acne]

is it true that accutane actually DAMAGES your oil glands & that's what keeps your acne away for a long time?

I am pretty sure it does damage your sebaceous glands. Somebody correct me if I am wrong but that is the reason your skin is less oily even years after treatment.

[Croca]

Edited by Croca, 16 August 2011 - 10:30 AM.

[greentiger87]

??

What do you mean by "damage"?

Nobody really knows all the details of how Accutane works. At least ONE of the ways it works is by "telling" oil glands to shrink and stop producing so much oil. I wouldn't call this "damage". Hormones and regulatory substances stop, start, and reverse growth of all kinds of structures in the body all the time.

And no, the shrinking oil glands do not cause pits. Image search a diagram of the skin and sebaceous glands, and you'll see why.

[karam]

is it true that accutane actually DAMAGES your oil glands & that's what keeps your acne away for a long time?

it doesnt damage it, it dries it up, meaning no more oil resulting in clearer skin.

why do many people report a return of oil but still no acne after their treatment?

[Siava]

During a course of isotretinoin, the sebaceous glands cease production or produce very little. After the course, the glands produce oil at a regular pace, but for many it's not as much as before because as explained by greentiger87, the drug shrinks the sebaceous glands. Obviously, this doesn't always work because some folks do take multiple courses, but for many of us it has worked.

[Fred Q]

It shrinks the sebaceous glands, but they eventually return to their normal size 6 months to 2 years after your last pill. I guess sometimes they don't, and this is also the same reason that some people's side effects stick with them too. Nobody knows why. Why can accutane cause prolonged remission? Well, again nobody knows but I think it rids the body of most acne causing bacteria, cleans all the deep gunk out of the pores that no other treatment can, and this allows your pores to become normal again which means no more acne.

It's been said that people with acne have impaired pore function if you will, so the oil is not able to leave the body efficiently thus causing acne. Accutane is said to have corrected this problem due to shutting off oil production.

[headtrip_honey]

^ That. Had I known I don't think I'd take it, I think I'll look like a prune when I'm 40 haha

Wrinkles are not caused by skin without oil. Moisturize and keep hydrated and you'll be fine.

[iXtReMe]

is it true that accutane actually DAMAGES your oil glands & that's what keeps your acne away for a long time?

it doesnt damage it, it dries it up, meaning no more oil resulting in clearer skin.

why do many people report a return of oil but still no acne after their treatment?

because your pores are completely clean, and now the skins oil easier to be cleaned.

[karam]

It shrinks the sebaceous glands, but they eventually return to their normal size 6 months to 2 years after your last pill. I guess sometimes they don't, and this is also the same reason that some people's side effects stick with them too. Nobody knows why. Why can accutane cause prolonged remission? Well, again nobody knows but I think it rids the body of most acne causing bacteria, cleans all the deep gunk out of the pores that no other treatment can, and this allows your pores to become normal again which means no more acne.

It's been said that people with acne have impaired pore function if you will, so the oil is not able to leave the body efficiently thus causing acne. Accutane is said to have corrected this problem due to shutting off oil production.

I like what you're saying, I hope you're right

[SClippers]

^ That. Had I known I don't think I'd take it, I think I'll look like a prune when I'm 40 haha

Wrinkles are not caused by skin without oil. Moisturize and keep hydrated and you'll be fine.

Was not aware, thanks will do

[headtrip_honey]

^ That. Had I known I don't think I'd take it, I think I'll look like a prune when I'm 40 haha

Wrinkles are not caused by skin without oil. Moisturize and keep hydrated and you'll be fine.

Was not aware, thanks will do

No problem - it's a common misconception. There are theories that oily skin helps keep your skin from losing water, which can lead to wrinkles, but it's not been proven.

Wrinkles are more likely caused by damaged collagen from age, sun damage, and pollution. Keeping your skin hydrated can help protect it against those things - so can using sunscreen!

[karam]

^ That. Had I known I don't think I'd take it, I think I'll look like a prune when I'm 40 haha

Wrinkles are not caused by skin without oil. Moisturize and keep hydrated and you'll be fine.

Was not aware, thanks will do

No problem - it's a common misconception. There are theories that oily skin helps keep your skin from losing water, which can lead to wrinkles, but it's not been proven.

Wrinkles are more likely caused by damaged collagen from age, sun damage, and pollution. Keeping your skin hydrated can help protect it against those things - so can using sunscreen

I found Avene to be the best moisturizer NOT to be confused with aveno

Edited by karam, 21 August 2010 - 08:59 PM.

[viggo_1]

I've read in some cases the glands can get so damaged that they can scar over and actually stop producing oil all together.

I've really dry skin since using accutane and I really want to find a way to reopen the glands up a little again and reverse it's effects.

I've been reading that increasing testosterone levels by using steroids stimulates the glands to get bigger and produce more oil again? Has anybody heard anything about this??

[blueeyednycgal]

accutane breaks down/impairs the gland from producing oil. this is why your lips get dry, skin gets dry, hair gets dry while on accutane. it doesnt "damage" it simply shrinks the glands and tells it to back off producing excess oil. this is also why after awhile your body may produce oil again an dyou have to go back on a second course. it doesnt kill the gland, its still there. just in remission while the drug is still working.

[oli girl]

For some people it does damage the oil glands and they don't have a drop of oil!

Viggo- Not sure if hormones would help with the dryness. What areas are effected for you?

[Nick Ryan]

SClippers, you are not alone. And I'm sorry, applying lotion every day for the rest of your life head to toe might treat the symptoms, but does not cure the problem.

I took Accutane for 8 months and I suffer now from everything from seborrheic dermatitis to extremely sensitive skin that practically falls off if someone grabs my arm the wrong way, to ever-increasing wrinkles (and I'm only 22 now) I used to have so much oil I was sure to look like a teenager when I was 40.

Now, my skin is so dried up and decrepit that I shudder to think what I'll look like when I'm 35.

If there is ANYTHING out there like hormones or anything else that will reverse the damage that Accutane has done to me, I'm willing to look into it. Taking Accutane has got to be the worst decision I have ever made. Someone PLEASE respond to this with helpful information.