Isotrexin : Erythromycin (2%) and Tretinoin (.05%) Gel

Brand:
Reviews
3.7
140 Reviews

Active ingredients:
Erythromycin (2%) and Isotretinoin (0.05%).

Inactive Ingredients:
Hydroxypropylcellulose, butylated hydroxytoluene and ethanol.

The list of ingredients above is provided for informational purposes only. Always check the actual product label in your possession for the most accurate ingredient information due to product changes or upgrades that may not yet be reflected on our web site.

5
25.7%
4
38.6%
3
19.3%
2
13.6%
1
2.9%

Used Isotrexin : Erythromycin (2%) and Tretinoin (.05%) Gel? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
October 24, 2009

Pros:

arrrghhhhh, people read this review!

Cons:

none of yet

My dermatologist told me that in the first week of the roaccutane/Isotrexin your acne is likely to get worse! This treatment takes 2 months for you to start seeing results. You will find all the bad reviews are from people who have taken it for a day or two, up to about 2 weeks. Few of them have tried for a month. Isotrexin is the strongest treatment we have, although it has a few potential side effects, its the best option for those people with more severe acne. For 70% of people this treatment gets rid of acne for the rest of their life, this is because it reduces the size of your oil glands in your pores (which takes time) also it attacks 3 other primary reasons for your acne! It takes 6 months to finish, so if you have just started don't expect any results yet!!!
This Was Helpful

44 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 29, 2010

Pros:

Works quickly, shrinks spots without making them dry up and bleed, easy to use.

Cons:

Quite strong; might be problematic for those with sensitive skin. Drying on areas prone to dryness (for me it's my cheeks).

I have been using this for 6 weeks now and I'm just about to run out and get some more, which will make it the only product I've finished without moving on to something else. For me, as I've been battling with spots for quite a while, I've used some very harsh products to try and tackle them, so this product didn't burn or itch like a lot of people have reported. I started carefully with it by applying a thin layer all over and even the next day I could see a positive result. After a few more days I decided to up the dosage and now I apply a thin layer all over, then focus some more on the spot prone areas. The only thing I can compare it to is a glycolic peel; the next day my skin always looks clearer and fresher. My skin doesn't shed, although the product stays on all night and doesn't sink in, so you have to wash it off every morning. If you suffer from dryness then I'd suggest applying it all over, give it about ten minutes then apply something moisturising to the areas prone to dryness. I use the dermalogica booster just on my cheeks as this works really well with it. I could not recommend this product highly enough. If, like me, you've tried everything and have just about given up then don't give up until you've tried this! You do need to give it time to work, but it's definitely worth the wait. The acne I get is hormonal which is so hard to treat, but this stuff is proving the best thing yet. Be warned that after a few weeks of use you might suffer a bad breakout for a week or two, but then your skin starts to look really refined. An added bonus is that it works really well on any fine lines you have; so this product really is a one-stop-shop for many skin problems! So in conclusion, I'd suggest giving this product a go and giving it some time to work. If you suffer from stubborn skin that easily and quickly builds up a tolerance to most brands of treatment, Isotrexin is something you have to try.
This Was Helpful

41 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 16, 2012

Pros:

Starts to work after first 4/5weeks
Doesn't dry out skin
leaves face smooth

Cons:

Skin breaks out for first few weeks (purges)
Must use at night as leaves white film on face

It sucked when you start this, it makes your skin break out so bad which is so upsetting, and makes you feel like it isn't working and making it worse, but stick it out then after a while it will start to calm down. Its been 5 weeks and my acne has lessen by atleast 50%, the scarring from the initial breakout is still here but hoping it will clear up soon. alot of reviews say it dries out skin, but my skin is so oily is hasn't done anything like that or caused irritation, hoping for it to improve my skin more after being on it 8 weeks
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 24, 2011

Pros:

Clears up acne and smooths skin.
And stops spots from coming back!

Cons:

Stings for about 2 seconds whilst applying it to your face

I've been using this product for almost a month now and its has great affects! The first couple of weeks is the most difficult because it has the opposite affect to how you want it to work (stop spots) but this is because it is designed to open up your pores and release the bad bugs. Therefore your bound to get a flurish of spots! However don't give up after this happens, keep on using it and within a week those spots will disappear. Then from then on you will get fewer and fewr spots coming back! So stick at the gel even when the going gets tough, and keep on using it until your doctor says so! :D
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 12, 2012

Pros:

- Simple to use & apply
- Absorbs quickly into the skin

Cons:

- Strong ethanol smell
- You have to protect the treated skin from prolonged sunlight
- 'Peely'-effect

I have moderate to severe acne and have deep scarring which isn't helped by me picking at my scabs. I have tried *numerous* products since my teens, such as Freederm, Duac, Clearasil, Garnier, Neutrogena etc etc, with no discernible benefit. I went to the doctor and was prescribed Isotrexin as well as an oral antibiotic.I've been using the Isotrexin for a month now and I think it's starting to work. My skin appears less bumpy and the acne scarring is slightly less noticeable. The only downsides I have with this product is that after a few minutes/hours, my skin looks flakey and you can see where I've applied the gel (I have dark skin). However, my doctor has said this is just the gel peeling back the layers of skin to get to the fresh stuff underneath, and it's doing a good job!
This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 22, 2009

Pros:

Quickly decreases oil production and dries out current spots. Flattens out larger spots and generally prevents new spots from forming.

Cons:

slightly drying and can only use at night

Very impressed with this product. I finished a full course of roaccutane 9 months ago but was starting to have oily skin again and small spots (though still much better than before). This has completely sorted me out and makes my skin look lovely and fresh. Since it has the same active ingredient as roaccutane, I kind of feel like it is a bit of a top-up of the original effects. Also, it appears to be helping with scarring from past spots since it has a peeling effect.
This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 28, 2014
amazing

Pros:

clears hormonal whiteheads and blackheads
Skin is sooooo smooth
Not drying after you get through first month it's great!

Cons:

Breakout like crazy within the first month

Im 27 and tried everything....so I never thought a topical would work for me my the birth control pill helped a lot but I wasn't 100% clear like I am now! My acne is hormonal and around chin and jawline. Many whiteheads,blackheads and I wouldn't say cysts but ones that are under the skin bit painful and take a week to go down. I started Isotrex 0.5 on the 16th December and let me tell you I broke out very bad the first 2 weeks I didn't really suffer from really bad dryness and redness it was dry and red but not bad where I couldn't wear make up I could, but yes after 6 hours it looked a lil flakey but only close up. I would normally have a few spots right but now I have zero!!!! None!!! I have a few red marks but they will go in a few months and I have a few lil proper scars which I've heard dermaroller is good for! Point is stick with this product it gets worse before it gets better and I stayed in over Xmas and New Years :( but I'm so happy!! I even stopped taking spironolactone I was prescribed this and spiro not been taking the spiro for 2 weeks going to see how it goes I may not need it at all I really think all I need is this topical! Just make sure you use this every night once your skin gets use to it and you will be fine i missed a few nights and whiteheads crept back again so don't be lazy! I did use this every second or third night the first week but for some reason my skin could take it and I thought I'm just gonna bear it and use it every night and I do not regret it! It's get out every single thing you have underneath! Try it give it at least 12 weeks and you will be so happy!!!! You will be miserable the first month..but it does get better I will use this forever..until I want to get pregnant lol!
This Was Helpful

16 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 3, 2016
Great review. Like yourself I started this medication just before xmas. It stopped me from going out over New Years Eve because my skin was so bad. I've tried every topical and medication under the sun I'm just gonna stick this one out and pray for some results , thanks
October 16, 2013
Isotrexin

Pros:

cleared up skin very well after a few weeks
left skin quite smooth

Cons:

painful to apply
leaves a residue
when first used acne increases greatly

Ok so I have mild acne, almost verging on severe. When I first started with this product, it made my skin go very red and my acne doubled. This was really hard because I didn't want people to see my skin like this. However, after reading other reviews I decided to keep using it and after a few weeks it started to really work. When applying it though, it had a very painful acid-like sting, and I could not stretch my face because the product would crack. It also left a peeling residue when I woke up in the morning but this can be easily washed off with a cleanser. Had a very strong smell as well.
This Was Helpful

15 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 23, 2009

Pros:

gets rid of most acne, makes my face oiler when i wake up in the morning, faded a random freckle, smaller pores

Cons:

takes a while to work, flakey skin, difficult to use only pea, and irritation if i use too much, blackheads still havent faded.

I've been using it for 3 months.I have light acne. Whiteheads and blackheads. Here is some advice: -Do not pick your acne. it will take longer to go away and might scar for a few weeks, like mine did. Thankgod it went away. - Applying a pea sized amount is diificult. Just try to spread it as far as possible and only do small sections of the face at a time. with small amounts. -make sure the lid is sealed tight!!! -oil moisturizers - jojoba oil, olive oil, argan oil... dont work well with isotrex. Try cetaphil, kiels...etc instead. I highly recommend graftobian oxyderm. It took ages to find, but i had 0 reaction. and wait for at least 30 minutes before you apply moisturizer. -be patient.give this medication at least 3 months.
This Was Helpful

15 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 29, 2016
2 weeks in
I am a 26 year old female suffering from mild normal acne on my chin and jawline area. I have always had clear skin up until a year ago when I started getting breakouts around my mouth and chin. In the last year I've tried benzoyl peroxide gel which didn't do anything other than make my skin red and sore and flakey. I then tried a topical liquid antibiotic to apply to the affected area ( I can't remember the name of it). This also didn't work. I then tried lymecycline and took these antibiotics for 3 months - leaving me with clear skin. The doctor wanted me to stop taking them due to effects on my liver. After just a few weeks of stopping them my spots came back. I went to see a dermatologist and was prescribed isotrexin. I've been told to put a thin layer of the gel over the affected areas at night time after washing my face but before moisturising, so that the product can sink in. I don't find this product sore or difficult to use. I don't feel any stinging when putting it on like other reviews mention. It dries and goes a little crusty. I have however (like all the reviews say) had a big breakout. I've gone from just a couple of manageable spots to several at once which I find difficult to hide with make up. I've been using the gel for two weeks and my skin has definitely got worse. My dermatologist has told me to use it for two months then to go back and see him to review the progress. I will persevere with it until then. Interestingly he also told me the best face moisturiser to use was aqueous cream which you can buy in huge tubs for only a few pounds. I s water based and oil free and fragrance free etc. I will add another review once I am at the end no of my two months to let you know how it goes.
This Was Helpful

12 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 22, 2016
Please do let me know what happens next. I only applied it for a week now, and my acne got worst too. It gets me sick.
August 13, 2017
same !!!!! can you also detail if you are sleeping with the gel on only or if you're waiting for it to dry then adding moisturiser over the top while you sleep?
October 29, 2017
Please share where to get this gel? Which clinic to buy? Thanks.