Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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Side Effects

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a retinoid that is taken orally and is approved only for severe acne. It is thought...

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a retinoid that is taken orally and is approved only for severe acne. It is thought to clear acne primarily through its ability to permanently reduce skin oil (sebum) production.

Isotretinoin is available in capsule form and is usually taken twice a day. Your physician will prescribe an initial dose, and this dose may increase or decrease depending on the response to treatment and side effects.

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3.9
2787
Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
33.4%
3
15.6%
2
7.4%
1
6.6%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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May 6, 2009

Pros:

i had the worst acne when i was in 7th grade, and i tried everything, proactive didnt work and neither did over the counter drugs, finally in 8th grade i was put on accutane and have never had acne since!!!

Cons:

it does make your acne worse before it gets better, makes your skin dry for a period of time and in some cases may make your skin red

this is the best medication i have ever used for acne. taking this medication has made my skin 100% better and i am more confident then ever. i have never had acne since being off this medication, and have never had more then 2 zits at a time. this product is amazing and does work. however the side effects may seem scary and extreme, they are very rare cases and its deffinately worth it. i would reccomend this product to anyone who has moderate-severe acne. i would not reccomend this product to someone who has light acne, sine the pills are very strong and and the treatments are expensive. my insurance didnt cover accutane, so i was fortunate enough to get samples every month and it cut the cost down immensly! great product and i strongly reccomend it!
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April 30, 2009

Pros:

Skin clearing up, no oilyness, less acne

Cons:

Severe skin & lip dryness...cannot have dirct contact with sunlight

It's great i love it. It put an end to all the misery i faced from acne. Even though there are side effects, but its all worth it, and i would take it all over again!
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April 28, 2009

Pros:

absolutely beautiful skin

Cons:

really dry lips
dry eyes

bring chapstick with you EVERYWHERE you go. other than that, i didnt think it was that bad my skin was absolutely perfect within 3 months of taking this medication and stayed that way for nearly a year. Accutane was the only thing that's ever worked for me.. definitely give it a try! it was one of the best things ever to happen to me. unfortunately, my acne did come back, but only about 20% as strong. i'm starting a second course in june to hopefully get rid of it for good...
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April 22, 2009

Pros:

It's going to work! I have been trying stuff for 20 years and I know this is it. I am moving on with my life in 3 months when my treatment is finally over! It's like chemo for acne.

Cons:

I am trying not to focus on the price I pay in my body... aches, chapped lips, dry nose, eyes, mood swings - pretty emotional a lot of the time. Scabs on my head from it being so dry, and I itch all over but its worth it!!! : )

This is my bottom line. My ticket out of skin obsession hell. I am ready to put in my time lik a big girl and get through this treatment and then enjoy the rest of my life without the stress and anxiety and frustration of having problem skin! If you have tried everything, then try it! And take it right, with a meal, use the same brand the entire time you are on it, don't miss a dose. And get support on this site when you get discouraged because it feels like its too hard. You can make it! : ) Blessings, ClaraB
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April 20, 2009

Pros:

Fantastic on nodular acne, starts working within a week to two weeks, clears up oily skin as well, extremely affordable with good insurance

Cons:

Extremely dry skin, chapped lips, redness, will take time on blackheads/whiteheads, extremely pricey WITHOUT insurance

This is absolutely the must-try gotta-have if you are trying to get rid of nodular/cystic acne - I've tried every over the counter medication, every antibiotic, every ridiculously priced foam and none of them did ANYTHING for the nodular acne except for this, and this has reduced the amount of them by at least 75% thus far, and it's been about a month. However - as for your run of the mill blackheads, whiteheads, standard acne, it's gonna take time I'm thinking - that is not clearing like magic, but is still having a much better response to isotretinoin than to anything else I had tried.
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April 9, 2009

Pros:

I used to Always get breakouts and the kind that come underneath our skin now say Good-Bye to acne, I rarely get a zit everymonth now.

Cons:

Dry lips (to a point that it burns and you cant even smile), dry skin (My skin is really sensitive and my hands broke out alot with exzema) Dry Hair, Pregnancy tests every month and blood work every 2 months.

I highly recommend this to people that are sick of their acne. This is the best thing that worked for me. I've tried, differin, tazorac, retinol A, Duac gel, Monocycline, and Doxycycline. Accutane was the best for me. I used the generic Claravis. Ive been off of accutane for about a week now because I finished my 5 Months, and my skin looks great! Now all I have to do is get rid of the light scars that I had before and Im acutally using Modern Friction from Origins, its a rice/wheat scrub that you use twice a week using it for a month is like you did microdermabrasion. Anyways I hope it works out good.
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March 31, 2009

Pros:

Best treatment you can get for acne, hands down. Clear skin within 1-2 months for first treatment. It only took about 2 weeks for my second treatment.

Cons:

Dry lips and skin. I've been off accutane for 2 years and am still addicted to chapstick (every 20 mins while taking meds, still use it every couple hours even off accutane). I have already had 2 treatments and the acne is back...again.

Everything else aside, it gets the job done. Dryness is an unavoidable side affect. I experienced minor depression and lacked interest in some of my usual activities, but the benefits outweighed the risks and my clear skin left me overall satisfied. The only problem is, my acne is back again in full force and I really would much rather not get on accutane again. 1 treatment is worth it....3 is not.
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March 6, 2009

Pros:

Clears skin up fast!

Cons:

Chapped lips, dry skin.

I've been on accutane now for only about 2.5 weeks, and my face has already dramatically cleared up! I take 40MG once a day. So far the only side effects I've experienced are the chapped lips and dry skin... no big deal. It's nothing a little moisturizer won't take care of. If you have any acne at all (whether severe or not), THIS IS THE DRUG TO TAKE. Don't even bother messing around with proactiv or any other over the counter treatments, those all suck. They're just a waste of money. Don't let all the side effects mentioned in other reviews scare you. My dermatologist told me that he's prescribed accutane thousands of times, and has never seen any serious problems.
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March 5, 2009

Pros:

gets rid of acne, hair is less greasy, pores smaller, and skin is so smooth!

Cons:

chapped lips

AMAZING! don't let the warnings put you off. I tried everything for years, and had to spend so much time on my face before this. any makeup and cream would make me break out! now i only wash with a gentle cleanser and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize and im good to go. seriously try it..i've been on it for about 4 months, and so many people have complimented me on my skin.
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February 27, 2009

Pros:

So easy versus applying creams and gels everyday. Simply take a pill twice daily and that's that!

Cons:

Don't get hung up on all the warnings. The prescribing information makes it sound like the world will stop spinning and plunge into darkness, but all it really does is give you dry lips. Buy a product called Cortibalm for dry lips.

Worked extremely well for the 6 months that I took it. Unfortunately it's been 6 months and I'm already back on Doxycyline Hyclate tablets, Differin gel, and Duac gel. However they work MUCH MUCH MUCH better than they did prior to Accutane. That's the one thing to remember! Accutane is not the be-all-end-all guaranteed "cure" from acne for life. Many people have their acne come back. But it's less severe and way less stubborn. I tried Aczone gel and it didn't really work for me. But using the Doryx, Differin, and Duac post Accutane my face has remained completely clear.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website