Acne.org Products
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 21, 2007
Cons:
Drying to the skin. Requires periodic blood tests to check for liver damage.
My acne is was moderate, but not very controllable when I went on Accutane. After one course of treatment, my skin was the clearest it had been since elementary school! My acne has never been as bad as it was before I went on Accutane, and is now much more controllable. The only real problem I had with it was an outbreak of eczema, but that was controlled with a facial moisturizer and a topical steroid for my hands and feet.
November 20, 2007
Pros:
This is the only product that has cleared up my face and I have been dealing with acne since I was 12 years old and I am now 23.
Cons:
I suffered a stroke from the combination of this medication and the required birth control that you must take with it when I was 17. Now my acne is back and I am trying to find a method to clear it up.
This product works but be careful of the side effects. I had to get a blood test every month and thought that I would be ok health wise but then I suffered from a stroke. I know have to deal with having a stroke on my medical history which increases the risk of other things in my life like having a baby.
November 6, 2007
Pros:
NO oily face to deal with. Acne goes away after three months. It is weird to see my face clear and my pores look great!
Cons:
Dry chap lips, can become bothersome because you will take the dead skin off even though you know not too.
I was offered this when I was in high school, I didn't due to side effects. I regret that. I have anxiety and this drug hasn't really had no emotional problems. I was worried over nothing. Only problems is dry lips, couple of headaches and minor aches in legs. I have had a horrible time with oily skin. Always going to the restroom to wash my face several times a day and even using my hands to take the oil off. But this drug works. If you have insurance use it! Had I use this in high school I wouldn't be dealing with scars today. This is a risk worth taking!
October 30, 2007
Pros:
Completely eliminated nodules and cysts and therefore prevented scarring.
Cons:
Extremely dry, pale, somewhat wrinkly skin, irritaton, peeling, horrible chapped lips, frequent nosebleeds, dry eyes
There is simply nothing that works better for nodular-cystic acne, especially after all other treatments have failed. It saved my face from the horrible scarring caused by cystic acne. It did not eliminate minor breakouts after the course of treatment. The side-effects are severe, but are worth the price for clear skin.
October 5, 2007
Pros:
My face had absolutely no oil, was really smooth, and by the end of 6 month course my acne was nearly gone!
Cons:
DRY SKIN AND LIPS!!!!!
Back pain, bloody nose, skin peeling and increased sensitivity to the sun. I also hate needles, so it sucked to do the blood test every month.
I am 19 and Caucasian. I had pretty moderate acne with whiteheads, blackheads, cysts you name it and accutane took care of it all. I did indeed have the initial breakout which lasted from months 2-4, and it was some of the worst acne I have ever had. But it cleared up during month 5 and my skin was starting to slowly heal itself. I had a couple zits every week during the last few weeks on the accutane, which is better than I could have ever hoped for. I just finished my 6 month course a few days ago and I could not be happier. I wish my acne scars and redness would go away, but that's another thing to deal with. I'm just hoping that my acne won't return for a long, long time. If you are looking to take this miracle drug, take caution of the side-effects and know what you're getting into.
October 3, 2007
Pros:
Got rid of my active acne.
Cons:
Extremley dry lips, nose bleads, got chest pains when i first started my treatment, expensive without insurance, also the blood test every month can become expensive if you dont have insurance.
The Medicine works! isotretinoin is highly effective. now i dont recommend this for everyone to take becuase of the serious side effects. I took this medication for 6 months an all of my body organs are still doing good. Increased my cholesterol levels but after the treatment went back to normal. At first i was really freaked out by taking it just because of all the sideeffects. but looking back i would take this medication again if i had to. To this date havent had a huge break out do get occasional pimples on my forehead but nothing to what i used to have.
September 27, 2007
Pros:
IVE TRIED EVERYTHING for acne. I've only been on Sotret(generic accutane) 40mg once a day for 2 weeks and my acne has already improved.
Cons:
dry lips, but nothing too bad, Blistex Medicated and Aquaphor work well. Chest muscle pains...? Not sure if this is caused by the medication or not..
Had persistent acne for years but this summer I broke out soooo bad. Ive had moderate-severe acne (cystic, and all the other kinds of pimples all along my jawline, cheeks, and chin) since May. I started researching accutane. The side effects and stories scared me as Im sure it scares everyone, but the Doc said if you live a healthy lifestyle and get your bloodwork done every month its a great drug for treating acne. This medicine was really hard for me to get through my insurance and the ipledge and blood draws are a pain but I finally got Sotret early this September. I am 20 years old and I have a very small build (5'5, 110 lbs)so they started me on a low dose of 40mg once a day (start very low to get your body used to the medicine and you will have very slight and tolerable side effects. Its only been 13 days and my face is already smoother and clearer. I am still red but I am very hopeful. I can;t wait to finish my course! Ill be posting another review in a few months
September 5, 2007
Pros:
It dose work
Cons:
Dry lips and monthly blood test
I have been on the treatment for 5 months now and I would say my face is 50% better. The first month my face broke out worse than it ever has, that was pretty depressing. For that reason I don't recommend starting treatment while in school however everyone reacts differently. Slowly my face started progressing to the point were actual nodules were few and far between. An offshore fishing trip burned my face beyond belief however after the skin finished peeling my acne was gone. Now it is starting to resurface I guess I have to do a second set,
September 3, 2007
Pros:
none
Cons:
permenent long term side effects (back pain,insomnia,neuropathy,joint pain,depression and so on)
This posison ruinned my life. I did not have much side effects during the treatment but all the side effects showed up once I stopped taking it. This drug should be off the marcket!!!
September 3, 2007
Pros:
CLEAR SKIN!!!!! excess oil disappears within about 5 days of starting it
Cons:
Dry skin, dry lips. You must drink alot of water in order to keep hydrated
Closest thing to a cure for acne. Before accutane i would avoid going to social gatherings and was constantly checking the lighting of certain places in hopes that my acne would be less noticable, but now i just do whatever i want without even thinking about my skin. I was on accutane twice as i had quite oily/resistent skin, but both courses were well worth it. My pores were quite clogged and i broke out for the first two months, but after that i was 100% clear. Such a great feeling waking up in the morning knowing your not going to see one pimple. My face would sometimes get a bit irritated from shaving and i'd get a couple of pimples but while on accutane i had none of this. I've been off accutane for 3 months and i havnt had a single blemish on my face in 8 months. IF YOU HAVE ACNE GO ON ACCUTANE - ITS AMAZINGGGGGG
Pros:
Worked after only one round of treatment, and kept my skin looking great for a long time afterwards!