Honestly, I had no hope of ever having clear skin. Since the age I hit puberty, my skin has haunted me everyday, and every time I looked in the mirror. Others have had worse, I knew, but somehow it still managed to frustrate me and be a constant bother in my everyday life. So, when my dermatologist said there is something that could make a difference, something that even offered the POSSIBILITY of CURING my acne - I leaped at the chance. This was only before she read of the list of serious and common side effects, before I researched the product online, and before I read the horror stories online of others. My cousins, who had taken it, pushed me to try it, but I really don't know what changed my mind. All I know is I tried accutane and I am SO HAPPY I did. My acne did get worse, and I did have to up my dosage. My skin did get PAINFULLY DRY, and my lips are chapped all of the time. But I use lotion daily and I carry chapstick where ever I go, and my skin hasn't been this clear in more than 5 years. I've been on accutane for 3 1/2 months and I don't regret it at all. If you have NO POSSIBILITY OF GETTING PREGNANT, and you are willing to work with your doctor and be conscience of side effects - This medicine gave me my skin back and gave me hope that I could one day look at my reflection without being distracted by acne.

I am a 25 year old acne sufferer, and after trying out every topical cream, face wash and medication for acne with continuous failures, I decided to use Accutane. I was afraid to, because of all the negative hype about the drug. It was definitely my last resort. I am so glad that I went on it. I didn't have any major side effects, I did not have an initial break out, and my skin began clearing up within a month of taking the pill. I was on it for 7 months on 60 MG, and now, 3 months after Accutane, my skin is still glowing and beautiful with a few tiny pimples here and there (Mostly monthly/hormonal pimples that clear up the next day) But nothing even noticeable. Other benefits of the drug are that my pores shrunk drastically, my skin is so much smoother than its ever been, and the scars have pretty much disappeared. I can walk outside without an ounce of make up on and I feel BEAUTIFUL!!! I hope my skin continues to stay this way, and I recommend Accutane for anyone who has tried it all and wants to give up. Best wishes to all on your journey to getting healthier skin!

I would like to share my experience with Accutane in hopes that someone that may be or has gone through the same thing as me and could give me some advice or just let me know im not alone on this. Throughout my teenage yrs I had a few pimples here and there like most teenagers, otherwise I had pretty nice skin. I started getting cystic acne at 18, I am now almost 23. I started Accuane in July '10. I am still on it and have a month left. I have been taking 80mg a day since Sept. and I am 90lbs so I think that is a pretty high dose for me and it has done nothing for me, I am still breaking out pretty much as much as I did before I started it and it makes me upset because so many people with worse conditions than me have cleared up within a few months and I just think what's wrong why isn't this working for me? I never broke out on my neck except for 1 or 2 cysts at a time at the most and they didn't last long or leave scars. Ever since I started accutane I break out pretty much the same on my face and I broke out like crazy on my neck and now not only do I have red marks all over my cheeks, I have them all under my chin and top of my neck. I know there are worse things in the world but for those who suffer from this know how I feel. I just dont understand, why did it start when it did? What causes it? Is it ever going to stop? Obviously Accutane isn't going to help me, so now what?

Took this when I was 25. At the time my skin was very bad. After the regime my skin was perfect for a few years. The acne came back after about five years but came back very mild and still is15yrs later. My Dr. was very responsible. Gave me a blood pregnancy and cholesterol test every month. Made me give up fatty foods and alcohol before starting Accutane.

This is only a medication for someone where nothing else worked. As a female, I had to sign up for iPledge and take quizzes every month, do pregnancy tests every month, and blood/urine tests. My cousin had to be taken off of it due to liver problems, so this medication has a high likelihood of causing issues, my issues were not too bad though. I had boils that would scar on my back and other places of my body. Today, after I think a year of being off accutane, I have clear skin except for very tiny random pimples. (size of a pencil tip)

Does what it's supposed to and cleared my skin completely.

I never wanted to go on accutane, I thought that I would try everything else but I didn't want to take it because I heard such bad things about it, but then realized that now they know so much more about this drug that they can tell you if you shouldn't go on it and where I am from they had regular check up's not only where my blood was tested but they also did mood tests. I am so glad I went on this medication, and if my children have the same problem when they are older and want to be put on this I would absolutely allow them to be. The life I was living with acne made me want to not be alive anymore, now I have accutane to thank because I am so happy with my life and I can finally say that I love myself. Totally worth it! I was on this medication for 6 months and now have been off it for a year and have 100% clear skin!

Background info- I'm 23 female and have been suffering from acne since the age of 17; my self esteem went to pot rather quick because of it. I was put on several different creams for months at a time, this made no difference. I was then put on four different medications (anything up to 6-8 months on each one) with absolutely no success. I went through stages of depression in relation to my acne and it did eventually cause me to lose my job. I was then referred to a hospital and after a VERY long process of appointments I was put on Accutane . Week one on Accutane : my face chest and back are very much covered in acne. Taking 20mg a day of Accutane Week two: Accutane caused a flare up on my face, more spots than usual around mouth and chin area, have noticed the skin on my face to be peeling in certain areas, mostly on my forehead and lips. Week three: Very dry lips, needing to use loads of lip balm all the time, still many spots around my face. Skin is peeling a LOT on my face- literally comes off like when you get bad sun burn, is a little saw and tacky when it does peel off, still got spots on my face and back. Week four: Chest area seems to be clearing slightly, lips are terribly dry, have been getting nose bleeds (never usually get them). Face spots are still there but haven't actually noticed any new ones in a couple of days. Week five and six: Now on 40mg a day. By the end of the week pretty much all my spots have gone. Still dry lips , very dry scalp and skin overall. Nose bleeds have gone. Have been experiencing back pains and aches but this might just be a coincidence. Skin does peel in places and is a little sensitive in those areas. Weeks seven to nine: Still on and remaining on 40mg. Sides of my mouth are constantly dry and cracking, lips still dry but all spots gone and no signs of new ones. My skin very easily breaks and will often find small bleeding cuts on my arms from only doing usual day to day things . Week ten + Still have one more month to go on Accutane but the results are remaining constant at the moment - no spots at all for the first time in years! The Accutane has been a very strong and difficult drug to take and I wouldn't say it has been easy because it hasn't - but I am loving the results and if I had to go back and do it all again, I would chose to take the Accutane again 100%!! Some tips I have picked up along the way: Drink loads of water- it really does help Use a 'hydration' shampoo and conditioner as you might find you get dry scalp Get a load of good lip balms and put one in evey bag and coat pocket you own Use dermol (can buy in any pharmacy) on dry areas of skin at night Use a good face cream every day and night Always carry a cream in your bag If your hands get tacky like mine did then put a small amount of talc powder on them before you do your hair (makes life a little easier) Use a hydrating face wash and scrub morning and night to keep your skin clean and to get rid of the skin that does peel off Always use a clean towel only for your face Take extra vitamins (I take vitamin C and zinc ) But do NOT take vitamin A! And finally have faith that Accutane might work for you, after my skin flared up in the first batch I was taking I became so upset I cried literally for days but I continued to take Accutane and I'll never regret it!

From march till december 2015 i was on roaccutane. Mostly it was a dosage of 40 mg. Side effects i had were dry mouth the whole process, end my sight wasnt optimal. I know that there are a lot of critiqes, but it is a life saver for a lot of people. In 2 months my skin cleared up. I'm 27 years old and have suffered from acne since i was 13. I think i don't have the worst acne, compared to others. But when I see what acne did with me, my personality and my looks... And what accutane did for me to solve like 80% of my physical en psychological dammage, ican only imagine what it can do to others. I really hope they will keep describing this stuff, because suicides, and trauma's and makin wrong choices because of what youve been trough, are very more dammaging then the health problems this stuff can cause. Its just: don't take this medicine lightly and wait at least till your 18 to make this decision. I will post photos in my account so you can get an idea of before and after. I know looks arent everything, but the pain in your skin, the itch, the smell and dirtyness are a nightmare. Everyone want to look there best, because thats fun!!!!! but do it for yourself.

After trying everything from commercial products such as Proactiv, Clearasil Etc to medical prescriptions such as minocycline i had severe acne covering my face and some on my back. I was on 40mg Roaccutane for a little more than one year and in the first three months my face had flare ups and i didn't think it would work then slowly but surely it did begin to gradually clear up until about 5 months later it was virtually gone. i have been off for one month now and so acne what so ever has appeared. Tips: -Get your dermatologist to inject your Cysts with a steroid called Cortisone each time you visit in combination with Accutane/Roaccutane. -Avoid using products with Benzyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid or labled antibacterial as it irritates the skin and switch to a gentle product such as Cetaphil. -Check lables on all products for Non-comedogenic. -If you can handle it ask you Dermatologist to extend your treatment for a few more months because your success rates will increase.