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
August 31, 2007
Cons:
DRY, CRACKED LIPS are the worst part. You must have lip balm with you constantly. My face also got quite red - so I kinda looked like I ws blushing all the time. My other side effects were quite mild.
Its great. I've struggled to find a 'cure' for my acne for 10 years. Tried everything - creams, antibiotics, natural remedies etc etc. I hoped as a teenager that I would just grow out it but when I reached 28 I realised this wasn't going to happen. So Accutane was my last resort and I'm so happy i finally got it. I've got clear skin at last!
August 28, 2007
Pros:
Clear skin after trying every other acne product in the entire world. No more oily skin, no more breakouts, JUST CLEAR SKIN!! FINALLY!!
Cons:
nose bleeds (once i had 3x a day), super dry and flaky skin (contained with cetaphil moisturizer very well), VERY VERY sore joints, took 4 months to work, saw no improvements for 3 mos
If you have tried antibiotics and perscription creams, and they have failed, trust me on this one. Take Accutane. Actually, take Sotret, the generic. It was $10 a month with insurance, so, very reasonable. IT WORKS. Yes, it took four months but if I hadn't of used it, I'd still have severe acne and I'd probably also have scarring. Luckily, I took accutane before it scarred. My derm said if I had waited longer, I would have had severe scarring. So, don't wait and do research for a year. I didn't experience anything close to suicidal or depressed thoughts. The acne was making me depressed, and being on accutane made me a lot happier and more hopeful. I'm on my last month, and I can finally look in the mirror and see CLEAR SKIN. Haven't done that in two years.
August 24, 2007
Pros:
Insurance covers $10.00
Hopeful to hear all the pros on this site.....
Cons:
Slight Headaches after taking a pill (using advil to combat)
Nose (sinus) somewhat dry inside.
Just started 5 days ago 20 mg in am 20 mg in pm. Getting a little bit of a breakout on the back - new for me
My pores that were not to big at all to begin with are not almost invisible. (5 days! yahooo)
Will give an update.....next month! Had one cyst on face that I know by now would have been severe, although it is still there is not nearly the size it would be by now (as in all past cysts)
July 26, 2007
I'm 23 years old and have been suffering with acne for about 12 years. I was on accutane twice. The first time was when I was 18 years old and along with the minor side effects (dry lips and skin) it worked wonderfully. I had clear skin up until a year later when it all started coming back again but this time worse. I went to the derm and he prescribed me all sorts of creams like Differin,rentin A, tazorac, antibiotics and nothing seemed to work. I even tried pro Active which did nothing for me (although some of my friends swear it's the best product.) I was put back on Acutane with the highest dose and was on it for about a year. My skin cleared and looked great. About a year and half later my acne came back. Frustrated, I went back to the derm and he prescribed me Tazorac along with an antibiotic Monocyclin. I explained to him that I already been on Tazorac but he told me that after Accutane, your skin changes. Hopefully it works. I don't reccomend Accutane because it comes back.
June 27, 2007
Pros:
Gets rid of acne. My acne wasnt that bad just persistant, I have tried everything from glycolic acid peels to proactiv this stuff rocks!
Cons:
Severe dry lips
for me back pain but only for the 1st 2 weeks
this stuff works...yup it sure does nothin better it works from the inside out shrinking oil glands go to your dermo, or get 1 and discuss ACCUTANE With doctor
June 27, 2007
Pros:
IT WORKS, YES, NO ACNE, NO OIL, CLEAR SKIN, NO NEED TO SPEND HOURS IN FRONT OF MIRRORS AND KEEPING UP WITH REGIMENS. YOU "FORGET" U HAVE ACNE WHEN U 'BEGIN' CLEARING UP. Had to write the Pros in capitals, its really that important.
Cons:
Dry lips, sore joints/muscles but only if u exercise otherwise nothing. Nosebleeds if u blow ur nose too hard when u have flu
Lifesaver. It changed my life, from dull to bright. All the oil has disappeared and I dont even run to a mirror as often anymore. In fact I dont even think of my acne anymore because I dont have any acne worth complaining about. Almost finished 6 months and im 99% clear. The other 1% retin-a will finish off :) Read the horror stories? I know, so did I. At least u know what the WORST-CASE scenario is but its a TINY minority. The majority are here giving you their excellent feedback. I was on a low dose throughout my course so did not have many side effects other than dry lips. SAVE YOURSELF the hassle and time, leave the antibiotics and get yourself on the tane. IF ONLY I done this 10 years ago, would have saved me a decade of hell. Dont make the same expensive mistake like me and the rest of us. This WORKS.
June 12, 2007
Pros:
Cleared up my skin quickly, highly effective
Cons:
Dry lips and eyes, sore joints, some fatigue
I have had acne in one form or another since I was 15 or 16. I am now 54, yes you read that correctly. Over the years sometimes my acne is mild with one to three small pimples and other times I might have several or more of the deep cystic type. I have tried various antibiotics on and off for many years. Twenty years ago I was prescribed accutane when it first became availble. I took it for about 5 months and it worked very well. Mostly cleared everything up for about 5 years or so. It gradually came back and I was put back on oral and topical antibiotics. My doctor is now trying me on a low dosage of accutane (Claravis)and it is working very well so far. My skin is much less oily and I am not breaking out at all. I have only been on it for about one month. I'm hoping this time it will stay away for good. It's no fun having acne at any age but it is especially depressing when you are older. There are plenty of other medical problems to worry as we get older.
May 10, 2007
Pros:
Clears your skin like nothing else! Haven't had acne come back on my back, chest or arms since (been about 2 years)
Cons:
Horrible dry lips, dry skin, dry eyes, sensitivity to heat, heat rashes, sensitivity to products, headaches, nose bleeds, and the inconvience of seeing a doctor every month.
Worked amazingly for me from the first week on it. However, my face is now not looking so good(2years later). Although its not cystic yet.I have the worst kind of skin to deal with...dry skin acne. Oil doesn't serface for me. It may be the climate I live it. The acne on my face started to come back about 9 months after coming off it. At first I wasn't complaining cause the breakouts were normal for most people. A pimple here or there. But progressively just got worse. Now I'm back to not wanting to leave the house without makeup. My body is clear though. The doctors have me on the usual treatments or antibiotics and topicals that work at first a little then don't really work after awhile. Now I'm trying skin peels to see where that takes me. I'm sick of it! But I have known people with 6-7year results from Accutane without a trace of it coming back. I don't think doctors really know much about it or who it will or wont work on. Your just an experiment.
February 12, 2007
Pros:
cleared back and chest acne completely, and most of facial
Cons:
dry lips
After hearing about all the side effects with this product I was a little reluctant to begin. However after a few weeks I began to notice a huge change, my self esteem grew as the weeks past and I finally felt confident enough to wear clothes which revealed my chest and back. The dry lips were annoying but where a small price to pay for the clear skin.
February 2, 2007
Pros:
Miracle Drug!!
Cons:
Expect your entire body to be dry while on the medicine. Use a lot of moisturizers!
It works. I think that the gov. has made too big a deal out of it. Having acne is what made me depressed. Your skin will be dry, but its only for a couple of months.
Pros:
It really does work!!!