Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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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5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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July 7, 2009

Pros:

It works! My skin is clearer than it has ever been, and I have even been receiving compliments on my complexion now. I had tried everything and nothing else seemed to work - Proactive, Mary Kay, Avon, over the counter treatments, and prescriptions.

Cons:

Very dry lips, crack open and bleed, dry nose, dry skin on face. Very sensitive to sunlight - burn very easy even with sunscreen. And now, just as I'm nearing the end of treatment, stomach cramps and diarreah.

Overall, it has been worth it for me. Everything has cleared up nicely and seems to be staying that way. My skin isn't oily anymore. I did have some breakouts a little while ago and a very bad sinus infection which the doctor said wasn't related but I belive it was. Also, my sister had been on the drug a number of years ago and had trouble getting pregnant later in life, again doctor said there wasn't any relation but I believe otherwise. Now I have had the stomach cramps and diarreah for about two weeks. I called in to see if this would cause problems, I have a history of colitis and irritable bowl syndrome in the family. I was told it wouldn't matter or have any effect, they actually told me it wasn't related at all. I'll be very glad to get off of the medication.
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July 7, 2009

Pros:

Completely clear!!! Beautiful smooth skin, no scarring and reduced the use of makeup! I want to believe that it reduced razor burn as well :)

Cons:

Dry skin, dry lips, dry nose, itchy scalp. Irritability, frequent nightmares, depression,

I used accutane for the first month and it completely cleared everything! My acne was not as severe as some, but I did have those huge nodule-cyst-like pimples under my skin, mainly around my chin. It took care of those painful, embarrassing F***ers in the first month. The cons I listed above are worth the end results. Of course everyone is different, so bottom line, if you have acne of any kind, take accutane, follow the doctor's instructions, be consistent with the medication and listen to your body! It knows best!
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July 7, 2009

Pros:

Will clear up all of your acne. Will make skin much less oily. If you have good health insurance, it's really affordable ($10 a month for 60 generic isotretinoin pills & free bloodwork, but $30/month for the derm visit).

Cons:

EXTREME dry peeling lips EVERYDAY. Bloody nose EVERYDAY. Very achy muscles (back and legs especially). Dry skin: face and body. Annoying to get bloodwork done monthly and answer ipledge questions.

I was on a five month program from April to the end of August. I took 80 mg worth of isotretinoin everyday. My acne was all gone by the end of the fourth month. If you have horrible acne, and you've tried everything else, go on this medicine. I strongly recommend going on it during summer months, because you're skin won't be as dried out as it would be in the winter. (I layed outside and tanned about an hour almost everyday. I put lotion on before I go out, and my skin doesn't get dry or flake or anything.) It's very important to moisturize daily. If you are hesitant, at least try it! You can always stop the treatment if it disagrees with you. I could not be happier with my decision. My skin is so smooth and clear now. This is a miracle drug.
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July 7, 2009

Pros:

- works well
- EASY
- good cost($)/reward(-acne) ratio

Cons:

- Everything will be dry. (my only real side effect)
- Initial breakout period (wasn't too bad for me because as an acne sufferer I was used to random breakouts on top of the usual stuff)
-iPledge

Accutane has been the first treatment (of oh so many) that I have found to be significantly beneficial in my fight against acne. Visible results may take time but they are entirely worth the wait for me. Compared to every other treatment/regiment/etc, Accutane is undoubtedly the easiest-my favorite part. I swallow a pill 2x/day with a meal and that's it. Yeah, I wash my face with a gentle cleaner maybe 1-2x/day but that is NOTHING compared to the hassle of putting on 10 different creams 2x/day, every single day. Generic formulations + insurance = cost is minor. For Dry : skin = moisturizer, eyes = good eye drops, & lips = Vaseline "Lip Therapy" (Small Tube-style [Vaseline without the awkward tub basically]). The worst part about Accutane treatment is the ridiculous hoops that the iPledge program makes patients/doctors/pharmacists jump through. Frankly, Accutane has made me a happier person instead of a depressed one. Acne made me depressed, Accutane made me believe in mir
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July 6, 2009

Pros:

It does work and that is the only pro.

Cons:

I experienced horrible side effects. My lips were always super dry, I became depressed, had suicidal thoughts, and I had irritable bowel syndrome, panic attacks and I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I had to get of after just 2 months.

I do not recommend Accutane to anyone. I understand that not everybody experiences the side effects, but please don't take a chance because that's exactly what I did. For acne scars I recommend laser surgery. It might be expensive, but it really works.
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July 3, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up skin nicely temporarily.

Cons:

Had four sinus infections during the time I took the medication. It could get very painful, and the sore skin in my nose caused bleeding. Sore eyes, chapped lips, feeling sore and stiff to a degree, etc.

I would have thought it was worth it if it had cleared me up permanent. I was unfortunately in the 20% who get the acne back - I suspect it is because I get the acne due to hormones.
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July 1, 2009

Pros:

getting clearer faster than other products

Cons:

dry lips and face {but i was using othe medicine wth it}

go get it im 17 and i had sever acne for years i tries exposed,acnefree,clear skin, and even proactive. this is the only one that had a hoard hitting effect its only a shame that i dident try it earlier
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July 1, 2009

Pros:

The best thing that happened to my skin. Its amazing.

Cons:

takes 6 months. may be side effects.

THIS STUFF WORKS MIRACLES. there may be little side effects. I was 100% clear of severa acne and bacne in 6 months. wow.
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July 1, 2009

Pros:

Hair never gets greasy, same w/ face, acne somewhat subsiding

Cons:

fatigue, nightmares, dry/sensitive skin, chapped libs, dry nose & eyes, slightly thinning hair, can't drink, negative affect on athletic performance

Side Effects - It seems like I have a lot of cons, but it looks worse when I write it out than it actually is. I try to subside most of the cons; skin - spf/moisturizer, lips - chapstick, eyes - eyedrops . . . make sure to take multivitamins without vitamin A. I've never been frightened enough by the nightmares for it to really affect me. I will say the fatigue is pretty bad, I've been an athlete my whole life and have never felt so run down so often for how much I workout and should be in very good shape. Acne - My dermatologist is having me start at 20mg a day for a month, then 40 mg /mnth . . . . 60 mg . . . . 80mg (just started 3rd month). She said that she would work me up to 80mg and still go another 4-5 months on that. That seems like a lot, I think, but i'm a pretty big guy (6'4" - 215). It seems like after each monthly change my acne gets worse then gets better towards the end of the month, so I'm confident that it will work well once I am a couple months into
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June 28, 2009

Pros:

It's humid where I live and for once my face isn't oily and broken out. Less makeup. Hair is less oily. Seems to be working?

Cons:

dry lips, eyes, hair, and skin. blurry vision. lower back pain (helped by drinking A LOT of water and tylenol). thinning hair around temples and top of head (not noticable to others yet). slight rash on arms. very sensitive to sun even w/spf

Getting ready to go speak with my doctor about the side effects and if it's actually worth staying on. I am sensitive to perscription drugs so I seem to be seeing a lot more side effects than most. Very costly for me. I have very good insurance and it has covered just about everything I have ever been on BUT accutane. I take the generic Claravis- one 40 mg pill twice daily. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping this will work. I like the results I'm seeing, but it's summer and I can't go outside during the daytime because I burn even with high spf.. so much for music festivals, baseball games, and pool during the day... I haven't been on long enough to recommend it or not.
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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