Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Results
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
2449
Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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April 15, 2009

Pros:

Clears acne reletively fast.

Cons:

Very dry skin, redness, and chapped lips.

It's worth it.
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April 15, 2009

Pros:

it cleared up my acne.

Cons:

my joints hurt a little but it was nothing compared to the joy of getting rid of my acne.however, ive been off it for about 4 months and im breaking out again.sooo i dont know anymore...gotta go back.

it works.
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April 15, 2009

Pros:

clears up acne, FOREVER. a true cure not just a treatment.

Cons:

incredibly expensive, side effects.

I experienced absolutely none of the side effects from this medicene and benefitted fully from its miracle powers. I was on it about a year ago, and have had about two pimples since then. I had moderatly severe acne and had been through everything from two years of anitbiotics to countless topical treatments. My derm finally brought this up to my mom and I, I was all for it. There is monthly blood testing, not so bad. And appts. But it was SOOO worth it. Even my paretns (who were the ones paying through the nose for this stuff) agree. The reason it was so incredibly expensive for my family was our insurance policy did not cover it, our perscriptions all go toward a ridiculous monthly deductable (we have since changed this).
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April 15, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up acne for good

Cons:

Slightly dry skin and chapped lips experienced

I had tried every type of acne treatment out there and had heard bad things about Accutane and was scared to use it. But, after discussing it with my doctor and her prescribing it to my weight, I was able to give it a try. Within a month my skin was looking better. And after the full 6 month treatment, my skin was completely clear and now it's been a year later and I have only had 2 pimples since. I recommend this to anyone and urge them not to waste money on other products that don't work.
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April 14, 2009

Pros:

Completely cleared acne

Cons:

Experienced all the side effects

After trying everything from antibiotics, differin, retin-a, etc. the derm finally (as a last resort) prescibed accutane. This was nearly 6 years ago, I stayed on the drug for about 4 months. Unfortunately, I experienced horrible side effects such as aching joints, where it was actually hard to get out of bed, worst joint pain was felt at night and in the morning. My face was terribly dry and literally flaking off. I also experienced severe depression. If you are prone even slightly to depression, I would advise taking an anti-depressant before and during accutane. I was fine for the first month and then out of the blue started crying one day and couldn't stop. My GP put me on prozac and then switched me to Zoloft. I had never been on an anti-depressant prior to nor since being off accutane. However, even with all the side affects, I swear by accutane. I am starting the cycle again, this time w no insurance. The Dr. said it will average about $700 per mo. but it's worth every penny!!
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April 13, 2009

Pros:

Clears up skin 100%, Results work long term, Success rate of like 95%

Cons:

Dry Lips, Dry skin and eyes, Cost (derm appointments etc) but so worth it.

This is fantastic. Was on it 6 yrs ago and it cleared me up 100%. Asked my derm for it again just to get rid of some acne that is slowly starting to come back. Its awesome tho. I reccommend it to everyone.
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April 13, 2009

Pros:

Clears up skin fairly well; smoother skin

Cons:

Didn't clear up acne completely, dry skin, chapped lips, severe headaches, back pain

Accutane definitely improved my skin, but after treatment (now a month and a half) every morning there are new pimples, although less extreme than before. Also, my face is extremely red still. I'm going to wait a month to see if the redness goes down and the pimples go away, but I'm a little disappointed with the results.
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April 12, 2009

Pros:

makes skin less oily, clears up acne scars, skin is smoother than ever before, leaves absolutely no blackheads in the end

Cons:

extremely chapped lips, skin was so dry that i got eczema all over my legs and occasionally arms, the inside of my nose got very dry

accutane is AMAZING. it's honestly a miracle. i'd tried every product out there, and realized i only had accutane left. i was very close to saying no to accutane because of reading about all the scary side effects, but they are honestly exaggerated. having constant chapped lips and dry skin is worth having beautiful skin in the end, trust me. accutane really does the job. i had horrible acne scarring, so even when i didn't have that much acne on my face it still looked horrible. accutane cleared them up for me. really, go for it. but make sure you've tried all the other options first!
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April 10, 2009

Pros:

Eliminated acne for 19 yrs.

Cons:

Chapped lips, dry skin

I was searching the net to see if accutane was still available. I had moderately-severe acne when I was 13 and my dr prescribed accutane. I was looking at the prices paid and I can say wow....accutane dropped a lot....my parents were paying almost $300 a month for the Rx. I used accutane for approx. 3 months and it was a miracle! I haven't had acne or even a zit or blackhead now and I'll be 32 this July. Only side effects were dry skin and chapped lips.......watch out for sun exposure too. You'll burn easy. Use lotion and chapstick and you'll be fine. Highly recommend accutane!!
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April 10, 2009

Pros:

clears up most of the acne, blackheads r gone, whiteheads r much less noticeable.

Cons:

dry skin, dry lips, terrible mood swings

overall this really helped me. i had very bad acne and i tried everything, i just finished accutane this past month and i read tons of reviews on all kinds of sites and after hearing of crazy side affects i was very hesitant. when i was on it my mood swings were the worst out of everything your always crabby and very emotional but as the months progressed i didn't have a problem with it. tips- use vasoline for your lips, it works like majic and any kind of chapstick or anything like that didn't work at all for me. also use clinique's dramatically different moisturizing lotion because it moisturizes your face without looking oily and if u use it often u will have no peeling and if u do it will only be a tiny bit. also make sure u do your ipledge right away or your account will get locked and its a big pain to call in and to a million things before u get your perscription. i think this is an amazing product and as long as u don't get pregnant and r safe while on it u should be fine
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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