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
January 5, 2014
definitely worth it!
Cons:
very high cholesterol
sore joints/back
dry skin and lips
i started going to the dermatologist for acne when i was in 8th grade. I tried everything, over the counter things first in 7th grade and tried things like minocycline, bactrim, and a few other pills and lots of topicals. finally, halfway through 10th grade i started accutane. I took 40mg for about 9 months, and just finished it a few weeks ago.this is the first pill to ever clear up the acne on my back. my skin is about perfect now! while taking the pill i got only a few breakouts the whole time and they went away in just a couple of days. After being off of it for a few weeks, I do have a few very small pimples. But they gave me Differin and when i put it on the acne is gone the next day! I did have a few side effects like high cholesterol which was kind of a hassle, but overall it was completely worth it. This pill changed my life. I had months of always having to have a chapstick with me, not being able to lay flat on my back cause it hurt, and taking fish oil pills, but it was totally worth it to me. i am so thankful for this medication!
December 21, 2013
Currently using 40 mg Isotrentinoin
Pros:
Reduction in acne
Cons:
a little dryness
bruise easily
I just started using this product 7 days ago. I have had acne for about 3 years and I've tried practically every treatment available to me. I have tried doxycycline, clindamycin, penicillin, retin A, birth controls, hormone treatments and tons of topical treatments. The doxycycline did work for about 5 months but then it stopped working so I decided to try Accutane as a last resort. So far I've been on it for 7 days and I've noticed improvement, No more cystic acne and a significant decrease in the size of the spots, I still have some redness and spots but not nearly as bad. The acne on my back is completely gone. The dermatologist told me that my acne could get worse for a little while before it gets better but so far there has only been improvement. I really hope that this treatment continues to work and I will update on the progress. So far I haven't had many side effects. I've had a little dryness but not nearly as much as I expected, I just use a little extra moisturizer and Chapstick and I'm fine. It could be because I just started using the product so I'll let you know if it gets worse. The only other side effect is that I bruise really easily! which is strange because I wasn't expecting it. I'm super clumsy and now I have tons of
bruises. The only other downside of Accutane is the blood tests. I have to get a blood test every month, which I'm dreading but so far the Pros significantly outweigh the cons.
December 18, 2013
It worked great, but great results may not remain
Pros:
Totally clear skin
One pill a day
Cons:
Dry skin, lips, and eyes
May not have lasting results
Hassle with government protection of drug and blood tests once a month
I went on Accutane after 2/3 years of awful acne, especially on my cheeks and chin. In a few months, maybe 2/3, I started really noticing results. The blood tests and government protection on the drug are a hassle but so worth it. But let me just make myself clear on one thing that drives me crazy about others' thoughts on Accutane! I had absolutely NO, and I mean not ONE other side effect except dryness of the skin, lips and eyes. Maybe I'm different from others, but my boyfriend was on it too and had no other effects, as well as two of my good friends and my cousin. Please do not let all the hype of side effects prevent you from clear skin and confidence. We all deserve it! But also consider that Accutane, while it works miracles, may not give you lasting results. My acne came back in about 5 months and now I'm on Spiro, which really is my miracle drug. But regardless, that does not take away my recommendation.
December 18, 2013
It's the cure.
Pros:
Cured acne
Simple to use
Cured acne, did I mention that?
Cons:
Costs (will vary by insurance)
monthly blood tests
dry skin and minor aches
My version of accutane was called Claravis. I took it for about 6-7 months twice in my life so far. I took once as a teenage boy and again 15 years later. I've have 97% clear skin now for about 1 1/2 years. My insurance did not cover cover accutane, because my insurance sucked. So, I paid out of pocket each time, like $400 dollars. However, this is not the norm. It was the best $2,400 I ever spent. I paid $2400 for a cure to acne. If your insurance rocks, you may around $450 for a cure. I think the office visit to the dermatologist alone is $300 without insurance. The most annoying thing was about one week of a breakout. Then, after that, it was just dry skin and some minor aches in my back. Also, you have to take the monthly blood tests. Totally worth it.
November 23, 2013
Dissapointing
Pros:
Clears Cystic Acne
Pores look smaller
Cons:
Depression/Liver problems
Dry flaky skin
Acne comes back
I have suffered from bad cystic acne for about a decade. about 3 years ago I decided to take some time off from college and come home and give Accutane a shot. I was excited to see that my face was clearing up rapidly (I started on 30mg). However, I was constantly nauseous even though I was on a special diet. I also became extremely depressed. I would spend days at a time laying in the couch not being able to move. At this point my blood results were crazy and indicated that my liver was extremely irritated. I stopped treatment immediately for about a month, and then went back on it at 10mg. The side effects were pretty much gone except for super dry lips and dry skin. My skin was so dry that the soles of my feet would flake. After I finished the treatment, my skin looked amazing. I was happy to be done with acne forever. EXCEPT it came back about 2 months after I stopped taking the pill. First mildly, and within a year it was as if I had never done the treatment at all.
November 22, 2013
I love this drug!
Pros:
Beautiful clear skin in 2 weeks!
Cons:
Hair loss
Eczema on hands
I am 26/ female and have suffered from adult/ hormonal acne since I was 22. Cystic acne on the jaw, neck and chin, as well as small pustules on my forehead that just kept reappearing no matter what I did. I tried everything under the sun (Yaz, spironolactone, antibiotics, topicals). A new dermatologist finally convinced me to try Accutane. I am so grateful to her! Accutane has been amazing for my self esteem. I've been on the drug for 1.5 months (first month at 30 mg and second at 40). I had a small initial breakout the second week, but I normally breakout that week (thanks, hormones). After that, NO ACNE! I haven't had a new pimple/ cyst anywhere on my body/face since then. My old acne is practically gone. I am still left with some hyperpigmentation from past acne, but I expect that to fade over time. The side effects aren't nearly as bad as everyone says they are. My skin isn't that dry, just not oily any more. I used to blot my forehead at the end of the day and it would douse the paper in oil like a french fry. My lips peel a bit, nothing extreme though. And I now have eczema on my hands but it's pretty easy to manage with very thick lotion at night. My only real concern is hair loss. After a few weeks on the drug, I noticed visible thinning of the hair around my forehead. My hair was already thinning a bit before I started Accutane, but I believe the drug is exacerbating the loss. My dermatologist said this is extremely rare; I guess I'm unlucky. But I'm willing to cope with that side effect to keep this beautiful skin. I'm so happy I finally took the plunge with this drug.
November 16, 2013
only 17 days in, amazing results
Pros:
Cleared/clearing acne
no IB
Cons:
Hair was falling out first week or two, not anymore.
Dry lips and face.
Tried everything, nothing working. Started Accutane 17 days ago and it's been uphill from there. My doctor started me on 20 mg once a day and it seems to be enough. My acne dries up so quickly and basically falls off my face in 1-2 days. Before accutane I had mild-severe acne. Anywhere from 2 to 10 huge cysts on my chin and around my nose. After a few days of Accutane, it all started to go away! No initial breakout, my derm said I wouldn't get one on 20 mg but I didn't believe him. Only thing negative about this is my face and lips are dry, all managable tho. Not clear yet, but everyday it gets better and better ha! I'm pretty stoked. Go listen to STS9!!!!
November 14, 2013
Best thing for acne
Pros:
it works
new confidence
no major side affects
Cons:
hyperpigmentation takes longer to fade
dry skin/lips
I'm on my third month of accutane and I love this product. Why I never went on it earlier is beyond me. I have noticed a SIGNIFICANT improvement in my acne in only 60 days. While my skin is not 100%, it's a hell of a lot better and the only side affect I've ever experienced was the normal dry skin/lips which was fixed with a good moisturizer. The only down fall is the hyper pigmenation that shows once acne fades.. This isn't from the medication. It's just the natural process of healing however it does take longer to fade on Accutane but does eventually. Over all, glad I found this. ($8.90 on extended medical plan in Canada)
November 8, 2013
Works if you will die with it
Pros:
all, still looked like human, probably not the worse
over 10 years
Hello, this product will work as long as you keep using it, after that it does not, I used it for 6 months(I do not want to throw my life away)(maybe it's because i had acne problems so long, don't know)), and it's really dangerous product so I better use BP without any problems now, it's a miracle product (just use BP like smart people not like desperate people and it will work.
!!!!
About the BP miracle (I had acne over 10 years, now my skin has scars) -- I have noticed more better results than BP clean solutions, I recommend Dr. Wolf , Acne fug (it's was the only thing with BP in my country, and now I can not stop using it!!!), Acne fug is 5% BP and has alcohol and some other clearing skin agents(it's stored something like 2-7 decrees) (the paper recommends it for hormonal acne (hormons cause acne etc), the acne that other products can't fight), I use it once a day and works much better than any BP solution so far (It can't get any better, so I stay at this product. If I will not use acnefug for several days(and not showering) the acne comes back, some pimple or pimples appear, but if using this product they disappear after 2-3 days completely), no flakiness or anything(BP makes skin look a bit lifeless, but this product not). Only once a day!!!!(I shower once a day!)(it's quite effective so please not use that often) I also use moisturizer with lipids and after that my skin is not try and feels good. Note: I am promoting healthy living and am exercising a lot. ///
November 7, 2013
Finished Accutane and now scars?
Pros:
cleared acne
confidence
Cons:
scarring
redness/redmarka
dryness
I finished Accutane in April of this year, it worked good, was on for 5 months. Then this September I asked my derm about my facial scarring and redness, and she suggested Palomar laser. So I did 2 treatments 4 weeks apart, I had breakouts after both treatments, thought it was from laser but im not sure anymore, because I am still breaking out on places where I did not even get the laser done, my next appointment is next Friday, and I don't know what to do, the 2 treatments have filled in my pick scars pretty good, but still could use more treatments, but these breakouts... im debating if I should just ask to go on Accutane again? suggestions? opinions? I can also provide pictures if needed.
Thanks
Pros:
clear skin!
very little upkeep