Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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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January 5, 2009

Pros:

I've been on this drug twice now - same time of year around winter my acne comes back. the first time round it worked a treat, i had 3 weeks left and didnt finish it. It took about 2 months to properly take effect. Second time only 2 weeks

Cons:

Dry lips, slight depression to major depression, dry skin, headaches, muscle and joint aches. dry eyes. BUT not as bad as you might imagine.

Use it - if your acne is severe its worth it, it'll bring your confidence back and you'll be living your life again in no time. This is the mother of all cures :D unfortunately i was part of the 30% of unlucky peeps who have to have a second course. but within 2-3 weeks my body recognized the drug and took effect immediately, im left with scars here and there which take time to heal as do all scars. The chapped lips is no fun at all but its nothing a little chap stick cant solve - as well as dry skin, just moisturize every now and then with something like E45 - dont get any fragrance'd moisturizer as that will burn or just irratate the skin. Your skin becomes a little sensitive over time, so its a bad idea to use any products on it, as well as rough exfoliation. anyway - im still on it for the second time now, and im coming up to 2 months of use. it works alot quicker the second time
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January 4, 2009

Pros:

This medication clears up acne so well-i felt normal again. I used to get irritation from shaving, it went away while on accutane. My nodular acne disappeared and is staying away.

Cons:

Dry skin and lips, blood tests monthly, and hassle with iPLEDGE program.

I have had acne for 8 years. I have always been afriad to wear certain clothes becuase of how much acne was on my chest and back. I have tried so many over-the-counter treatments and prescription drugs, that it's just sad. I was finally recommended accutane and i doubted it at first. I didn't want to have to be on birth control, and i thought a five month program was too long. I tried it about a year ago, and on the second month my face was amazingly clearer. unfortunatly, my acne came back about two months ago, and i think it was because i had a lot of gaps monthly between medication because of the hassle of the iPLEDGE program. My doctor put me on it again exactly 26 days ago-and my face is clearing up again.
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January 4, 2009

Pros:

I have used it for 2 months now and I have seen a n improvement in everything on my face besides my chin which was the worst of my acne going into accutane.

Cons:

my chin is still getting inflammation and my body is also getting the same amount of inflammation that it used to.

the side effects have been dry lips, dry eyes, dry hair, dry face, and I even got excema on my arms.

Im sure that I havnt seen the full results from accutane yet but I have improved in areas where I used to have acne like my jaw line, nose, and forehead so it definetly has helped, and my doctor just raised my dose from 40mg a day to 40mg one day and then 80mg the next so I just switch off everyday. I have had a lot of side effects but it could also be attributed to the cold winters in Canada that dont really help dry skin. But all of the side effects that I listed Ive been able to control.
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January 4, 2009

Pros:

-No pro's so far....ive been on it for almost 2 months and i notice NOTHING!

Cons:

-No improvement
-Dry lips and skin

I fear ill never get clear
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January 4, 2009

Pros:

very clear skin, blackheads are starting come out.....getting comments all the time about how good my skin looks!

Cons:

extremely dry/cracked lips..seems to go in spurts. Aquaphor and vit e applied to the lips works great. taking vit e geltabs as well 800 IU to help with dryness. Very sore back and neck all the time, and annoying intestinal problems.

I've been taking it for a month and half and on a very low dose of 20 mg. Next month going up to 40 mg. Right now just experiencing the sore back muscles and intestinal issues. The lips are doing good for right now and my face is clear. I have suffered from acne since 13 or so, I'm 25 now and have tried antibiotics, topical retin-A, Proactiv and nothing works permanently.
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January 3, 2009

Pros:

approaching month 2 and noticing significant improvement

Cons:

dry lips and skin

hope it keeps working
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December 31, 2008

Pros:

No more acne
Better looking face

Cons:

Some flare ups
Chapped Lips

This product is a miracle
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December 30, 2008

Pros:

I completed a 6month regimen of accutane in July and have been off of the medication for 5 months now. My skin is doing fantastic and I have not had to use any meds (rx or otc) since.

Cons:

Chapped lips, dry skin - nothing that couldn't be fixed with chapstick and lotion! Blood tests/pregnancy tests every month were a pain as was dealing with the pharmacy/iPledge. That being said, the treatment was still completely worth it.

I had moderate to severe acne for 7yrs & have been on almost every prescription and over the counter acne medication there is. Nothing worked. I finally found a derm who listened to me & suggested accutane. I personally had fewer side effects on accutane than many of the other medications I had been on. My skin began clearing up within the first 2 months. I have had a couple of pimples since being off the medicine - usually around my period. They have been VERY small and clear up very quickly. Before going on this medicine realize that everyone reacts differently to different medications. What works for one person may not work for you and side effects differ from person to person. Also, it's easy to get excited when you start seeing results but you MUST finish your regimen or the medicine will not work properly and your acne could come back. If you've tried most everything else and are frustrated I would highly recommend you give accutane a try. I'm very thankful th
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December 27, 2008

Pros:

Worked really well.... Have been off of it for about 4 months now...And still keeping my fingers crossed, that my acne will not come back..

Cons:

I was tired, moody, chaped lips, dry eyes, dry nose, and sometimes had a bloody nose...

Proactive does not work!!! Nor does any other acne medicine that I have tried.... I got my first pimple when I was 14 and wish I would of known about Accutane then.. I am now 23, and hope to keep my clear complexion, for the rest of my life....
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December 26, 2008

Pros:

VERY effective. Absolutely worth blood tests and dryness. Accutane changed my life for sure!

Cons:

Dry, cracked lips. Blood tests, and very expensive w/out insurance. I had mood swings also.

I had the worst acne before i went on accutane...and now my skin is completely clear! accutane is totally worth every blood test and every time you have to put on chapstick. i would definitely recommend accutane, especially if you are self-conscious about your acne.
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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