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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3
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2
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December 24, 2008

Pros:

After years of topical treatments, antibiotics and a second opinion, I was prescribed Accutane. I noticed results almost immediately and did not have the initial flare ups that many have.

Cons:

In everything I read prior to taking Accutane, most patients seemed to notice side effects getting severe after a couple of months – side effects started for me after two weeks. Dry skin, eyes, lips; rash; nosebleeds; constipation.

If you can deal with the side effects for 5-6 months, I think Accutane is completely worth it to have clear skin for many years. I've had acne for more than half my life, and during those 14 years I have tried everything from Proactiv and chemical facials to antibiotics and topical creams. Every treatment helped for a little bit, but my acne is really persistent. Accutane is the only thing that has seemed to have sustained success. iPledge is a pain (bloodwork, pregnancy tests, dumb questions) but it's only once a month.
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December 23, 2008

Pros:

definitely got rid of acne forever

Cons:

miserable. blood work, chapped lips, dry skin, mood swings, it was pretty much hell for me.

it worked, but was it worth it? eh
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December 23, 2008

Pros:

Been off of Accutane for a year and a half. I had cystic acne and my face has been completely acne free every since! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Cons:

Normal side effects like dry skin, dry lips. Follow your derms instructions and you will be fine.
Its only really affordable if you have insurance that covers accutane.

Struggled with cystic acne for over 15yrs and if I would have known sooner about accutane and how well it works I would have saved myself alot of grief, time and money. Accutane is totally worth it to anyone thinking about getting on it. Keep in mind though that accutane works its best on people with moderate severe to severe acne or cystic acne. I was a walking poster child for accutane.
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December 21, 2008

Pros:

it works well, i've have been off it for about 2 months and my skin has remained consitant

Cons:

dry eyes, sensitivity to weather, chapped/dry lips.

the side effects were not severe, i was on the tablets for 6 months.. i have been off the medication for 2 months and my skin has got sliglty oilier but it is nothing compared to what it was before i started the treatment.
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December 20, 2008

Pros:

Works

Cons:

Dryness

It works, simple as that. You end up with scars because well acne leaves scars and it's not accutane's fault. I had severe acne, and I got cleared up but still have scars which I need to do something but gotta wait 6 months...
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December 19, 2008

Pros:

It WORKS. Clears up acne. Within the first month or so I noticed I wasn't getting the BIG RED pimples that I used to get when breaking out. I'm on my 3rd month and get pimples rarely and they are fairly small.

Cons:

It took a couple months for me to really see drastic improvement. Lips are always chapped. I wake up, put chap stick on, drive to work, put chap stick on, go to eat, put chap stick on, etc. A little back pain.

If you want clear skin this is the stuff. I never have breakouts anymore, just an occasional pimple. My skin didn't get dried out as much as people had told me, but again, my lips are always dry. I noticed that my scalp needed more care due to some dandruff that formed the past few months. TAKE VITAMIN E ONCE EVERY MORNING. This helps with dry skin, believe me. Overall, nice product, it saved my social life.
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December 19, 2008

Pros:

It got rid of my acne
Less oily skin

Cons:

Dry, chapped lips. Extremely dry, flakey skin. Dry skin on arms that would bleed. Blood work is needed every month (can never find my veins).

It works. However, a year after treatments stopped, acne started to come back. It wasn't severe like it was before, but it was annoying to have went through all of the dry skin pain to start breaking out again. I don't know how expensive it was since I was still living with my parents and they paid for it.
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December 19, 2008

Pros:

It worked amazingly for about a year 1/2 (smaller pores, no breakouts)

Cons:

EXTREMELY dry skin, chapped lips, monthly blood tests, very irritable, very sensitive skin and can't really go in the sun

this product worked wonders for me for about a year 1/2 and now im breaking out every other day again. They tell you it most likely will clear your acne for the rest of your life, but from what I have heard, it really only seems to clear up your acne for a little while and then you start breaking out again with time. My acne wasn't terrible when I went on accutane, I was just getting large painful cysts, so for all the trouble that you have to go through to be on the medicine, it probably wasn't worth it in the end since my acne is coming back.
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December 19, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up my acne very well
Prevented outbreaks for a while
Easy to take

Cons:

Crazy dry skin and lips
I felt depressed a lot
I got angry extremely easily

I took two regiments because my acne was so severe and it worked great to clear up my skin. I was finally comfortable enough to been seen without a shirt on haha. My skin and lips were dry, but I was willing to deal with that. But looking back on my experience, my opinion is different. I got angry very very easily when I was on the drug (guessing it had something to do with hormones) and i felt depressed a lot. Thinking of it in that regard, I would never take it again.
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December 19, 2008

Pros:

clears up pretty well, gets rid of active acne, feel like help is on the way

Cons:

EXTREMELY, extremely dry lips, and the corners of my mouth got very bad, i got a lot of bloody noses too

I got off Accutane about a month ago. My active acne didn't go away until about the very end of my fifth and final month. I still have some scars but I think time will take care of them. Accutane was a pretty big commitment for me because I had to take monthly blood tests, take my pills everywhere i went because i took 2 a day. But the bottom line is it did it's job, event though they were definitely side effects. Active acne is very blatant and it feels good to know that all i have left are scars. If you are deciding whether or not to go on, i would recommend you do.
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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