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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November 23, 2007

Pros:

Clears up skin

Cons:

Your skin gets worse first, your eyes and lips dry out really bad

The blood tests you take are ridiculous, I have high cholesterol (it runs in the family) and I was put on Accutane for a month, I have had to put so much money in buying ointment for my eyes and for the sooo many blood tests you have to have every month to get the next month's prescription. Now my doctor said my cholesterol was too high and said I can't continue- I was on it for month. So you have to be really healthy to take this, its not just a "yes or no, I want to go on this", there are a lot of factors that go into this... sometimes they can't even be controlled.
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November 13, 2007

Cons:

acne got much worse scaring and damage also increased. the redness and swelling was terrible. Serious tendon and muscle damage

Don't take this medication unless your acne is so bad that it is affecting your life. my son is bound to a wheel chair and in great pain with a torn tendon in his pelvis from this medicdation. This tendon usually can only be torn from a serious accident, such as skiing. My sons tendon torn just walking. We don't know what is ahead for our son only time will tell. Right now he had to quit his job and college and lives at home
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October 8, 2007

Pros:

none

Cons:

I've been on Sotret for 2 months and have no imporvement whatsoever. I hope it will finally kick in.

Doesn't work for everyone.
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September 26, 2007

Pros:

none

Cons:

On the 3r day I had a chest pain and I decided to stop taking it.I went to my derm and I have to get a blood test to check if it is affecting my heart if not , I am gonna to take it

dont know yet I just want it to go away
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September 23, 2007

Pros:

its does clear acne for a little bit

Cons:

extreme dryness and i hurt all over when i was taking it. im an active youth and the pain that it caused me in my joints made it hurt for me to even pick up a 15 pound box. its usually only a three month regimen and i took it for 4.

My acne did clear about 85% after 2 months or so. the acne was supposed to stay mostly away and it came back within one month of not taking the medicine. i was on the yellow pill (which im pretty sure is the big daddy) I have no idea what kind of internal, long-term damage it did. hopefully it wasnt too bad. I dont think people should take this drug unless they are comletely aware of what it does.
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August 24, 2007

Pros:

I thought the premise of the drug sounded viable

Cons:

nothing good came of it

I have had moderate acne for years and thought this would be a godsend. NOT! After only 1 month my mucuous membranes were so extremely dried out that my tonsils became chronically infected and eventually removed (I'm 33 and that was painful!). Nine months after my istretinoin trial I still have dry mouth and eyes. Awful experience!
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August 21, 2007

Pros:

Temporarily clears acne, if acne returns its not as severe. Also allows other acne treatments to be more effective.

Cons:

Drys out skin, causes severe breakouts before you clear up, if at all. Not permanent for some people. Left really bad scaring on face from tane breakouts.

I have heard people say that Accutane is a cure for acne and I would definitely have to disagree. I have been through 2 courses of Accutane and both times it only cleared my skin temporarily (under a year). My acne returned however not a severe as pre-tane. I still suffer from cystic acne however my skin is more responsive to other acne treatments (antibiotics, creams)
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July 28, 2007

Pros:

Cleared up my skin for about half a year

Cons:

left my skin very dry, I have to use moisturizer on my face all the time and only worked for half a year.

Seems to help with a lot of people but unfortunately only lasted for half a year with me. extreme cost and nasty side affects ((dryness, bleeding noses etc) and you will get them) are not worth the small time period of clean skin + constant dryness. but based on many of the other reviews i have read I will recommend this as a last resort treatment.
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May 10, 2007

Pros:

Clears your skin like nothing else! Haven't had acne come back on my back, chest or arms since (been about 2 years)

Cons:

Horrible dry lips, dry skin, dry eyes, sensitivity to heat, heat rashes, sensitivity to products, headaches, nose bleeds, and the inconvience of seeing a doctor every month.

Worked amazingly for me from the first week on it. However, my face is now not looking so good(2years later). Although its not cystic yet.I have the worst kind of skin to deal with...dry skin acne. Oil doesn't serface for me. It may be the climate I live it. The acne on my face started to come back about 9 months after coming off it. At first I wasn't complaining cause the breakouts were normal for most people. A pimple here or there. But progressively just got worse. Now I'm back to not wanting to leave the house without makeup. My body is clear though. The doctors have me on the usual treatments or antibiotics and topicals that work at first a little then don't really work after awhile. Now I'm trying skin peels to see where that takes me. I'm sick of it! But I have known people with 6-7year results from Accutane without a trace of it coming back. I don't think doctors really know much about it or who it will or wont work on. Your just an experiment.
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May 4, 2007

Pros:

Evidently, works for a lot of people

Cons:

Can lead to very serious lifetime disorders

In my late 30's my cycstic acne still wasn't going away so decided to try accutane (which I'd stayed away from for a long time due to the reported side effects). After only two weeks I severe intestinal problems that are only beginning to clear up after one year. Additionally, my acne exploded. Recently, I've found two co-workers (much younger) who now suffer from Crohn's Disease after taking accutane for the full 4 or 5 month period. Luckily, I stopped after two weeks and feel like I will recover. After stopping, my dermatologist gave me Nicomide and Azelex cream to use. After 3 months of using it, I rarely break out and when I do, it clears up 4 times faster. Evidently, some women really respond to Nicomide (its just a perscription strength multi-vitamin). Please try everything else before accutane.
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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