Oral Retinoid
Reviews
3.9
2791 Reviews
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Side Effects
High
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.
Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
33.4%
3
15.5%
2
7.3%
1
6.6%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
April 1, 2010

Pros:

-STOPS oily skin
-Drys up acne
-WORKS!

Cons:

-Side affects
-dry lips, mouth, and nose.
-headaches
-itchy skin
-Monthly blood work

~I have had acne for 13 years and have lived with a new pimple or severe breakout every waking moment of those years! My self-confidence was crushed and I was so envious of clear, smooth, beautiful skin. It wasnt until now that Im 25 that I wanted to do something about it. I visited my derm and she RX me every cream, wash, and antiobiotic known to man. When nothing worked she recommended Accutane. I was really skeptical at first cause the side affects sounded harsh and not something I wanted to live with. But what else was I going to do? Nothing worked! ~So I have now been on Accutane for little over a month and I cant believe the DIFFERENCE. I have never seen a medicine that works right away! Within 2 weeks my acne was drying up and skin wasnt oily. WOW!! I was so pleased! And thats just 2 weeks I still have 4 months of treatment to do and I cant wait to see the result at the end :) ~To ALL who are afraid of the side affects, those are affects that MAY happen and are not gaurenteed. The only side affect that I have experienced is dry skin and lips. ITS def worth it if your tired of acne and nothing seems to work. You wont be disappointed with this treatment. And the side affects arent anything you cant tolerate.
This Was Helpful

22 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 9, 2010

Pros:

Cleared my skin perfectly. Gave me my confidence back. Nothing else worked.

Cons:

Dry lips, mild joint pain.

If you are able to cope with very mild side effects of dryness and mild joint pain you need to try isotretinoin. It can sometimes take a while for it to take effect, but it will work.
This Was Helpful

22 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 19, 2016
Love it! Week 6 and a HUGE HUGE difference!
Just fantastic. im on 60mg a day for 20weeks. Currently on week 6. Amazing difference! Side effects so far; Excessive heavy nosebleeds (slowing now) Dry skin/rashes (on my arms weirdly) Mega dry lips (Highly recommend 1% Hydrocortisone cream for stings and rashes- Miracle when you're desperate!) Dry itchy scalp Moody/anxiety- a little between weeks 3-4 (now ok) Had initial flare up of spots on week two, lasted around 10 days, now literally haven't has a new spot since! My skin seems to be peeling like a snake, be on guard with a good moisturiser, tons of lip balm and Vaseline. Stick it up your nose before you go to sleep, gross yes, but you'll thank me for that advice! Any form of Lippy or lip-gloss makes mine ten times worse, so I going with practical over pretty for 20 weeks. Ive had terrible skin since I was 15, im now 31. I battled to get this med, and it comes with more warnings than an explosive ship. But its SO SO SO WORTH IT!!!!! Week 6, my skin is already better than its looked in my WHOLE adult life! I can deal with the dry skin etc, the moodiness, a bleeding nose, and scratching my head all day long like I have nits, because my skin is already dramatically different!!! I cant wait to see what I look like by September! SO seriously, the side effects are a little unpleasant. But isn't having acne day in day out more unpleasant?! I think so. My confidence has been rock bottom for so long. Im always wearing make up. But now im so nearly at the stage by wk6 of going make up free!!!!!!!! Mega life win that will be! Just a word of advise- DONT try and squeeze spots once you've got going with this medication. Literally all they skin comes off around it and you are left with a huge red patch if red raw skin. Especially around my nose I found, literally it make the skin lift off under pressure. Just leave the spot, it will be gone tomorrow!They vanish the night! Go for it, you wont regret it!! ( I ignore all the ' this ruined my life reviews'). Make your own mind up. The side effects are gritty, but I cant say living with acne has been much fun so i'll take this one!
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 2, 2013

Pros:

Physically:
Dramatically reduced acne
skin less oily
smaller pores
After a month on it I stopped getting spots completely.
Mentally:
Dramatically improved my confidence.
Much more out going now
Feel so much more comfortable in my own skin
Financially:
Free on NHS

Cons:

Dry skin and lips
Red face
Prolonged dry eyes (continued for months after I was done with my course)
Monthly blood tests

A year ago I was on here looking at some of these reviews, and to be honest I was a little put off. I had tried all sorts of antibiotics and creams but nothing was working. Then last march i finally bit the bullet and went on the stuff and it changed my life. I was on it at 80mg for a very rough 4 months but a year on and my skin is the clearest it's been since i was in single digits. Please talk to your doctor if you, like i was, are feeling depressed about your acne and get on it.
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 7, 2012

Pros:

Perfect skin.
No blackheads.
Decongested pores.
No acne.
No oiliness.
Perfect skin.
Balanced skin.
Oh, did I mention perfect skin?

Cons:

Dry skin.
Dry lips.
Dry scalp.
Bloody nose.
Can be expensive.

Accutane is the best thing to happen to my skin since my discovery of bb cream. Long story short, I've had horrendous skin ever since I hit puberty, thanks to my lovely genetics. I tried every perscription and over the counter remedy on the market and nothing worked or had a lasting effect (and a few even made the problem worse). After six years of hating my oily, flaky, acne-ridden, large pored, red skin I asked my dermatologist if she would let me take the plunge; she was hesistent, but I was persistent. The result six months later? A woman stopped me in my tracks a few weeks ago to specifically tell me my skin was beautiful and to ask which products I used. At my last-visit-ever to the dermatologist, this is what she told me: "Your skin is like porcelian." Enough said.
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 5, 2012

Pros:

-Gives you acne free skin like so you finally feel what its like to have normal skin
-Results can last forever if you are male and over 20, otherwise it gives you respite to get acne under control
-Never have to fear about getting a spot so you can focus on other things

Cons:

I had only a few side effects, but the ones i got did get quite bad, they were.
-(Usual) dry lips, dry skin on face
-extreme tiredness throughout the course
-bright red flushing and facial redness
-Low mood hit me near the end, but i believe accutane doesn't cause depression, but simply can make it much more pronounced and was due to my own shallow wanting anyway
-side effects can take 6 months to go after treatment

It has been a long journey, and one i probably would not want to go through again. With only mild effects, I became too complacent near the end of treatment, then it became though. Thankfully, iv been off the medication for 6 weeks and the side effects of skin dryness and flushing have slowly begun to subside quite a bit and will go completely in the next 5 months. Recommendations- -Lip balm and mild exfoliating face wash -Don't spend all your time reading forums for advice, most of it is guess work, rumours and pure ignorance, trust what your dermatologist says. -Permanent side effects will not effect you, they are very very rare and those unfortunate ones will go online to post comments online to scare others whereas all the situations were accutane works, these people will not go online but live their lives. Even for these nightmarish stories, the effects go after they post a comment or they are explaining side effects unrelated to accutane and have just so happened to occur after, so they blame accutane. Most people suffer other illnesses as well, accutane can not be the cause. -Dont fear it because it helps so many people. If it was a dangerous drug then it would not be prescribed to people, it is merely an intense drug, never dangerous as long as the precautions are set. -I am a Buddhist and the only scary thing iv noticed is some peoples complete obsession with beauty. Writing 'accutane ruined my life, now i have 2 enlarged pores' or 'Im going slightly red, now i think i am developing severe nodular rosacea'. Ignore shallow people and the media and learn to be selfless and not want to be perfect, understand that there are people in the world who are not shallow and will not judge or hate someone just for having acne. -People who post apocalyptic comments of the disasters of accutane are mostly ALWAYS people who seem self obsessive, self pitying and over reactionary to any imperfection on their face. Karma? Be humble and t
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 12, 2011

Pros:

IT WORKS!

Cons:

Extremely dry skin

I have been struggling with my skin for the past 8 years. Nothing has EVER worked, and I have tried everything from proactive to clinique to prescription topicals (probably 20 different kinds). Nothing has ever worked like accutane! This is seriously a miracle drug, I recommend this to any healthy individual with acne. The side affects I have experienced is dry skin (everywhere!), 15 pounds of healthy weight loss, and some constipation (sometimes i would go 3 days with out a bowel movement). But this has worked wonders and I feel so much better. I am on my 5th month with another 2 to go and I don't even need to wash my face anymore! For those of you reading this, you understand what it's like to wash your face twice a day and apply 3 different ointments and take an antibiotic and STILL have horrible skin. It has been so liberating taking accutane! I can wake up in the morning and not immediately check my face for emerging pimples. Now all I am focused on is removing the blotchiness and scars! (I am currently using Garnier Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, it works!) I feel beautiful, confident, and excited for the next 2 months.
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 1, 2011

Pros:

Perfect skin!
Really, really smooth skin
Hair doesn't get greasy
Blackheads disappeared from nose and other areas

Cons:

Dry lips
Very dry inside of nose
Dry eyes
A bit of eczema on back of hands and top of arms in second month
Tender skin in the first couple of months

50mg daily for 4 months. I would 100 million% recommend Roaccutane to anyone considering to go on it. I researched it for ages before I decided to do it, put off by some of the horror stories that you hear. At the end of they day I realised that in the time I'd been considering it, I could have just done it. The cons would nowhere near outway the pros, I literally have the skin I have dreamed of, I genuinely didn't think it would work this well. I'm not sure what the general consensus on alcohol consumption and Roaccutane is but I didn't change my drinking habits while I was taking it.. I'm a student so that is a fair amount per week. I could not recommend this any more!! I have a few friends who have taken it as well and their results have been amazing too. MIRACLE CURE!!!
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 26, 2011

Pros:

No oil at all, clear face, the occasional pimple goes away superquick, improves acne scarring as well for some reason. I think the dry skin drops off leaving newer skin underneath? idk. Not to mention increased confidence.

The main pro would be the ability to eat pretty much ANYTHING you want without having to worry about how it will affect your face. kfc anybody?

Cons:

Dry eyes, dry lips.

Don't drink a lot of alcohol. I pushed my limits once and got pretty drunk - felt like my liver was going to explode..It subsided after about an hour but was pretty scary. A little bit is alright but don't go overboard or you'l regret it.

Have just finished my 6th month of treatment. The first month sucks but I tell you it's worth it and will go by faster than you think. After that you will see improvement like never before. Never experienced sore joints or anything like that. I've been continuing going to the gym lifting weights 3 days a week as well as martial arts and gymnastics at least 3 days a week and isotretinoin has not affected my performance whatsoever. I also have never experienced tiredness from taking the drug. I believe it's all in your mind - just continue what your doing, have a happy outlook on life and stay active. It will be the best thing that will ever happen to you.
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 15, 2011

Pros:

Acne GONE
Highly minimized redness

Cons:

some light sensitivity
dry hair and some hair loss
some dehydration
peeling lips

My acne started at 22, during a severly stressful period of my life. It was the cystic stuff that is deep, red and painful. For 15 months I tried various Rx and OTC topical agents, as well as monthly visitations to an esthetologist. Not only did none of these work, but the acne got worse and began spreading to my jawline and upper neck. After avoiding Accutane like the plague, I finally conceded to it out of desperation. Three months prior to use I also started Ortho-TriCyclin (sorry, men) which significantly reduced breakouts. For the Roaccutane, the Dr. prescribed me 10mg/day- a very low, safe dosage. Thanks to the OTC already clearing me up a lot, I didn't have any of the flaking associated with starting Accutane. I have been on it for 9 months, and today I take my last pill. The most inconvenient side affects are that I can barely drink alcohol or coffee b/c the added dehydration is very uncomfortable and ramps up headaches and the peeling/cracking of the lips. Also, about 5 months into it my hair became pretty dry to the point of some loss and to where I only wash it 2-3 times per week. But that should heal itself soon. For now, I have NO acne and it feels so good to be able to touch my own face and feel how smooth it is. Next step is to improve the scarring. Here are some tips that through my own experience I know for a fact help control acne: - Sugar is the DEVIL! Keep away from it. - Drink alcohol and caffeine sparingly. - Stay HYDRATED. Lack thereof always irritated my skin. Eats lots of fruits and vegetables, drink lots of water, use a good facial moisturizer. Coconut water is amazing for this. - Excersize. If you have any questions, e-mail me at bree_k28@[link removed].
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report

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.

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.