Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Results
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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4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

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October 11, 2008

Pros:

Got rid of my acne and blackheads for a few months.

Cons:

Chapped painful lips, nosebleeds, dry skin. Breakouts came back.

I was on Accutane for 5 months. I have a history of depression but had no feelings of it while i was on Accutane. It's worth a try but 5 months after being off it i've been having mild breakouts. It's so heartbreaking, i really thought i was cured. I'm begining to think i'm going to have acne for the rest of my life. So try it if you have the insurance and really bad acne. But hold your breath, my doctor told me it has like an 85% cure rate just my luck that i fell into the 15%....
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October 8, 2008

Pros:

works, but be patient even when breakouts occur and feeling/thinking it won't ever clear up

Cons:

dry skin/nosebleeds/pain in back

i had a massive breakout in my 3rd month and now in the 4th month all clears up very slowly, just little red marks waiting to clear up which my derm has told me it will, but will take another 6-8 weeks pls be patient and carry on with treatmeat.
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October 8, 2008

Pros:

It WORKS!

Cons:

Common side effects, dry lips, little body ache, nosebleeds and lazyness... but can all be avoided with proper care such as chapstick, fish oils, nasal spray and LOTS of water!

My last resort for acne after trying everything, Ive been avoiding Accutane for a good 7 years, and finally gave into temptations after seeing good results for my cousin and I must say the best decision of my life! Other then the side affects, my self esteem and confidence has boosted a lot! My skin is a lot clearer and feels alot normal now, I rarely break out. Starting on my 3rd month...
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October 7, 2008

Pros:

Hopefully acne will go. No oil on face. Black heads have dissapeared.

Cons:

Very sore lips, skin prone to bleed with minor abraisons, facial hair.. soft but still there.

Ive been on the drug for 3 months and after the first month I saw a difference. Its the 3rd month and my face has been having a big breakout of very deep, very painful acne. Perhpas i need to drink more water! Not to sure about slight fuzzy face either and have been having lower back pain. Also some chest pains... Putting it down to isotretinoin. Im on 60mg a day. Have been since day one. On a four month course. Really hope it goes away... probably doesnt help from picking/sweezing... bad bad habit. If anyones had a relapse/breackout after being on it Id be inteerested in knowing. Got to prepare for the worst right?
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October 5, 2008

Pros:

immense , if you wnat to get rid of acne take this !! wonder drug.Gives you so much confidence, thanx for accuatne!!

Cons:

minor efects , dry lips, you can live withis easily.

comoing to the end of a 6 month course , on 40mg a day and I am the happiest I have ever been. CLEAR SKIN YES!!!
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October 5, 2008

Pros:

It hopefully will cure me...it's gettin better each week! No oil on skin!

Cons:

Dry lips. Few nose bleeds.

My light acne was very persistent...I tried everything. It worked for a while, then it came back. I'm 24 yo male,who is tired of getting acne all the time. It's time to end it.
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October 5, 2008

Pros:

acne gone, took a while but it is gone

Cons:

red marks where my acne used to be, im done the 6 month so hopefully the redness goes away soon

it worked alot better then anything else iv ever tried. I still dont know how to get rid of the redness, if anyone figures it out email me damien.mullin@[link removed] thankss
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October 3, 2008

Pros:

Only been on it a week, already have noticed a change.

Cons:

Dry red Lips, have noticed my eyes are dry and itchy"(not too bad but still noticable) My skin has started to feel itchy all over
(again not too bad)and my scalp also itchy.I have had a lose of appetite or just getting full faster.

I have been dealing with acne since I was 15,I have triedn EVERYTHING. The best thing that worked before Accutene was Minnocycline it always worked, but I had to go on it for 4 months out of every year for 3 years, that antibiotic, or any for that matter, is not good to be on for a lengthy period of time, and I didnt want to be on it for the rest of my life, so I went to this hopefully it will work. Make sure u try EVERYTHING before going on this its very potent.
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October 2, 2008

Pros:

less oil production, existing spots heal faster and very few new spots, on the way to clear skin

Cons:

slightly dry lips and skin (mild flaking), no alcohol, expensive without insurance

I've only been on the treatment for just over 3 weeks and was on a very low dose of 10mg for the first two weeks and am now on a dose of 25mg. I didn't want to deal with an initial flare, so my dermatologist is slowly working me up to a full dose of 50mg. I've already noticed positive results. I used to have to blot my skin on the hour to avoid looking shiny, and now I can just forget about my skin and get on with my life. Little bumps and blackheads that I've had for months are slowly going away and all cystic acne is gone. The side effects have been very tolerable so far, but we'll see how it going when the dose increases. I tried drinking a glass of wine over the weekend and had a very negative reaction - essentially felt drunk after a few sips. It will be hard not to drink socially over the next months, but the results are completely worth it for me. I finally feel in control again.
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September 30, 2008

Pros:

Seemed to work great at first, after around 3-4 months of the accutane the acne was cleared up almost completely.

Cons:

The acne came back. Had to do another course of accutane. Very dry lips and hands.

The acne has reoccurred again. I don't know that we will do any more. It seems like the best cure for most. Unfortunately not for me.
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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