Acne.org Products
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
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.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
December 11, 2007
Cons:
side effects
ive been on it for 3 months and a week or so. for the first 2 months my skin went through ups and downs. i would start to clear fairly well then break out then clear up again. the next breakout was never as severe. about 2 1/2 months to 3 months into it my skin cleared up and stayed clear, except for a few red marks. my body still has a ways to go but i am happy with my face thus far, considering i still have another 3 months to go. i am prescribed 20 mg 1st month, 40mg 2nd month, 60 mg 3rd month, and 80 mg for 4th, 5th, and 6th month. the reason my initial breakout wasnt that bad was because i was only on 20 mg. that is my experience so far but i do have a question for anyone who has been on it. trust me i know youre not supposed to drink. i havent except for twice and my blood work was fine, but i am turning 21 very soon and was wondering if going out would be alright. i have liver supplements that i bought called milk thistle. would this help? if i drank for my 21st would i be ok?
December 4, 2007
Pros:
good price. does just that- it clears acne. and it really does.
Cons:
HUGE breakout for the first month before taking effect. hated the system. hated the blood tests which were expensive as hell. for 6 months i had lived a life of absolute torture. couldn't laugh or eat much cuz skin would peel, no sun exposure..
it WORKS, it does. but screw the statistics almost everyone has breakouts after its done. it wont stay the same way after you're done with it. acne WILL return, just not as severe as it was before. BOTTOM LINE.
these small side effects seem so small at first, but they will make your social life a living hell. OH they're so small.. but think about it. 6 months of lost social life compared with having acne temporarily.
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.
November 8, 2007
Pros:
Does wonders for your skin
Cons:
It is not always a long term solution
I took Accutane about 10 years ago. It did wonders for my skin with very few side effects. The shine from my skin was gone and my acne cleared. I thought it was a miracle drug until about 2 years later when my acne returned. I took Accutane a second time and it solved the acne again. Now, 10 years later, I just had my third child and my acne is back. I'm really sad that I'm dealing with acne again this late in life. I thought Accutane was a long term solution, but it sadly wasn't for me. Hopefully, it will be for you.
October 27, 2007
Pros:
Cleared up my really bad skin pretty much in the first two weeks of taking it.
Cons:
very very very chapped lips..dry face..achey
Make sure you take other antibiotics before you go on roacutanne
October 18, 2007
Pros:
stops acne in its tracks
Cons:
dry lips
should be used as last resort.
October 3, 2007
Pros:
its clearing my face pretty well. Ive been on acutane for about 2-3 weeks and my face looks alot better. My self confidence has gone up and im feelin good
Cons:
dry chapped lips, i usually use aquaphor and regular chapstick. Dry skin on arms and legs different moods
accutane is worth the 5 months or wateveryour time peroid is. i can tell this is the one thats goign to work. my acne wasnt horrible but it wouldnt go away and my face was oily. Acutane has reduced this be alot and the oil is dying down. I love accutane and i recomend it to anyone who has tried other acne treatments and failed.
September 26, 2007
Pros:
Clear skin, clean pores, huge boost in self confidence. My marks from previous breakouts have begun fading.
Cons:
Dry lips, sometimes dry nostrils
I love Accutane. It makes such a huge difference. My face is so smooth and I'm not even done wih my course! If you are worried about liver problems, take liver supplements. Everything has been going pretty smoothly for me.
September 14, 2007
Pros:
I'm in my second month and I noticed improvements within the first month. Good product if you are strong enough to take it
Cons:
I can deal with the dry lips/skin, but the back pain and joint pain can be intense, especially in the morning. I was extremely tired when I first started taking it I lost my appeitite.
Really think hard about it and ask a lot of questions. I've suffered mostly from adult acne...I know it sucks! But, the side effects are no joke so really think about if clear skin is worth it for you. After all it's not Cancer!
August 24, 2007
Pros:
No more painful bumps for now. No more covering the sides of my face & trying to keep my head down so no one notices the bumps.
Cons:
Serious issues with side effects. Rashes, bleeding lips, horrible sunburn despite 70SPF, sore back, vision issues, dry eyes, Ipledge program is a disaster. Suicidal when taken as teenager 1st time.
You will go through hell & jump through hoops if you are female of child bearing age. You spend a ton on bloodwork & follow up visits though this med has come down in price considerably. I am on my third course in 15 years, each time side effects r different. I took this for the first time at 16 years old, I am 35 now. If you are a teenager, make sure that your family knows you could have SEVERE depression. When I took it the first time, they did not know what they know now. I was suicidal. Took it again in mid 20's & had less serious depression issues. No depression in my 30's taking it, but many more minor side effects this time. Serious issues with going in the sun for even 15 minutes. I have perfectly clear skin now. I would look like a monster had I not taken this drug. You should have acne so bad you just can't stand it to take this medication. My acne was so bad it hurt to put my head down on my pillow. A good dermo will not prescribe this b4 exhstng all othr effrts.
Pros:
acne clearing