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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4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

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May 25, 2008

Pros:

cleared nearly all my acne up

Cons:

dry lips etc and NO alcohol lol

ive been taking it for 10 weeks today and its cleared 80 percent of my acne up. clearer than it has been for about 5 years. ive just turned 20 and ive had acne on my back and face for since about 14/15. my face and lips av been dry but no other side affects, no alcohol is the worst, especially as its summer nearly.
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May 24, 2008

Pros:

Great skin for a few years

Cons:

Doesn't last forever for everyone :(
Dry lips, nostrils and eyes.
Thinning hair and UV sensitivity.

I was on ro-accutane about 10 years ago for over a year. At first I was thrilled and have enjoyed acne free skin for several years, however I am now back on the acne roller coaster at 29 :( I have tried every product out there and am now on Doxycyline which is having no effect whatsoever. I am completely frustrated as I take such good care of my skin and yet it looks like I'll have to give ro-accutane or similar another go.
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May 24, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin, smooth skin, smaller pores, never greasy hair

Cons:

chapped lips are the worst for me. i also have some red discoloration where my acne used to by that my doctor says is from the accutane and will go away. also sunburn and pealing face skin

My father had cystic acne in his teens and after two cycles of accutane he never had a zit again. I've had mild acne since I was 11. It was never particularly bad till I turned 15. It got worse and worse, and I had used sh*tty proactive, tons of over the counter, tons of prescription pills and prescription creams and none of it worked, one bit. Finally I got my doctor to prescribe accutane for me and i'm very glad I did. The side effects are a pain in the ass, but after about 2 and a half months i saw definite improvement in my skin. I'm on my fifth month now and today i woke up with my first zit in a few months. It's small though, not like my old acne. I'm very frightened that when I go off treatment it will come back, because my skin is so much clearer now. I'm on 80mg a day, which i think is the highest dosage.
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May 24, 2008

Pros:

Got rid of my acne

Cons:

This is the scariest drug I have ever taken. I looked at the side effects and initially laughed..but this drug gave me, a normal person, crying spells, fits of violence, and, yes, suicidal thoughts. This is a scary drug.

This, by far, is the scariest drug I have ever taken. Yes this drug did clear up my skin, and I have not had acne since, but this indeed came at a terrible price. Everyone who knew me last year would describe me as a calm, collected person. I had many friends and good family relationships. I was a happy person except for my acne. For the first month or two, I experienced only limited side effects, including chapped lips and dry skin. But recently, they were MUCH MUCH worse. I heard about the psychiatric side effects and truly thought that that could never be me..that there was a 1 in a 112341324 chance that I would ever have suicidal thoughts because of a stupid acne medication. Sure enough, I slowly became more and more emotional, cried for no apparent reason, became angry at nothing, and isolated myself socially. I seemed to hide the emotional pain from the world, and even though I had many people who really cared about me that talked to me daily, nobody said or did a
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May 23, 2008

Pros:

I hope Accutane is the SOLUTION to cure acne.

Cons:

I can put up with any, clear skin is worth it!

I am 22 years old. I suffer from acne since I was in 7th grade. I wear makeup everyday to cover up my acne. Throughout the course of the years, I find myself wearing more and more. Liquid foundation and powder at the same time, and even reapplying foundation 2x/day to cover up. I am tired of covering up my skin, it's only getting worse with all the makeup. But I CANNOT leave the house without it. I have thought about getting on accutane and after reading all of these reviews, I am very excited and HOPEFUL. I am just waiting to get insurance. All these CONS like dry skin, etc...if accutane works and it does what it is suppose to do...CLEAR SKIN...it is all worth it to me. I am tired of waking up every morning and hiding my ance face. I need a solution and am eager to start.
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May 22, 2008

Pros:

less oil, smoother skin,dry facial skin < some of ya said it a con but i feel i rather have dry on my face than grease sticky shiny face right?

Cons:

Ipledge program, blood tests, dr appointments,price ( dont have insurance coverage)dry lips

I think we all have the same story on acne but mine is alittle different. I have mild acne when i was 20 (everybody called me Pizza Face) i tried almost every damn products on the store shelter then one time i picked up a product called Loma Lux AcnePill (homeopathic medicine). I took 3 pills/day according to my weight, dont get me wrong it works like a cham. i could see the result the next day,no lie. My face was so pretty and glow like i never had acne b4 and it getting better better day by day and last for a month.( happiest month in my life).Second came when its side effect are taken over, oil comes out like crazy, then cysts,whitehead,blackhead..i looke like a monster.I quit my job,stay in the house 24/7 cuz i dont wanna to see nobody and dont want nobody to see me i felt like i live in the prison or something 2years pased and decided to go to derm and he prescribed me accutaune, yay. Anyways today is my 24th day on Sotret i feel like i just won 10 mil$ cuz my face looking good
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May 21, 2008

Pros:

Improved skin in 3 weeks,much smaller pores

Cons:

Dry Lips, Dry Skin , Hair thinning

I have had acne on and off since I was 13! I am now 32. I was prescribed 20mg, which I have been taking for nearly 4 weeks now. My skin has really improved! For lips I have been using Blistex & Vaseline, Sun block on face and E45 cream for dry/itchy skin, hair I don't wash it every day like I used too! Which is great, twice a week does the trick. To be honest, I have also been drinking alcohol, my dermatologist said its fine'but just to be sensible. I have now been prescribed 40mg and have been advised I can switch to 20mg if I feel the side effects becoming stronger. I have seen people who used accutane when they had acne and you would never be able to tell from there skin now that they ever suffered from acne, Accutane cured there acne with one treatment..so I am very hopeful as I don't have cystic acne more small persistent white head/red spots. I feel so much better and confident since my skin has improved and I really do wish I took this medication years ago!
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May 21, 2008

Pros:

clear skin for life

Cons:

chapped lips is probably the worst of them all. dry skin, rashes sometimes on your hands when your dose is raised, joint pains but not so severe that tylenol or advil can't take care of it and that's about it.

For about 4 years I struggled with terrible acne. It worsened as the years went on and I literally tried EVERYTHING. Nothing worked. I would even cry sometimes because i'd get so frusterated. My dermatologist prescribed Accutane to me and it was the greatest decision of my life. It isn't going to severely harm you. All the people saying its terrible blah blah blah, DON'T LISTEN TO THEM. It's awesome and will turn out wonderful and plus... it lasts a lifetime! Just follow the rules and everything will turn out great. Those who are complaining about it "not working" probably skipped their doses a couple of times or didn't have a high enough amount, etc. Just get a good dermatologist that knows what he/she is talking about and you'll be good to go.
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May 21, 2008

Pros:

Dried up my oily face and scalp, don't have to wash my hair every day, acne is getting better but still not where I want it to be. But doctor said it would get worse before it gets better

Cons:

Blood work, pregnancy tests, dry lips, dry face and scalp, back aches, and nose bleeds

I've been on it for about 6 weeks and I've noticed some improvement but not as much as I'd like. The side effects aren't fun but they are worth it for clear skin! Aquaphor has helped my lips and Cetaphil cream is great on my face! Still haven't solved the dry flaky scalp problem. Doc said acne would get worse before it gets better so I'm trying to be patient. I have friends and family members who took it and never had skin problems again!
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May 20, 2008

Pros:

clear your skin when you are taken it.

Cons:

Dry eyes,lips, mucosas, back pain,anemie...

Just work when you are taking it, after all problems came back again. I tried twice and felt all bads things like dry eyes, lips, pain...
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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