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

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April 15, 2008

Pros:

Beautiful skin, no longer oily, great compliments, its terrific! Ususally I would have to wash my hair everyday because I was so oily...now I can go a whole week without washing my hair!

Cons:

CHAPPED LIPS...NOSE BLEEDS..weird panic attacks, made me turn red when I was hot or nervous ( i wouldn't turn this red before medication)

I love it...I can deal with the weird side effects in order to get my perfect skin. It helped me within 2 weeks...Some people are different than others...I was one of the lucky ones! I have received compliments from my co-workers, classmates, friends, family. It's truely amazing! My sister took it before me, and my mom took it before her, I will keep reccomending it to everyone I know.
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April 14, 2008

Pros:

cleared up severe acne,scars have reduced.

Cons:

sinustis.

everytime i used the isotretinoin gel i have difficulty breathing. this gel caused acute sinusitis. but it was effective against acne.
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7 user(s) found this helpful

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April 14, 2008

Pros:

it cured my acne- I was one of the first to take this drug when it was approved in 1981. I had tried EVERYTHING to clear up my skin. Years of antibiotics, retin A, topical antibiotics. Nothing worked.

Cons:

Dry nose, dry eyes, chapped lips.

I would highly encourage those that have persistant, deep acne to try accutane. I consider it a cure for my acne. For years after the treatment, my skin was actually normal. About 15 years after taking it, but skin became oily again, but with no breakouts. My dauaghter is coming of "age" and before her skin gets as bad as mine was (scarring) I will put her on accutane. To me this drug was a miracle and I really can't understand all the bad press about it.
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April 14, 2008

Pros:

My skin is 90% clear of acne after 6 months of taking 40mg x 2 a day

Cons:

stiff joints, dry lips, dry skin and I suffered through some nose bleeds in the first 8 weeks.
Most importantly, I had the worst acne of my life for the first 4-5 weeks I went on Accutane

I knew the medicine has to be working for my skin to get worse in the first month of being on the drug. My understanding was that Accutane is bringing everything to the surface and it has. I have just stopped taking it and I hope my face stays as clear as it now is for a long time. The medicine cost me nothing because in Canada we have medicare which is free and universal.
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April 13, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin of course! No more oily skin/hair.

Cons:

Took awhile for it to work on me.
Scarring.

For me it took 3 1/2 months to notice ANY results at all. By 4 months my skin was clear. It cleared up in 2 weeks. From severe acne to clear skin in 2 weeks. I was discouraged at first, due to the fact that I used it for over 3 months, and had NO results, my acne was worse than it had ever been before! It is worth it once it clears your skin though! I would not want to go out of the house when I had bad acne, really made me sad and felt depressed and lonely. Not anymore!!!! So worth it! Been on it for 4 1/2 months.
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April 11, 2008

Pros:

Clear up my skin, skin becomes fairer and smoother

Cons:

Vomited blood (in clots)and bleeding nose (usually in my sleep). Palpitating heart.

I used this when I'm 21 Y.O (I'm 26 now). For me the effect is scary enough to make me stop using it. I don't want to be bled dry.
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April 11, 2008

Pros:

helped clear up acne but not all

Cons:

SYMPTOMS OF SEVERE DEPRESSION

I wish this could be the perfect cure for acne but it just turned out to be a nightmare for me. The slightly clearer skin was not worth the severe symptoms of depression.
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April 10, 2008

Pros:

Couldn't stay on it long enought to see the pros.

Cons:

Destroyed my intestinal tract in two week.

I've never had an adverse reaction to a drug but this one nearly killed me (literally). After being on it for 2 weeks I got sever diarrhea that didn't go away for nearly 6 months. I'm a 5'10" female and I dropped to about 110 pounds. I've been working with a naturopath for 2 years and am finally able to eat normally and maintain a near heathly weight. Acne continues to be a problem but obviously I should have taken the lable warnings more seriously.
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April 10, 2008

Pros:

Clears acne up and you never have another break out again.

Cons:

Severe break during first 2 weeks then subsided, dry nose, dry lips, dry skin, muscle / bone pains.

I tried quite a few of antibiotics, which didn't seem to make my acne subside as much as I wanted, Isotretinoin is doing that for me.
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April 10, 2008

Pros:

- cleared up my skin, complexion amazing
- hair is not as greasy, can wash hair less often!
- more self confidence, less makeup

Cons:

- joint/heel pain/stiffness, not being able to go to the gym
- dry, peeling, red lips
- nasal dryness/bleeding

go for it...this is as close to a cure for acne that exists...there are some side effects...but it definitely works..i have general/annoying acne that is continuous from age 16 (I'm 25 now)...and nothing helped/worked...wasted so much time/money/grief/pain/stress over my acne...accutane took all that away...for ME the benefits totally outweight the risks.. :)
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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