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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5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

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March 30, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up serious acne by about 90%.

Cons:

Serious side effects. While I was on it, I had dry skin and lips. I suffered hearing loss while on it (and never recovered).

I don't know if the hearing loss was worth it but it did give me substantial relief from my acne.
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March 30, 2008

Pros:

Clearer skin

Cons:

Gets worse before it got better

I had moderate acne on the verge of becoming severe. I am on my 4th month of accutane and it looks a lot better then it was. Its also much easier to manage. I still have 2 months to go. I have to say i went through Hell the second and third month. Im sure it is different for everybody but i honesly wouldnt leave the house. I still recommend it though b/c it does get better. I was wondering if anyone has been on a second round of it and could tell me if it was as bad as the first for them.??
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March 30, 2008

Pros:

it has really started to clear up my acne. And made me less oily on my face.

Cons:

At the third week I started getting acne is other places such on arms and legs. It does get worse for a week. If you are a girl and you are at child bearing age you have to go on birth control. WATCH VITAMIN A INTAKE!

Try it!
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March 30, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up my moderate acne completely when no other medication or treatment could. Very low side effects. I loved it.

Cons:

Had to put on chapstick all the time and lotion after I showered. Had slightly pink face and dry skin.

I had slight to moderate acne that was just really annoying and was not fixed by any type of treatment, so I finally gave in and went on Accutane. After reading all the online horror stories I was scared out of my mind. However, I had a great experience on it. I took 80mg/day and weigh 200 lbs (90 kgs) so it was about 1 mg/day/kg, which is a moderate to high dose I was told. My lips were pretty dry and cracked if I didn't put on chapstick all the time. I also had really dry skin if I didn't put lotion on my shoulders, arms, back, and face after showering. Everything else was 100% fine though. These horror stories are overblown and rare, and tons of people have great results on it. My acne is gone 100% from all over my body and it is such a relief to not have to deal with it. On completion, my dermatologist told me he has prescribed it for 10 years and has never once had a case of depression and only 2 people have had bad blood tests. If you're tired of acne, give Accutane a shot.
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March 28, 2008

Pros:

Works pretty well, easy to use, on lighter doses (up to about 30, 40 mg's) there were no tangible side effects

Cons:

There ARE side effects. And loads of them. Just not so tangible in the first months.

Ok, this product is the only thing that really helps so far. I've tried lots and all I can say- don't waste your time/money/patience with other medicaments. BUT. Even if your doc says you can freely use it, THINK ABOUT IT TWICE. Seriously now, this is one of those medicaments which has LOADS of side effects. And pretty serious ones. My hearing got weak, my sight was poor, the skin was a bit dry but nothing serious and then came the most serious part- my doc told me this thing will really stop my bone growth, and proved it, it fuses the bones. At least, for me. So, if you wanna grow- DON'T USE THIS. For others who are already stopped growing or whos acne is hardcore bad, I can only suggest it, it will most defo help. Don't believe in bull about depression and stuff. I only felt better using it. This thing cheered me up. Unfortunately, I stopped using it. I still want to grow. Think twice before using though, consider the good and the bad; unfortunately it's 50/50.
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March 28, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin is finnaly here.

Cons:

dry eyes, nose, lips, face, arms (especially arms and lips), horrible joint pain, had to stop wearing contacts while on it.

I've ad acne since i was 13. I never had bad acne until right before i was 16. I had tried everything on store shellves including proactive(whichsucks) to no avail. All the standard Rx drugs never helped they just made it worse. It took me so long to try accutane because of how slowly the acne crept up on me. small patches at a time before it was finally all over my face. I never thought it was bad until my 10th grade picture when i was so embarrased by it not a single relative saw it that year. As soon as i heard about accutane i got on it. First four months were not good. Acne didn't improve at all and yet i put up with almost all the side effects you can have other than depresion. I thought being young i'd be spared the negative effects (wrong). Finallly in the fifth month witch is where i'm currently at about o be on sixth the acne has dissapeared leaveing nothing other than red marks on my face that will heal with time. Even with all the negative side effects i would recomed this
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March 28, 2008

Pros:

Best acne pill out there

Cons:

chapped lips, blurred vision, very powerful, listed side effects can be bad (i didn't have any bad side effects)

This pill changed my life. I had somewhat bad acne but after taking this pill for a few months I stopped getting pimples all together. For the first month or so I felt "high" but after that it was smooth sailing. I had no side effects... If you have tried everything else and are willing to take the risk I would suggest this product.
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March 27, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up all the little acne on my forehead. Got rid of the major, deep, painful acne that seemed to pop up around my period on my back and chest.

Cons:

Still having 1-2 deep pimples pop up by my cheeck/chin and one showed up just above my lip. Dry lips and dry nose are the most noticable.

I can deal with the occasional "deep" pimple. My doc has me on this for one more month so hopefully those flare up will straightened themselves out. I'm extremly happy to get rid of the pimples that popped up in my cleavage. My self-confidence is up just becasue of that fact. I strongly advise checking with your insurance coverage first. I did and they accidently told me they do cover that but my policy actually stated "no acne coverage". Luckily because I correspondended before I began treatment they are covering the costs (except the co-pay of course. Overall I say go for it.
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March 27, 2008

Pros:

no acne, soft skin, no breakouts

Cons:

dry lips

accutane is the best thing ever hapened to me. seriously. I've had some acne 2 years ago on the right side of my face. rest of my face was bad, but not as bad as the right side.I was on accutane 24 weeks. my skin looked perfect. it cleared completely in a month, and after that I didn't get a pimple. after I stopped taking the drugs my face has gotten even better. I didn't have to use covers or powders and that was definitely the biggest relief. my skin was perfect for about a year. however in the last few months I started breking out again. I don't have acne, thank god, but it's not as clear as it was, and some pimples started to appear on my face. so again I have to use cover just to hide scaring and redness. I was thinking on going to 2nd course of accutane but I'm not so sure my dermatologist would agree. hope it's just due to stress over college and stuff.anyway, I recomend accutane to everyone who has acne, because, believe me, other drugs and other products DON'T WORK!!!
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March 26, 2008

Pros:

IT WORKS!!!

Cons:

Dry Lips, skin, rash, headaches, and minor joint pain

This is my last month on Accutane, my skin is very smooth and clear, I still have some bumps here and there, but nothing like it used to be. This is the best product I have ever used and I will recommend it to anyone with acne.
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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