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
February 23, 2009
Cons:
terrible side effects, not sure if it is worth it
skin feels perfect, not too oily, if you wash face every morning and night, oil balance is perfect. i saw my acne go away within the first week. not supposed to use any topical treatments, but i found that using a spot treatment works perfectly!
dry skin is very manageable, must use a good mosturizer every morning and night and always carry chapstick w/you i love accutanes effects on my skin but have had miserable side effects:
- can cause INCREASED INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE, constant pounding headaches for the first couple of weeks, eyes inable to dilate correctly lead to photophobia (light hurts eyes)
- dry eyes, cant wear contacts
- affected mood, made me completely unmotivated
- hypersensitivity, no tanning w/out burning while my side effects are fairly rare, accutane just seems far to instable a medication. although having acne affects many other parts of my life, im not sure if i am willing to compensate having accutane drastically affect my life esp for
February 21, 2009
Pros:
Does clear skin
Cons:
Drys skin like crazy, lips, face, everywhere, joint paine, my acne came back about a month after stopping treatment
Accutane does work! But it WILL NOT KEEP YOU CLEAR!! I had really bad acne and by the end of the treatment i was totally clear (around the 6th month). A month later I saw a few pimples and then more and more showed up until it all came back. Bottom line if you have bad acne try it because it really is the only thing that works. Accutane does change your skin though so it does do something long term. Skin treatments that didnt work for you before might work for you after accutane. I used to use tazorac cream for my acne before I tried Accutane and it didnt work at all, but Im on it now and it seems to be working well.
February 21, 2009
Pros:
Cures acne in one or two 4 month courses, 9 months apart...rarely a third is necessary...
Free for me coming from england - gotta love the national health service :D
Cons:
dry lips can be a pain...no alcohol for 4 months isnt great either
Saved my life. Literally.
February 13, 2009
Pros:
Accutane works really well. it helped me a lot but read my cons
Cons:
it is dangerous. it gave me headaches, diarhea/ boul change, sleepiness, blured vision and SEVERE back pain. i took it for 2 months and stopped 4 months ago and my back still hurts. i hate it.
dont buy it. it may be worth it but there is a 80% chance youll get a side effect. i have looked everywhere and talked to many doctors and thay said it is VERY rare to get a side effect.
February 11, 2009
Pros:
Cleared acne beautifully. Easy to use.
Cons:
Took 6 months to clear, monthly bloodtest and Dr. Visits. Nose bleeds and some mild joint pain, and fatigue. Acne returned 5 months later, though not quite as severe.
I had great skin for about 5 months, then the acne started all over again, though not as bad. Now doing retinoid and oral antibiotic for 3 months, then possible accutane
February 9, 2009
Pros:
It temp. Cleared my face no matter what I ate or did.
Cons:
My lips and skin were beyond dry and cracked!
I've used it twice 2 years apart and I still suffer with severe acne :(
February 2, 2009
Pros:
It clears up acne for most people.
Cons:
I had very dry skin. Woman have to be on the pill. I think I also had a few nose bleeds.
Over the past 4 years I've had two rounds of accutane, and my acne is starting to come back again. My dermatologist said that it just doesn't work for some women. It worked wonders for my brother and my fiance, and his brother who all had severe acne.
January 29, 2009
Pros:
cleared my face (THANK GOD!!)
Cons:
VERY expensive, I have great insurance and I still paid $350! very dry face, with flaking, my skin started to flake around my piercings, gross! Dry lips, bloody nose, dry scalp, dryness in corner of lips.
The first 5 days I used it my acne started to clear, it was great, then the following 5 days my face started to break out, and actually ended up looking worse than it did before I started. I was almost ready to give up, but I stuck it out and after about a week to a week and a half of bad break outs I finally started to clear up. The most annoying part was that I couldn't wear make up because it looked so bad with my skin flaking. I think I applied chap stick at least every hour because my lips would absorb it so fast.
If you can apply a lot of lotion, chap stick and moisturizer, and use a hydrating shampoo, (I had good luck with head an shoulders, and it smells good too!) then I would recommend this medication, you just have to have a lot of patience and tolerance for that matter.
January 28, 2009
Pros:
Cleared my face, back, shoulders, and chest of acne.
Cons:
The problem is that it didn't last for long. It's been about a year since my last dose and my acne has already come back. Good thing is that my back and shoulders have stayed cleared.
If your insurance doesn't cover the cost, expect to pay a fortune. Looking back, i don't regret taking it i just wish that it had kept me clear for longer. One of the worst cons of the drug was the redness and long periods of healing time. While i was on accutane my face would turn into a tomato during stress, physical activity, or simply bending over to tie my shoes (however, that symptom has gone away). Also, whenever i break out, it takes at least two weeks for the scars to completely vanish. I hate it.
January 22, 2009
Pros:
Cleared acne completely for two years. Was able to go make up free and was once complimented for having naturally gorgeous skin.
Cons:
Acne came back (although not as cystic/exception of a few breakouts) . Thinning hair, thinning skin (shins almost see through, vein under the eye), not being able to drink alcohol for 4 months while at uni, dry lips.
If you are considering Accutane think VERY carefully as it could leave you with more issues than you started with. I took it aged 21 for moderate/severe cystic acne and if I could go back in time I wouldn't do it again.
Yes it completely cleared my skin for 2 years, but as a result I am left with fragile, thin skin which scars so easily. I am now ashamed of my once gorgeous dancers legs because they look like a road map of England. The skin has thinned so much on my shins that they are veiny. And now at 25 my hair is starting to thin and my acne is back with a vengance (cystic on my cheeks and jawline, VERY PAINFUL and TOTALLY CONFIDENCE CRUSHING).
I also had Microdermabrasion and IPL to treat the acne, which if I had the money I would definitely do again.
I am starting on Retin A Micro on Saturday as I am very interested in the supposed anti-aging benefits. If it clears me up then great. If not I will be saving for NLite. I don't hold out much hope though. Acne is pretty te
Pros:
perfect oil balance, acne diminshes quickly