Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Results
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 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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Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
33.4%
3
15.5%
2
7.3%
1
6.6%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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August 29, 2009

Pros:

Totally cleared my skin. Didnt get a single pimple for months after usage.

Cons:

Slightly dry skin/ lips. You have to get a few blood tests.

Best medication for me. Took about 4 months to work, but i didnt get a single pimple for 6 months after I stoped using. But my acne has since come back, so it only worked for about 8 months for me.
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August 13, 2009

Pros:

Really helps clear skin up, giving you more confidence.
Side effects are no where near as bad as i had read!
A wonderful product!!

Cons:

really dry lips, get some vaseline.
mild nose bleeds
dry skin

This is a great product much better than anything else out there. Was worried at first about the side effects but no where near as bad as there were made out to be, might be worse for girls. If you have a chance to use roaccutane do it as it works!!
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August 10, 2009

Pros:

my husband and his family all used accutane and it worked on all of them my husband used it about 10 year or more ago and hasnt had breakout since, my son is getting acne now and has tried different things so i made another appt to get him onit also.

Cons:

dries out your sinuses, he use to complain that his nose was dry all the time, but now they have nasel sprays and gels for that. But it works, and didnt come back.My son is going onit before it gets worse and cause scars, its doesnt go away like acne

Well worth it you will spend just as much trying and spending different stuff that doesnt work..
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August 7, 2009

Pros:

Kept my skin clear for a good 5 months after taking. Not too bad side effects.

Cons:

Dry, dry skin and lips.

Accutane changed my life! I was acne free for 5 whole months. (a big deal to me!) But after those 5 months, I experienced minor breakouts and now I'm on Solodyn to help keep my skin clear regularly. I've read that people haven't had much success with the product, but give it time! It took the full 4 months for me to see any results, but it really does work! Good luck to everyone!!
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August 4, 2009

Pros:

Much less oil after 2 days of treatment

Cons:

Slow healing of existing acne, sensitivity to sun, dry chapped lips, sensitive skin, much worse acne than before beginning treatment

Ive been taking accutane for 2 months now and acne on face is about 2 to 3 times worse than it was before starting treatment, mostly becuase i had alot of acne below the skin before starting treatment so hopefully my breakouts over the past 2 months is the acne coming to the surface, and the fact that accutane slows down the reproduction/healing of skin makes the acne redmarks look worse, hoping to clear up this month or next which is the time most people do. I am currently on 60 mgs a day up to 80 in a few days, i do weigh 190lbs though.
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August 2, 2009

Pros:

no oily skin, less breakouts, less oily hair (if that was an issue to begin with), lasts even after finished with your trial

Cons:

chapped lips, drys out all of you (not just your face)

I loved it. I put some moisturizer on my legs and arms to keep them from drying out. My skin was at least 75% better. I still broke out during my period but nothing as close to as bad as before. Even after I stopped taking the pills and it was washed out of my system a month later, my skin was NOTHING as bad as it had been before. Unfortunately, I went for a second time and it didn't seem to work as well, but the first time was absolutely amazing.
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July 29, 2009

Pros:

clears up skin

Cons:

dry lips an nose primarily. Dry arms, ears, and very sensitive skin.

I have been suffering from cystic acne for 9 years and have tried everything you can imagine including proactiv and laser/light treatments. This is the only medication that I can say truly worked. It has given me my life back and I encourage everyone who has cystic acne to consider using this drug.
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July 26, 2009

Pros:

Face is less oily, hair is less greasy
seems to be working since i am experiencing some of the common side effects

Cons:

very dry skin, dry lips, frequent nose bleed (had 3 already)
slight acne flare but not too bad

my acne started to worsen a lot last year and my doctor put my on tetracyclines for ages. It worked pretty at first but then I started to get a lot of breakouts. My doctor decided to let me try Isotretinoin and i've been on it for a week. I experienced some of the common side effects listed such as: dry skin, dry lips, dry eyes mild acne flare. Hope it gets better in a month or two
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July 15, 2009

Pros:

My acne was completely gone within a month. I had cystic acne along both cheeks that caused much pain/embarrassment, and within two months had gorgeous, porcelain skin.

Cons:

I experienced EXTREME dryness and broke out in exema. My eyes were so dry I had to seal them closed with drops at night. It affected my vision-I saw double when reading and couldn't see properly at night. My hair also thinned/fell out.

I'm very glad I took it, but I don't know if I could do it again. My hair has still not grown back properly, though the vision has improved. I'm worried if I go on it again my hair will never grow back properly. My acne is also starting to come back (I finished accutane seven months ago) and I don't know what to do now. I would recommend it to people who are at their limit-it definitley works, and there will definitely be side effects. It depends on whether you think you can handle them or not. To me, getting clear skin was worth it. I was on 40mg/day for 3.5 months (I stopped early because I couldn't handle the side effects)
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July 10, 2009

Pros:

Cleared my skin.

Cons:

Dry skin/lips. Initial breakout.

I am in my early thirties. I had nice skin up until a couple of years ago when I began to get nodulocystic acne. Mostly 1-2 large lesions each month which would take forever to heal and left some scarring. My back was also covered with acne like a teenage boy. I felt terrible about myself. I never wanted to go out of the house. I started 30mg Accutane and the first month my back acne cleared completely and I have never seen it since. I did experience an initial breakout which was like a rash along the sides of my face and jaw line. I essentially broke out (nothing terrible like before) until I started my third month. Since then my skin has been perfect other than the occassional dry patch. Overall I would highly recommend this medication. I have some joint pain which is bearable and of course dry lips/dry eyes, but nothing severe enough to complain about compared to the benefits. I have one more month and then we'll see if I'm cured. I sure hope so....
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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