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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December 29, 2007

Pros:

None yet, it's only been a month.
Completely free as i'm under 16 so get it free on the NHS. No contraceptives and its so much easier not using gels and creams every day. I dont have to wash my hair as often as its just not getting greasy.

Cons:

very dry lips, dry skin but not that bad. Initial breakout was pretty bad. Blood tests every month (i am terrified of needles)!

I have suffered from acne since the age of 11 and im now 14. I have been on oxytetracycline, eyrythromycin and minocycline and ive tried so many gels and creams. None of them worked so now im on 20mg accutane. Its been a month and so far the oil has stopped and my initial breakout is passed and is just starting to clear up. I've read other reviews where people are saying that all of their blackheads have gone but i've suddenly got more all over my nose, cheeks and chin and they are really really obvious. :( Hopefully these will go. I dont know what ill do if this doesnt work.
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December 28, 2007

Pros:

cleared up my moderate acne in the first two week butcontinued with the treatment for 16 weeks.
no acne at all any more. no side effects for me either really, no dry skin etc.

Cons:

dry lips and tiredness.

It is brilliant the few minor side effects I had are totally out weighed by the end results. If this medication agrees with you take it!!
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December 24, 2007

Pros:

Cleared up my moderate to severe acne in 6 months. From being pretty oily to no oil at all. Only thing to ever properly clear me up. Also in the UK, you can get it on the NHS so for me i payed nothing.

Cons:

Not supposed to drink alcohol. Dry skin, dry lips, dry nose, dry eyes, dry throught. Severe dehydration and seemed to make me very tired and seemed to trigger my ashtma off. The inicial breakout. Lack of concentration. Developed eczema rash on my nec

If you have acne thats going to scar or has started to this is defo the best bet, its like a 90% success and i'm another to join the list. It totally minimizes your oil producing glands so no oil can get onto the skin which is why its so effective, because no oil = no acne. Before this I had moderate/severe acne, after 6 months of 40mg a day i have clear skin except a few red marks, but I've had so many compliments about my skin. I think its a definate risk and the side effects are bad and endless really and the fact my acne could come back are all bad points, however the bottom line is the fact it works if you give it 2 months or so. Its definately the best move i've made, if only i would have been referred from my GP sooner. Its also free on the NHS which is good because if you have to pay for it, it's pretty dear. Well because i havent got drunk in 6 months bring on new years eve. All in all its a risk but life is about taking risks, however I'd say for most its a last resort.
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December 24, 2007

Pros:

Cleared my acne, but only temporarily. The side effects of using accutane are not worth it. You might have clear skin for up to a year, but the rest of your body will suffer so much you won't even care.

Cons:

My skin was so dry it was painful. My lips were constantly chapped and even bled. My eyes were always red as well as my skin. The worst part was my hair! The lack of oil made my hair SO dry and thin, it seemed to just stop growing. Still not normal..

I do not recommend accutane to ANYONE unless your skin is just so bad you can deal with the horrible side effects. I also felt such a lack of energy while on accutane that I gained weight from not being able to exercise. I would have to leave the gym because I would get short or breath and my whole body would hurt. I am a very healthy person and had never experienced anything like that before. It was scary and awful. I just felt kind of "blah" the whole time I was taking the drug. Two and a half years later, my acne is back. But my hair is just now starting to return to normal. I went through so much stress as a result of accutane: noticeable thinning of my hair, no energy, weight gain, and a general worsening in my appearance. Awful, especially since I went on accutane to look better! Bottom line: NOT worth it. Bad experience. I will never ever take it again. My derm advised I try it again since my acne came back, but I would much rather just deal with it than take accutane again.
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December 23, 2007

Pros:

It will clear my skin and give me confidence!

Cons:

I have noticed that my skin is starting to dry up a bit, not so oily anymore, and I love that. Lips can get a bit chapped. I started from the beginning with chap stick and lotion, so really I haven't had any problems...yet. :p

On December 28th I will have been on Accutane for 1 month. I am 23, and I was put on 40mg a day. So far I haven't had any results, but I have noticed a change in the type of ance I am now getting. It hurts pretty bad, but as we all know, it has to get worse before it gets better. I have Blue Cross PPO and therefore the generic Accutane (Isotretinion) is covered and only costs me $10. Without insurance it is around $265. And that is only for 40mg once a day. I am sure at my next office visit my Doctor will increase my dosage. I know it will work, I just want results overnight..haha. =] Oh, I have tried Minocycline, Doxycycline, Bactrim (those are all oral), as for topicals, I have tried Differin gel, Benzaclin gel, Proactiv, all the over the counter treatments. For the oral antibiotics, It did clear up my skin for a bit, but it stopped working after a few months. So here I am, and I hope Accutane can once and for all put an end to my ance!
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December 21, 2007

Pros:

I have no oil on my skin which has NEVER been the case for me...therefore i am not havin to pull out a tissue to pat my face every half hour now.

Cons:

i miss some of the oil..before it gets overly oily skin tended to have a slight glow and now when put foundation on i look grey. I am on my 5th week and my skin is way worse! My jaw is covered,i have acne on my neck, never had there before.wrinkles.

Well i am 19 and have had moderate to severe acne for 6 years now...I had tried everything ...my first 4 weeks on rocuatane were anightmare...my skin was so bad i felt sick. I was told it would start gettin better now that my dosage had increased to 60mg but it is end of 5th week and i am worse with spots in places (neck) that i have never had before. My chin is covered and dryed out and my whole jaw is breakin' out. I am prayin it gets better next week cause now that its becoming increasingly worse that people are commenting on it i feel terrible. It is horrible because i was asked to do modeling recently but i felt like i couldnt cause the sight of my face without my foundation on would be so embarsin. But i thought after roacutane i could maybe do it but thats a no no, even if it clears i believe roacutane makes acne scarring worse. I will post a review in a few weeks but at the moment i wouldnt recommend it.
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December 20, 2007

Pros:

My skin has cleared up significantly. Even the overall texture of my skin has changed. Opposite of depression, elated about how much better my skin is looking.

Cons:

EXTREME EXTREME DRY LIPS. My lips have been dry since day 1 and have had minor nose bleeds almost every day. Basically severe dryness everywhere. Some soreness in joints.

I'm almost through with my fourth month and on 80 mg. a day. I can DEFINITELY see a huge difference. The first couple of months were ups and downs with breakouts coming and going, but now there is very rare pimples and breakouts. My biggest fear is that as soon as I finish the medicine, my acne will come back because I don't think I would go through 5 more months of this again. But WELL worth the dryness to clear up this much.
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December 20, 2007

Pros:

I've been on sotret for about 2 months and my acne got worse at first. Now it seems to be getting better and I hope it continues.

Cons:

Dry lips and skin but that's it. For clear skin it is completely worth it.

It's worth a try.
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December 18, 2007

Pros:

During the first weeks you can feel the changes in your skin. At the end of treatment no oil and no signs of acne in your skin. seriously.

Cons:

depression, very dry skin and lips but that's not a big deal. Remember: to be beautiful you need to suffer.

It really works. During the treatment I thought of giving up but the result is incredible. I feel so much better with the people around me, i totally forget my acne problems. Thank you!
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December 16, 2007

Pros:

Been on it for five months, very few less pimples.

Cons:

ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS, I've got bleeding lips, terribly dry skin, my face is a dark red color at all times, and I've recently thought about killing myself

Just don't take it..I regret taking this pill, it's been an awful experience to live with acne is better than to live like this TRUST ME' PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS. I DONT WANNA SEE PEOPLE WHERE I AM AT.
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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