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
January 11, 2009
Cons:
Expensive!
Best decision ever made.
January 11, 2009
Pros:
Works well - cleared EVERYTHING for finally flawless skin! Side effects were not bad and went away when doseage was lowered and after my course.
Cons:
For me, it took 11 months on the first course to finally stop getting cysts. Results lasted about 6 months after ending, now the oil is back and I'm breaking out again. Breakouts are higher in quantity than before, but less in severity (no cysts).
I'm starting a second course without reservation. I'd be willing to do a third course if needed. Prior to Tane, after being on years and years of RX topicals, oral antibiotics, oral contraceptives, etc., nothing else cleared my skin. It's the only thing that worked and was a huge confidence booster to not feel embarrased by my bad skin all of the time.
January 8, 2009
Pros:
Very gradullay gets better, But so slowly
Cons:
Dry lips, Dry Skin, Lack of oil in my skin leaving me looking dull and old. Depression and mood swings. Not being able to enjoy summer.
I am 4 months into my treatment and have only just started to see results and there not that impressive. I am very fearful that my skin will stay dull and old looking. I think id rather have pimples than look older than my years.
January 4, 2009
Pros:
I have used it for 2 months now and I have seen a n improvement in everything on my face besides my chin which was the worst of my acne going into accutane.
Cons:
my chin is still getting inflammation and my body is also getting the same amount of inflammation that it used to.
the side effects have been dry lips, dry eyes, dry hair, dry face, and I even got excema on my arms.
Im sure that I havnt seen the full results from accutane yet but I have improved in areas where I used to have acne like my jaw line, nose, and forehead so it definetly has helped, and my doctor just raised my dose from 40mg a day to 40mg one day and then 80mg the next so I just switch off everyday. I have had a lot of side effects but it could also be attributed to the cold winters in Canada that dont really help dry skin. But all of the side effects that I listed Ive been able to control.
January 4, 2009
Pros:
-No pro's so far....ive been on it for almost 2 months and i notice NOTHING!
Cons:
-No improvement
-Dry lips and skin
I fear ill never get clear
December 19, 2008
Pros:
It got rid of my acne
Less oily skin
Cons:
Dry, chapped lips. Extremely dry, flakey skin. Dry skin on arms that would bleed. Blood work is needed every month (can never find my veins).
It works. However, a year after treatments stopped, acne started to come back. It wasn't severe like it was before, but it was annoying to have went through all of the dry skin pain to start breaking out again. I don't know how expensive it was since I was still living with my parents and they paid for it.
December 19, 2008
Pros:
It worked amazingly for about a year 1/2 (smaller pores, no breakouts)
Cons:
EXTREMELY dry skin, chapped lips, monthly blood tests, very irritable, very sensitive skin and can't really go in the sun
this product worked wonders for me for about a year 1/2 and now im breaking out every other day again. They tell you it most likely will clear your acne for the rest of your life, but from what I have heard, it really only seems to clear up your acne for a little while and then you start breaking out again with time. My acne wasn't terrible when I went on accutane, I was just getting large painful cysts, so for all the trouble that you have to go through to be on the medicine, it probably wasn't worth it in the end since my acne is coming back.
December 17, 2008
Pros:
Well your breakouts really get under control in literally like two weeks and I never got the initial breakout.
Cons:
It really extremely dries you out from the inside out. EVERYWHERE! I MEAN EVERYWHERE!! Also plays with your hormones which is exactly the problem with my acne.
The purpose of me posting my experience was because the hormones in the pill clogged up my breast ducks that produce milk and got severely infected. My breast felt literally about 30 pounds each. I had to go the ER two days in a row because the situation just got worse. It was an extremely scary experience and highly embarrassing that I had to go through this because of acne meds. Overall during the infection I felt INTOXICATED AND READY TO DIE!!! Bottom line acne is a part of my life and anyone who is on this page so I really think being positive is the only thing that will improve the situation for us all.
December 1, 2008
Pros:
I can't say that there are any pros yet but ive only been on it for a month.
Cons:
Ive been getting much more and worse acne then I have ever experienced. My skin is super dry and my lips are extremely chapped.
My acne has gotten worse but from what I understand its suppose to get worse before it gets better and luckily the acne on my face isnt that bad its just my body acne and that was the reason I got put on it and right now were going into winter so Im guessing not to many people will see me with my shirt off until the summer when hopefully the accutane will be done and my acne will be gone.
December 1, 2008
Pros:
Got rid of all of my blackheads and made my pores invisible, cleared up any acne anywhere on my body and kept it gone for about two years after I finished taking it.
Cons:
Really expensive, annoying blood tests every month! Dried out my skin a little, but mostly dry lips. Breakouts may come back after a year or so.
I took accutane over two years ago and was on it for 9 months. Now, even though I get small breakouts around my period, it is easy to get rid of and nothing like before! My skin isn't even oily anymore after two years, its really changed my skin and my life!
Pros:
Cleared my skin up right away. It's a life saver.