Acne.org Products
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
May 6, 2007
Cons:
A year and a half after completion, my acne is back in full force. I experienced severe chapped lips and arm rashes while taking the medication. I also had a lot of joint stiffness in my hips but that has gone away.
Accutane will fool you and give you perfect skin for a good long period of time - but for what I spent on the medication, and the symptoms during, and the great dissappointment of it all coming back...I don't recommend this to anyone.
March 5, 2007
Pros:
CLEAR SKIN
Cons:
dry lips
It cleared me up by the 2nd month, the dry skin wasn't even that bad for me. The only side effect i had was dry lips. I had nose bleeds and dry eyes for like the first month and then it went away. Just got to be very strict with taking the pills right after meals. Anyways, I LOVE ACCUTANE! It gave me clear skin and I couldn't be happier. I'm almost 1 month post accutane and I haven't had a SINGLE pimple.
February 25, 2007
Pros:
skin less oily than usual; i can now stay home without worrying how oily my face will be at the end of the day.
Cons:
dry skin and chap lips, moody and i can't wear much make up.
Just about a week ago, started Acnotic 20, which is a type of isotretinoin. i was told the same stuff from my Skin Specialist about the effects and the remarkable results of this treatment that some of you have mentioned. and sometimes i do a lil bit of research online about the med (like now ;P) and see the effect on other real ppl like me. thank god i found this page. it actually gives me hope that this med might be my solution. i nearly wanted to stop because it seems that after a week of usage, new pimples still keep popping out and it is so unbearable. since that some of you did mention that it's one of the side effects.. so be it. i'll stick to the med then. will keep you updated of the progress ;)
February 11, 2007
Pros:
Deep sore pimples go away over couple months. Don't need to wash your hair much, only twice a week.
Cons:
Very dry lips- use vaseline constantly. Dry rashy skin on arms/legs- moisturise every day. Takes about a month and a half before pimples start really going away slowly as each day passes- patience is required.
It has been two months since i started Isotane- the NZ name for this medication. Requires alot of patience as results take a long time to see. Ask your derm for hydrochortisine aswell to combat redness. Also i was prescribed Stieva-A cream to apply at night and this helps prevent pimples from forming after first bringing them out. Basically things get worse before they get better but now things are looking much more positive and pimples are dissapearing one by one each day and have gone from giant sore deep pimples to small whitehead pimples. Unforts the scarring from the large pimples remains but im sure they wil fade eventually. recommend isotane.
February 8, 2007
Pros:
left skin blemish free
Cons:
used for about 6 months, after about a year after the treatment acne returned.
Was excellent for a few months then acne started to return.
November 22, 2006
Pros:
Clears your face, lessens the appearence of scars, and gives you healthy smooth skin.
Cons:
Entire skin on your body dries out. Cracked lips,peeling skin,itching, sensitive skin, sunburn,bone pain, upset stomache,headache.
Effective as a last resort treatment. Not the most pleasent expirence.
October 28, 2006
Pros:
cleared my severe cystic acne during high school for one year.
Cons:
the Cysts came back worse and in greater numbers. the depression during hsc was crippling.I lost a few of my close friends because i was so depressed and couldn't make them understand.
my self esteem was low to start with and now i think it is non existant. i am 19 and can't show any skin above my waist to my collar bone. i am going to have another try in january. i tried benzoyl peroxide and the pill and various other creams and tablets but this is the only one that improves things. I have the support of my sister and that is the greatest help.
October 25, 2006
Pros:
It works GREAT! I have been done with the treatment for probably about seven years, and my acne has been under control ever since. But you have to follow the directions and stick to it through out the entire treatment period.
Cons:
DEPRESSIONS! I was on this in high school and it drove me very deep into depression. Also it dries out your skin severely. My lips got used to me applying chap stick constantly and they do not produce moisture anymore. So now I cannot live without
It's a great product to take care of acne if you can tough it out throught the depressing treatment period and be able to handle the long-term side effects of dry skin and lips for the rest of your life. I would recomend it if you have severe acne and nothing else seems to be working. I would try something a little less harsh first.
October 19, 2006
Pros:
effective long-term/permanent
Cons:
Gets worse before it gets better because it has to 'flush' it out of your system, up to 5 months of Extremely dry and sensitive skin and very very dry and chapped lips
Very good product. I first took it when I was 16. Took it for 5 months and had very clear skin. I had been on a low dosage since I was young so the acne came back about a year and a half later. I took it again when I was 18 and was put on a dosage 3 times higher. after about 2 or 3 months I had to have it lowered do to a strong dull pain in my brain-it was then 2 times higher than the first time I had taken it. It again cleared up after the 5 months and have been clear until recently. I'm 21 and have started breaking out a little bit. Nothing like previously so I was advised to take tetracyclen 2 a day for 3 months and then will take 1 a day for a couple years until I'm either pregnant or feel that I will be fine off it. We will see. Also, Aveeno products have been really good and gentle on my skin and more effective than clean&clear and nutrogena type cleansers
September 1, 2012
Pros:
Clears acne
Cons:
Do not drink alcohol whilst using this drug. In my case it caused acute pancreatitis which is very unpleasant (look it up).
Be very careful
Pros:
After I finished the 6 month treatment, I had an additional year and a half of acne free skin.