Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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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5
37.1%
4
33.4%
3
15.5%
2
7.3%
1
6.6%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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May 16, 2009

Pros:

Clears acne toward the end of treatment and for a few months after.

Cons:

Do not be fooled by this treatment. Acne will disappear for a few months after treatment. Have tried many other potential solutions before Accutane. Been off of Accutane for about a year and acne is coming back.

If you have oily skin, then just deal with it. Nothing can cure this problem, not even Accutane. Accutane is simply a temporary solution to acne for most people. When I was on the treatment, my face became clear, however, severe side-effects occurred. These included extremely chapped lips, severe nosebleeds 3 times a day, weakened bones, etc. 2 months after treatment I broke my foot in 3 places when I semi-rolled my toes over. I had done this countless times before (this prob. being the least severe), but because this medication weakens your bones, I snapped all 3 of them. In addition, you practically have to live in a bubble while on Accutane. Meaning no drinking alcohol, playing sports, etc. Unless you have been through multiple other treatments, I would not recommend this product to anyone. 6 months of hell are not worth a few months of clear skin. Acne will return.
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May 13, 2009

Pros:

cleared my acne a little bit no more pimples just small ones i feel my face is better then before

Cons:

very dry skin ,dry eye,dry nose,redness ,slight knee pain ,everyone on accutane have to use a moisturizer to nose and skin and refresh drops to eyes

i had tried so many products like benzoyl peroxide ,salyclic acid , oral antibiotics and i didn't find any progress ,now i'm using accutane for my second month now i hope it can work cos life with acne is horrible noooooooo self confidence i hope it works for me and for everyone else.
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May 12, 2009

Pros:

My acne is gone!!! No more oily skin and No more breakouts.
I finally have my confidence and self esteem back since my early teen years(around 13).
I am 19 now.

Cons:

The side effects that I experienced were minimum. Slight back pains, chapped lips ALL the time, slight hair loss(but its goes away after you stopped taking the medicine, and dry skin. Also you can't drink while on this drug :(

This medicine was my last resort. I had no other options and I was scared to take this medicine but I am glad I did. Living with acne for about 5 years does affect your relationships, self esteem and confidence. I felt like I was held back my 4 years in high school because of it. You feel somewhat less of yourself and are afraid to take certain risks. Now after taking accutane and going into college I feel like a new person. I now know when meeting new people, they will look me in the face and not judge me by my acne. I would have to say that this drug has gave me a new look on life and I plan to live it to the fullest. Accutane has saved my life in so many ways! I would have to say only use it as a LAST RESORT!
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May 10, 2009

Pros:

great medicine. really clearing up my skin

Cons:

dry lips, dry face, and SEVERE back pain

this medicine is great. at first side effects seem intolerable but you get over it in about a month. medicine did give me severe back pain especially when i laid down after a long day or when i had to do something like pick things up off the floor
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May 4, 2009

Pros:

It gets rid of your acne within a month or two while you're on it.

Cons:

It comes back afterwards. Hassle with all the blood tests.

I used Accutane when I was 16, it got rid of my acne, but it all came back within a year. I used it again about a year ago, and my acne has not come back full swing again. I do get some mild acne here and there but it's nothing like before.
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April 26, 2009

Pros:

starting to clear up.

Cons:

dry lips!!!!

im starting on my 2nd month. im on 40 mg. my skin is still breaking out....bad! im hoping this will end soon. its large pimples but i can tell my skin under that is clearing up good. im hoping im a couple months :)
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April 13, 2009

Pros:

It has cleared my acne so far and I've been on it for about 2 months now!

Cons:

Dryness and joint pain

it works for me(so far) but I have to wait till I'm off of it to clear the scars I have.
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March 31, 2009

Pros:

My first son used this product after all else failed and has now been 100% acne free for over 10 years. Another of my sons used it and acheived the same results. Neither suffered from any side effects.

Cons:

They did have to deal with dry skin and very chapped lips, and had follow the other recomondations of the doctor.

It was not an easy decision to make but one of my brothers still fights acne and he is in his 40's. My son had cystic acne and did not want to fight this all his life and now both my sons have beautiful skin, though they do have to moisturize everyday because their face feels dry. My daught had mild acne and was sucessful in keeping it under control with Proactive.
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March 27, 2009

Pros:

After treatment, my skin cleared up and is still 99% clear after one year. It made a life-changing difference.

Cons:

Acne will get worse before it gets better and there is significant scarring, but in time, the scars will fade. I had stiff back. For dry skin, use Olay activating cream(the pink lotion)...it's amazing! and use aquaphor for lips.

Accutane gave me my life back. It gave me the confidence that I never had. Just be prepared to have significant scarring from it and know that it will fade. When i started Accutane, i wasn't aware of the scarring. My acne got worse and everything scarred. I thought I was nuts for taking it...but the acne does clear up almost 100% and the scarring does fade. My face looks beautiful now :) It doesn't happen overnight. It's a process, but i am so glad that i did it. I have a new lease on life.
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March 11, 2009

Pros:

skin is MUCH less oily, smoother softer skin, have not gotten a single zit since starting accutane, hopefully when my scars go away my face will be completely clear!

Cons:

elbows, hands, and lips are VERY dry ALL the time. especially my lips...i have to carry chapstick with me all the time now. my face feels tight after i wash it so i need to apply moisterizer to it. i think my vision might be blurred a little

i am 17 and i have moderate/severe acne. i get it mostly on around my mouth and on my cheeks. i have VERY oily skin. i would have to use blotting paper all the time and even that wouldn't get all of the oil off my face. i also have HORRIBLE scarring. i dont get TOO many pimples at one time but i have TONS of red spots all over my face from past breakouts esp 1 big one on my cheek. a typical breakout would be 2-3 zits at a time. i literally tried EVERYTHING for my face - from basic oral prescriptions to septra to birth control. finally my derm put me on accutane as a last resort. i started 2 weeks ago & already i feel results. my face is MUCH less oily, although i still have some oil on my cheeks at the end of the day which i hope will reduce w/ time. but i dont have to wipe down my face anymore! my skin is smoother & i have not gotten a single new zit yet! this is WORTH the hassle. it works WONDERS. never before have i felt this good about my skin
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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