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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Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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August 7, 2007

Pros:

Was on it for 5 months, started to see good results after month 2. Once i finished month 5, skin was 95% clear

Cons:

DRY LIPS, dry skin, itchy eyes, RED flushing when exposed to great amounts of sun. Body pain(chest and joints)

Last resort for acne, i have been on it all and this stuff was the only thing that cleared my skin.
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August 7, 2007

Pros:

Cleared my acne on my face and back completely.

Very smooth skin

Cons:

AWFUL "initial breakout (which made me too depressed to go out)," very dry lips, rashes on arms, hands and ankles, nosebleeds every day in the 4th month, no drinking

I had several small pimples all over my forehead for years. recentley these pimples started on my cheeks and i decided to go on accutane. the initial outbreak was terrible i got huge pimples all over my cheeks (an area that wasnt too problematice before). the outbreak wasnt gradual either, i woke up one day with so many new pimples and some around my mouth where i had never had pimples before. However, my skin started to clear up instantly as well. i went home from school one weekend and came back with significantly clearer skin, my friends were amazed (this was during month 3). My skin has been clear since. Im 2 weeks post tane without a single pimple. i highly recommend accutane, dont let the side effects or "IB" scare you, i would take a couple weeks of worse acne for the perfect skin i have now. and the only depression you get is about your skin, and if you're reading this, you must be depressed about it alreay. it will work even when the IB is bad, it will CLEAR!
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August 6, 2007

Pros:

I have dealt with cystic acne and very oily skin since age 13. After trying everything, Accutane was my last hope. Within months, my skin was drier than it had been in years, and my cystic acne was gone.

Cons:

Without insurance, Accutane can be very expensive.

Accutane gave me my life back. I would reccommend it to anyone.
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August 5, 2007

Pros:

Works amazingly well. It's the only thing that has worked to clear up my acne.

Cons:

Dry skin, though if you moisturize every morning and night you should be okay. Dry lips. Nose bleeds. Takes a while to work.

I've been on Accutane for 5 months and have just started my final pack of Accutane. My skin is nearly entirely clear. I now only get the occasional pimple, whereas before my treatment began, I'd always have pimples all over my face, including the cystic variety. Before beginning Acutane, I tried so many different types of medication for my acne, but nothing worked before this. While my acne was not incredibly severe, I am still incredibly glad that I went on Accutane. It is fully worth any side effects that you may experience. The nose bleeds are the most irritating, but there are different sprays and things that you can use to combat them. It can be a bit discouraging in the first few months of the treatment - my acne took at least 2 or 3 months to start clearing up - but after a while, you will notice your skin has cleared up a ton. I would recommend Accutane to anyone who wants an almost sure way to rid themselves of acne.
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August 3, 2007

Pros:

So far, so good. It does take awhile to work, I am almost at 8 weeks on this medication and my skin is nearly clear. It definitely works! Skin isl less oily, and the pores and almost invisible.

Cons:

dry lips, dry skin. Skin broke out very badly until just now. It took about 2 months to show an improvement. Monthly testing is a pain.

If you are struggling with bad skin do not wait!! This may help you. I had very persistent mild acne that was not responding to anything!This seems to be the only thing to work for me.
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August 3, 2007

Pros:

It cleared up my skin very quickly and while on the medicine, I felt great!

Cons:

Once I came off the medicine, I started having side effects. I'm now on medicine for anxiety and my hair is thinning

I used it for five months. It's good for a LAST resort and if you have adult acne. People in highschool -- if you can, WAIT! It's likely your skin will clear up significantly within the next few years.
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August 3, 2007

Pros:

For the 7 or so months that I was on Accutane I had absolutely flawless skin. I suffered from cystic acne for a few years and during treatment I had invisible pores, no oil, and not a pimple.$15 per month w/ insurance. Hair held a great blowout!

Cons:

Can't drink Alcohol, Bags under eyes, Constipation, Dry lips, When blushing got a HUGE red rash on chest, Constipation. ACNE RETURNED AFTER 6 MONTHS. Was told 80% of users have to do a second round. Baby yourself on this. IPledge is a pain.

A little upset I have to do a second round, but during the treatment had flawless skin. To me, the side effects were well worth it.
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August 2, 2007

Pros:

Cleared my skin after 6 weeks!! Made my VERY oily skin drier. My pores looked smaller. I had PERFECT "movie star" skin!

Cons:

dry skin, very dry lips, mild chest pain...nothing that made me worried enough to stop the treatment. Oh, and the annoying blood tests.

I have always had pimples and very oily skin. Living in a humid and hot place doesn't help. I broke out really bad due to stress in 2000 and tried it all...topical creams which all killed my sensitive skin, proactive, all the antibiotics you can imagine, even birth control pills. FINALLY, my derm. put me on Accutane. I took it for 6 months and was amazed. I had no pimples, no scars! People told me that my skin was beautiful and it really was. Over the years my face became very oily again and i had little break outs here and there. I used proactive for these everyday little pimples. Unfortunately, a few months ago I noticed that the proactive was making my face really irritated so I stopped using it and I broke out really bad! I went back to the derms and they started the whole creams and antibiotics charade. Finally, I went to a new doc who agreed to put me on Accutane. YAY! I start in 20 days. Has anyone taken it twice with success???
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July 30, 2007

Pros:

This is a miracle drug. Within weeks it starts working, and your skin continuously improves from there on. I also almost never have to wash my hair, my skin is never greasy, makeup stays on all day.

Cons:

My lips were a little dry (seriously, no big deal with some aquaphor), nose a little dry, feet were rubbed more by shoes in summer. The ipledge program is a huuuge pain.

I spent five years battling mild acne. It flared and I found myself spending a huge amount of time putting on different topical medications and makeup. After years of being petrified of going on acctuane, I decided to give it a try. Bottom line - best decision I ever made. It's two months later, my skin is flawless and soft. I love never having to care for, or worry about, my skin. Most of the people who post here have had problems, but the statistics show that virtually no one has severe side effects. I am incredibly upset that I didn't do this earlier.
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July 28, 2007

Pros:

Cleared up my skin for about half a year

Cons:

left my skin very dry, I have to use moisturizer on my face all the time and only worked for half a year.

Seems to help with a lot of people but unfortunately only lasted for half a year with me. extreme cost and nasty side affects ((dryness, bleeding noses etc) and you will get them) are not worth the small time period of clean skin + constant dryness. but based on many of the other reviews i have read I will recommend this as a last resort treatment.
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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