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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September 7, 2010

Pros:

Cystic acne gone
Blackheads gone
New hope for clear skin

Cons:

Peeling lips - facial skin
Potential side effects kinda scary
MAJOR sensitivity to sun
Took a long time - 4 months to see results
Lots of redness

My daughter was on 40 mg 2x daily for 5 months - our hope was that she would be clear for the start of freshman year in high school. She had cystic acne bumps before that would last up to two months at at time and tried other antibiotics, creams, high dose retin A was quite severely burning her skin. She also had alot of redness from the various creams and lotions prescribed. Since I was the driving force behind all the work - encouraging her to take meds, getting her to appt., and nagging her to do ipledge - wanted to post our experience. I judge that unless you have moderately severe to severe cystic acne - this product is not for you. I see that people say their skin clears up in the first few weeks? I have been reading posts for the full time my daughter has taken this medicine and I wonder if doctors are prescribing this too easily. Her major cysts became extremely worse in the first three months - as we were told - she even had grown ups commenting that they had acne and that it would all go away soon - so embarrassing for a 14 yr old girl! Obviously they had no idea she was taking such an extreme medicine to clear her up. If I can offer any advice it would be WEAR SUNSCREEN! I would nag my daughter to put sunscreen on all thru the summer, she got blisters on her shoulder one time and then still didn't learn. She got a BAD sunburn on her face and the doctor asked about the redness - two weeks later - and just kind of shrugged her shoulders. It would have helped immensely if her doctor would have stressed profusely the need to wear sunscreen all the time instead of me nagging her. ANother sunburn on the face - blisters and all - from being at a soccer game in the afternoon - about two weeks before her final dose. Now she is horribly red and peeling, using an aveeno ultra calming moisturizer to get her back to normal. Not the end result she wanted to start high school. She is doubting whether it was worth it. I think it was.
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August 26, 2010

Pros:

Im acne free!!! the only medication who really worked for me!!!

Cons:

I had a really bad allergic reaction to it and had to go to the hospital. Big itchy red plaque all over my body. Huge red ears and lips.

Buy it if you want to try but there is still a risk of allergic reaction and others bad things
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August 23, 2010

Pros:

Will get rid of acne
likely not to have acne return for atleast a few years
HAPPY life when acne is gone

Cons:

RED face
Dry skin
chapped lips
aches

If you have sensitive skin then dont go on this. I went on it for three months at a medium dose and I got told atleast three times a day i need to wear sunscreen cause i was burned so bad but it wasnt from the sun it was accutane! my face was so red the whole time i was on it, it was hell. I got off and still four minths later i still have a red tint so if your thinking of going on it with sensitive skin be careful. I was willing to do anything to get rid of my acne but being tomato red all day was worse. if you dont have super sensitive skin then take it, you will not regret it
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August 13, 2010

Pros:

Acne completely cleared during the 2nd month (no initial breakout) Face was smooth, pores shrunk, skin was glowing and oil-free!

Cons:

*Bad ezema on arms and hands.
*Dry, bloody cracked lips (painful to smile)
*Dry eyes.
*HAIR LOSS!!!! I finished my treatment 3 months ago and my hair is now falling out A LOT!. I did not experience this during treatment, my hair was fine.
*Headaches the first couple of days.

My face was completely clear during the 2nd month and stood completely clear throughout my treatment. After stopping my treatment I notice that I started getting small and very mild breakouts (maybe once a month) but most importantly MY HAIR!!!! It's thinning BAD and I'm terrified. I read that it's temporary and the hair will grow back but can takes months even years. I can deal with thin hair (I guess) I just don't want to go bald! :(
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August 12, 2010

Pros:

cleared up acne

Cons:

side effects

Part 3 (this is the end!) 8. feeling not your usual awesome. Is it the acne? Is it depression? Accutane is a strong drug so you need to keep you body in top shape to deal with it. I take a multi vitamin, a fish oil supplement, and vitamin D supplements. I think the fish oil is good for the achy joints and keeping triglyceride levels down (which is what they're looking for in those blood tests), and I suspect the decrease in skin oils inhibits the body's ability to absorb sun for vit D production. Hey, it doesn't hurt! 9. feeling tired. And thirsty. Drink tons of water! This med is designed to dry you out-- stay very very hydrated. There's no such thing as too much water; it can't hurt! 10. sensitive to sun. Your derm already told you about this. Wear sunblock. Especially on your lips. I am the kind of person who never burns, and I foolishly went out in the sun for just an hour and got a terrible burn that turned into me shedding an entire layer of skin for the next week. It was like a walking snow storm. A trail of skin flakes everywhere I went. Don't test your boundaries. QUESTIONS ON LIFE POST ACCUTANE These are my tips for coping with Accutane. It's made my life livable, I hope it helps you too. I'm starting to think about life post Accutane. My skin is clear now, will it stay clear? Should I still treat it like acne prone skin? Will it be oilier? Will is stay dry like it is now? And now that I don't have acne, how do I deal with acne scars and hyperpigmentation? What treatments can I start immediately, and which ones should I wait on? And how long should I wait? I'd love to hear some input on post-Accutane treatments! In closing, I emphasize that Accutane is a medical treatment and lifestyle change. It is highly toxic to the liver, so keep your overall health in mind. It is, however, highly effective and the side effects are bearable. Patience is key-- think about how long you've been stru
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August 5, 2010

Pros:

After one month, no longer have oily skin even after a long day. Pimple breakouts have eventually stopped and only have 2 active pimples which are drying and healing faster than usual.

Cons:

Initial breakout - more oily in first 2 weeks, no improvement. IB hit at 12 day mark, lasted a week (forehead and chin).
Mild headache for first few days. Itchy scalp for first two weeks. Slightly dry lips after 3rd week - no cracking or bleeding (I recommend Dr Dan's Cortibalm). Light ezcema on back of hands. A bit of dryness/peeling around mouth and nose. 4 nosebleeds in the past month (easy to manage). Also I've had bouts of tiredness, but I always do, so can't say if Accutane's the cu

My only regret is not starting this earlier, following years of managing acne on and off with (now useless) antibiotics and retinoid creams. If you're thinking about taking the leap, I would recommend it. It seems to be the only thing closest to a 'cure' for acne.
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August 2, 2010

Pros:

Clears skin (at least temporarily), reduced my oiliness for good

Cons:

I started breaking out bad again a year and a half after going off it, bad initial breakout, bad side effects

After trying many things that didn't work, I finally decided to do this my senior year of high school. I started over winter break which was good because I broke out HORRIBLY at first---cystic acne all over my jaw and forehead. My skin started getting nice at about 3 months. By the end of my 6 month round, my skin was flawless and glowing, and my formerly oily skin was actually pretty dry (a welcome change). My perfect skin lasted until halfway through my sophomore year of college. Now entering my junior year, my skin is almost as bad as it was before. I have tons of clogged pores and I'm starting to get cystic acne again. My side effects were mood swings, very dry skin and lips, depression (although I have a family history of it), and joint pain. I can't decide if I should go on a 2nd round of this because my side effects were so bad. I do recommend this because anyone with severe acne knows how it makes you less confident but be aware of the potential risks. It's up to you to decide if the clear skin is worth it.
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July 27, 2010

Pros:

cleared up my acne and has not come back as of yet.

Cons:

dry lips and skin
big breakout at start

up to you if you want to risk the side effects for clear skin i did and it worked for others it dosent at the end of the day there are other drugs you can take but accutane is goood it worked for me
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July 26, 2010

Pros:

-reduced my oily skin and hair
-eliminated cysts
-reduced inflammation
-reduced my rosacea symptoms
-cheap with insurance

Cons:

-for some it can take a while to work
-its results are not permanent for many
-if you have acne compounded with another skin condtion, such as rosacea, high dosages of accutane can irritate/agitate that condition)
-you can't take it long term
-it doesn't work as effectively each subsequent time you go on it

I've done accutane twice. It worked the first time immediately (within a month of taking it at 60 mg/day), even though I had severe acne and rosacea. My skin stayed clear for abouttwo years after, but then some of my acne symptoms began returning and I rushed off to the derm again. I was proscribed a slightly higher dose of accutane (80 mg/day) and my skin did not respond to that as well. After three months of flushing and ittle improvement in my acne, I went off of Accutane and went on Spironolactone, and now my face is clear! I would reccomend Accutane, yes, but understand that it loses its effectiveness each subsequent time you take it. If you're a women, you should skip the accutane altogether and see if you can take spironolactone instead.
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July 25, 2010

Pros:

Acne is gone. Self-Esteem and Confidence is at all time high. Depression is gone.

Cons:

Back pain, Blood Test, Dry lips, Acne does worse, Had some depression spells sometimes.

I have suffered from since I was in 6th grade. I have tried every OTC that I could get my hands on. I.E. Clean and Clear, and Proactiv. Then I went to the Derm and I have tried almost Antibiotics and every tropical that she gave me and it didn't work at all or it didn't work and made my acne worse. My dermatologist has talked about Accutane in the past, but she was didn't want to take the chance with it because of the side effects. But I didn't care, I wanted my face to be clear. She signed me up in the I-Pledge(Which is a really stupid program) and I started to receive my pills since February of 2010. The first three months for me were not bad, I did have the initial-breakout, but not as bad as everyone says(everyone is different though). After the fourth month my skin started to improve and the meds did the talking for itself. But I do believe these meds are for only people who have try everything from OTC and lotions and antibiotics. As for the pricing of Accutane, it depends if you have insurance. Without insurance it will run from 800 to 1,000 dollars. I have paid around 10 dollars with insurance.
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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