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...

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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November 22, 2013
I love this drug!

Pros:

Beautiful clear skin in 2 weeks!

Cons:

Hair loss
Eczema on hands

I am 26/ female and have suffered from adult/ hormonal acne since I was 22. Cystic acne on the jaw, neck and chin, as well as small pustules on my forehead that just kept reappearing no matter what I did. I tried everything under the sun (Yaz, spironolactone, antibiotics, topicals). A new dermatologist finally convinced me to try Accutane. I am so grateful to her! Accutane has been amazing for my self esteem. I've been on the drug for 1.5 months (first month at 30 mg and second at 40). I had a small initial breakout the second week, but I normally breakout that week (thanks, hormones). After that, NO ACNE! I haven't had a new pimple/ cyst anywhere on my body/face since then. My old acne is practically gone. I am still left with some hyperpigmentation from past acne, but I expect that to fade over time. The side effects aren't nearly as bad as everyone says they are. My skin isn't that dry, just not oily any more. I used to blot my forehead at the end of the day and it would douse the paper in oil like a french fry. My lips peel a bit, nothing extreme though. And I now have eczema on my hands but it's pretty easy to manage with very thick lotion at night. My only real concern is hair loss. After a few weeks on the drug, I noticed visible thinning of the hair around my forehead. My hair was already thinning a bit before I started Accutane, but I believe the drug is exacerbating the loss. My dermatologist said this is extremely rare; I guess I'm unlucky. But I'm willing to cope with that side effect to keep this beautiful skin. I'm so happy I finally took the plunge with this drug.
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November 17, 2013
YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

Pros:

Smooth Skin
Poreless
Acne-Free

Cons:

Dry Lips
Muscle Aches
Dry Face

Accutane has been the most amazing acne product ever invented on the market today. I'm on month 4 and my skin hasn't looked poreless or acne-free since I was in 6th grade! Its amazing! I really recommend this product to anyone and everyone. Don't listen to all those discouraging stories. Just take it with a grain of salt. You will not regret it.
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November 16, 2013
only 17 days in, amazing results

Pros:

Cleared/clearing acne
no IB

Cons:

Hair was falling out first week or two, not anymore.
Dry lips and face.

Tried everything, nothing working. Started Accutane 17 days ago and it's been uphill from there. My doctor started me on 20 mg once a day and it seems to be enough. My acne dries up so quickly and basically falls off my face in 1-2 days. Before accutane I had mild-severe acne. Anywhere from 2 to 10 huge cysts on my chin and around my nose. After a few days of Accutane, it all started to go away! No initial breakout, my derm said I wouldn't get one on 20 mg but I didn't believe him. Only thing negative about this is my face and lips are dry, all managable tho. Not clear yet, but everyday it gets better and better ha! I'm pretty stoked. Go listen to STS9!!!!
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November 15, 2013
Best treatment for cystic acne.

Pros:

Cleared acne.
Reduced the severess in future pimples and made my skin way less oily.

Cons:

Dry, sensitive skin.
When taking this drug you'll be very, very sensitive to sunlight. So use sunscreen and possible sunglasses (my eyes very so sensitive that I sometimes couldn't see when being in the sun)
The first 4-5 times you take the pills you'll experience stomach aches.

Cleared my severe acne in a matter of a month and continued to be clear for a long time. But last resort, the side effects when being on the drug can be irritating.
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November 14, 2013
Oily skin after Accutane

Pros:

Got rid of acne
Confidence boost

Cons:

Oil came back

Hi Everyone. Its my first time on the forum and i need advice. I have been using Accutane from March to August. Its now November and the oil is back on my face and its really frustrating. Is there anything anyone has used that has gotten rid of the oil? Any help will be highly aprreciated.
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November 14, 2013
Best thing for acne

Pros:

it works
new confidence
no major side affects

Cons:

hyperpigmentation takes longer to fade
dry skin/lips

I'm on my third month of accutane and I love this product. Why I never went on it earlier is beyond me. I have noticed a SIGNIFICANT improvement in my acne in only 60 days. While my skin is not 100%, it's a hell of a lot better and the only side affect I've ever experienced was the normal dry skin/lips which was fixed with a good moisturizer. The only down fall is the hyper pigmenation that shows once acne fades.. This isn't from the medication. It's just the natural process of healing however it does take longer to fade on Accutane but does eventually. Over all, glad I found this. ($8.90 on extended medical plan in Canada)
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November 8, 2013
So far so good...Day 7

Pros:

Clear Skin
Confidence
Flawless Complexion

Cons:

Flushing skin
Blood Tests
Once a month Dr visits

Today is my 7th day on Accutane and this drug has cleared up 90% of my face already. I have had minimum side effects so far, which is flushing of the skin and drying face. For me, looking in the mirror was difficult. Especially, when I knew what my skin looked like before this problem occured. My only concern, is it staying clear.
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November 6, 2013
it really is a miracle drug.

Pros:

CLEAR SKIN
GLOWING SKIN, BEAUTIFUL HAIR
MORE CONFIDENCE, LESS MAKEUP

Cons:

DRY LIPS
SLIGHT HEADACHES

Only came on here to write this review. For the people considering, PLEASE do not hesitate any longer. I been up and down with my acne since 13yrs old..29 now. sometimes just stubborn acne, sometimes cystic. The older I got the worse it got. I tried EVERYTHING! finally gave in to accutane,. I was clear within 2 weeks! yes 2 week!!! my skin is amazing right now, I can comfortably go outside with no makeup, I have very little scars that continue to fade. Only con is the dry lips. they are a pain in the butt but so worth it to have baby smooth clear skin. My skin is not dry at all just my lips but I also have no oil in sight, same with my hair, I can go about a week without washing and I still look like I just came out the salon. Its amazing, I have received alot of compliments on my skin and hair ever since I started. first month I was on 40mg 1x a day, month 2 till the end i am at 80mg a day. A derm told me to get on it years ago and I listened to the bad comments about this drug, probably one of the things I will always regret would have saved me tons of money, embarrassment and tears had I done it years ago. I was clear within 2 weeks and I start month 3 next week.
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November 2, 2013
Miracle drug

Pros:

No more heavy makeup!
Cleared up my seemingly untreatable acne within a month!
Increased confidence

Cons:

slightly elevated cholesterol
dry lips
dry skin

I was supposed to finish my Accutane course at the end of August...but have about 10 doses left now at the beginning of November. Why? The stuff worked so well, and so fast, that I got lazy about taking it! I'm 33 and have had acne since 13. Like many others who have taken Accutane, I've tried just about every rx and OTC thing out there--nothing worked. I finally got fed up with cystic, painful acne (after 20 years!--I'm stubborn and got scared off by the horror stories) and agreed to take Accutane upon my dermatologist's recommendation. I have taken 40mg the entire course and weigh about 150--so a pretty low/moderate dose IMO (and less than the "gold standard" dose of 1mg/kg). My doctor was originally going to raise my dose after a month or two, but was so pleased with the results that he decided not to! My skin seriously cleared up within a month, I'm not even kidding. Side effects have been minimal--I had very slightly elevated liver enzymes on the first panel (I also take several other rx meds processed by the liver, so it didn't really surprise me), along with slightly elevated triglycerides and cholesterol. The slightly elevated cholesterol has persisted throughout treatment, but it doesn't scare me and I expect it to resolve itself shortly after I stop the med. The only other real side effects have been dry lips and dry skin. Seriously--that's it! If you have acne that is stubborn as all get out, you owe it to yourself to try this med. My skin still isn't perfect--I have some red spots and a few scars--but I feel so much more comfortable with how I look that I stopped wearing makeup altogether! It has been incredibly liberating.
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November 2, 2013
Follow up- a year later and still perfect skin

Pros:

Long lasting results
No more oil slicks on face
Clear skin (really!)

I was very hesitant after hearing all the negative links but went to a derm, tried months of alternate treatments like tetracycline and was assured this was the best option . My cousin had used this and said was a great decision and no problems and I was sick of being in my mid twenties at a professional job with huge cystic breakout on my face. The only notable affect was my lips got super dry! Once I used aquaphor intensive ointment religiously it went away . I took this for a total of 8 months and my cystic acne is gone! It was on my back as well. I get compliments all the time on my porcelain skin and tell people I am glad I used this. My dr told me cystic acne doesn't work with topicals and I believe her now. Also now use a gentle soap 'purpose' morning and night . Don't be scared this will change your life .
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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