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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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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April 11, 2007

Pros:

Cleared up my skin quickly

Cons:

Dried up my lips (really badly). Wasn't alowed 2 go in the sun much. LOTS of side affects

Great product cleared up my skin really quickly
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April 10, 2007

Pros:

It works.

Cons:

Dry lips, eyes, nose and skin. Joint aches and tiredness.

You have to be patient when using this medication. It cleared up my acne and I have been clear for the last 3 months (I've used it for 5 months). It does seem to make it worse before it gets better, so be patient. I'm now off this stuff for 3 weeks and have never felt better. Stopped taking it because of terrible joint aches. The side effects seemed to clear quickly too - my skin is normal, not the oily yuckyness I had before. This is definitely worth while.
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April 8, 2007

Pros:

its helping..but i just started will it really clear up? its been 3 weeks since i been on it.

Cons:

very dry skin and crack lips.

From all the pro's that i see going on about Accutane i am postive that accutane will work for me hopefully in the next months. but it cant help the scarrings and the emotional problems. but seriouly if someone is reading this, let me know please when is the result gonna kick in. cuz i dont really see it so far. =[
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April 7, 2007

Pros:

it works qquickly, ive been on it foe about 6 weeks, and my skin is almost clear

Cons:

dry, scracked lips and dry skin with occasional rashes or patches of dry, itchy skin. Also, ive had a cyst which hasnt dissapeared yet, im hoping it will

i would reccomend this to anyone. I was on tetracycline for about 3 or 4 months before, and it made my acne better, but not great. I was also on diferin as well, in conjunction with the tetracycline. Overall, the acutane has done much more than tetracycline did, and my confidence has risen because my face is clearer
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March 30, 2007

Pros:

Cleared me up almost immediately!

Cons:

Dry, cracked skin but just on the back of my hand.

I'm heading into my last month of treatment. My symptoms have mainly been dry skin which is very controllable with some moisturizer. I've had some minor joint pain... and a total of 2 (3 second) nosebleeds. This stuff is AMAZING!! I was cleared up within my first month and have been enjoying clear skin since. I tried it all before accutane and I just wished I had started sooner... I could have save myself some scars; and I'm talking the deep pitted kind courtesy of nodular cystic acne. Acne was definitely a shock for me. I had great skin until I was 16 and then the cysts just showed up. From then on, every pimple I got was a cyst and an abnormally large one as well. I'm scared to death that the acne will return soon after the end of my treatment... but for now I can say nothing bad about Accutane. It basically saved me from depression.
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March 28, 2007
Im gonna start taking Sotret today and Im very excited about it! My friend is on it for 5 months and her skin is amazing, soft just like a baby's butt. I hope it works just as well for me and hopefully it will never come back. I can deal with the dryness though..I've dealt with acne for a while, and I know I would much rather have dry lips and skin then new zits on my face any day :D
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March 25, 2007

Pros:

Cleared my skin 100%

Cons:

Initial breakout lasted for months, very dry lips/scalp/skin/everything, back pains

Accutane didn't start working for me until after month 3, but by the end of month 4 I was 90% clear and by the end of month 5 I was 100% clear. My doctor told me I had another 2-3 months on it but I am a very small person and was already experiencing uncomfortable side effects, so I stopped Accutane after 5 months. This stuff is so hard on your body I think 5 months is PLENTY. One month after stopping, I'm still clear :) And with Aetna insurance, it only cost $10 a month.
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March 23, 2007

Pros:

My acne has flattened out

Cons:

Dry dry dry skin and lips

Thank you BB in NY for the comment about checking your hormone levels. I asked when I got my first blood test done to add a hormone panel because I have had migraines and irregular periods since I was 12 ... so about half of my life. My dermatologist told me to ask my gynecologist to do the panel because she didn't know what to order. Acne, migraines and irregular periods ... hmmm maybe hormonal. Anyways, I have been taking 40 mg for almost a month. She has already written the script for my second month at 80 mg a day. I was a bit freaked to double it ... but she seemed confident it was a move in the right direction. I am so not looking forward to increased dryness. However, I ordered Dr. Dan's lip therapy and have used it for a few days ' so far so good! I have been waking up early in the morning with a horribly dry throat and a bad cough ' but that might be coincidental. Also dry scalp ' everything is drying out! Just crossing my fingers that this actually works!
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March 22, 2007

Pros:

Works Well! Effects Seen Almost Immediately

Cons:

Dry Lips, Initial Breakout, A Little Costly Without Insurance, Not Able To Wax Eyebrows (For Females)

Second Time On It! Would Not Change A Thing! Had Horrible Acne And Now It's A lot Better.
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March 21, 2007

Pros:

Very effective on acne

Cons:

Dry skin, eyes, lips

This is a medical tip to everyone reading: please have your doctor check you out for underlying hormonal causes of acne. For the girls who have severe acne, are overweight, and may even have a little excessive hair growth, ask your doctor to check your hormone levels and maybe do an ultrasound of your ovaries - the syndrome called polycystic ovarian syndrome affects 5% of women (yes, 1 in 20). It is a common cause of acne, hair growth, and possibly later diabetes, infertility, and heart disease and strokes. This type of acne will not respond to over the counter treatments and although it may respond to accutane, it is likely to bounce back if the cause is not treated. this disorder can be treated - please check it out before you start on hard-core drugs like accutane.
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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