Acne.org Products
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
June 18, 2008
Cons:
I finished my first course about a month and a half ago, and im starting to see my acne coming back. It's not horrible though so I am scared my doc won't put me on for a second course even though I want it really bad.
Has anyone had a great and permenent success after 2 courses of accutane? Accutane is all in all a life saver.
June 13, 2008
Pros:
It clears up acne. It's easy to use, pretty inexpensive.
Cons:
DRY EVERYTHING (Can someone let me know about a moisturizer that won't irritate my skin?) , sometimes makes you sad, crying spells. Oh and if I start picking at my skin, it comes off chunk at a time, which is kind of gross.
It's good, just watch out for the dry skin and eye, and nose.
April 20, 2008
Pros:
I took accutane in 1986 after minocin stopped working. It cured my acne almost completely for 20 years, but it came back, mostly on my back, two years ago. I have been on minocin, but it barely controls it. I will need another accutane treatment.
Cons:
Blood work, dry lips and eyes; nosebleeds at first when dose was too high.
It cured a major problem for 20 years. For me, it was a wonder drug, despite the great unpleasantry during the treatment.
April 13, 2008
Pros:
Clear skin of course! No more oily skin/hair.
Cons:
Took awhile for it to work on me.
Scarring.
For me it took 3 1/2 months to notice ANY results at all. By 4 months my skin was clear. It cleared up in 2 weeks. From severe acne to clear skin in 2 weeks.
I was discouraged at first, due to the fact that I used it for over 3 months, and had NO results, my acne was worse than it had ever been before! It is worth it once it clears your skin though! I would not want to go out of the house when I had bad acne, really made me sad and felt depressed and lonely. Not anymore!!!! So worth it! Been on it for 4 1/2 months.
March 28, 2008
Pros:
Best acne pill out there
Cons:
chapped lips, blurred vision, very powerful, listed side effects can be bad (i didn't have any bad side effects)
This pill changed my life. I had somewhat bad acne but after taking this pill for a few months I stopped getting pimples all together. For the first month or so I felt "high" but after that it was smooth sailing. I had no side effects... If you have tried everything else and are willing to take the risk I would suggest this product.
March 24, 2008
Pros:
Cleared up acne completely for about a year
Cons:
Extremely dry lips and skin, and after the initial 6 month treatment it only lasted about 3 months before the acne started coming back. I'm going to the derm tomorrow and hopefully going on another cycle.
It's does the job at getting rid of acne for sure, but might not last forever.
March 22, 2008
Pros:
Acne had severe negative effects on my young life. At age 19, I went on Accutane and shortly after treatment my acne improved to the point of experiencing breakouts only once every few months. Now, at 29, I have very minor breakouts about 2x/year.
Cons:
I go through bouts of major depression and while I was on Accutane I did notice its influence on my moods. If I hadn't known to be aware of this side effect, the consequences may have been devastating.
Accutane, for me at least, was *the* solution to an extreme acne problem. In the end, the negative side effects--peeling, chapped skin, increased feelings of depression, monthly blood tests and the expense--were absolutely worth it. I hardly ever left my house before Accutane, and now I'm more or less a normal adult. No antibiotic or topical treatment I tried had any effect on my acne. Accutane did.
March 7, 2008
Pros:
no more acne or spots
lots of scars though.
Cons:
LOTS OF SIDE EFFECTS.
i mean it when i say lots.
severe back and joint pain, extremely dry skin, extremely dry lips, headaches.. it goes on.
It's worked for me. I would recommend this to anyone who has tried literally EVERYTHING. I have so many creams and soaps that I've tried that are sitting in a drawer; it is almost overfilling. The back pain is what is most annoying, it's hard to stretch and workout.
If you can handle the side effects and want the payoff badly enough.. I say go for it.
I'm glad I did.
February 21, 2008
Pros:
My skin is a littel bit clearer than before
Cons:
Dry lipc,back pain ,hearing loss, concentracion lack.
Is working fine but I'm very scared because of the
side effects are they permant becuase I am a soccer player and they are affecting my game :s
February 9, 2008
Pros:
After 4 months....a huge improbement in my skin
Cons:
nose bleeds...and dry skin...all very common side effects
since 13 i had a few spot which then worsened over the years...15-16 were the worst years....the acne took over my face and body...and my skin extremely damaged and scarred....and I took so much medication that it was unreal...nothing really helped....untill i was finally precribed Roaccutane through the NHS.te improvement was the best...i got such good results...however it did not last forever.acne came back but more mildly...chest forehead and top arms free of acne...but my back and cheeks plus side of my face i get small breakouts...scars making it look worse.........roaccutane can really make that improvement...I am thiking to do n-lite treatment...sounds promising...but the bad reviews really make me think of its effectiveness...but all in all...roaccutane was the best treatment by miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllles......
Pros:
My acne was the best it ever looked while i was on accutane. All the scarring i had was also disappearing. I took it for 7 months/40 mg a day.