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
January 17, 2008
Cons:
cracked lips, dry skin, redness, back,chest,stomach pains.
everyone reacts different to the drug. if you think you can handle it take it.
January 6, 2008
Pros:
It actually works, and really reduces oily skin long term.
Cons:
It damaged my hearing and night vision permanently. The rest of my body now suffers from very dry skin while my face has returned to its normal oiliness.
You have to really consider if your health, hearing and eyesight outweigh your vanity.
December 24, 2007
Pros:
Cleared up my moderate to severe acne in 6 months. From being pretty oily to no oil at all. Only thing to ever properly clear me up. Also in the UK, you can get it on the NHS so for me i payed nothing.
Cons:
Not supposed to drink alcohol. Dry skin, dry lips, dry nose, dry eyes, dry throught. Severe dehydration and seemed to make me very tired and seemed to trigger my ashtma off. The inicial breakout. Lack of concentration. Developed eczema rash on my nec
If you have acne thats going to scar or has started to this is defo the best bet, its like a 90% success and i'm another to join the list. It totally minimizes your oil producing glands so no oil can get onto the skin which is why its so effective, because no oil = no acne. Before this I had moderate/severe acne, after 6 months of 40mg a day i have clear skin except a few red marks, but I've had so many compliments about my skin. I think its a definate risk and the side effects are bad and endless really and the fact my acne could come back are all bad points, however the bottom line is the fact it works if you give it 2 months or so. Its definately the best move i've made, if only i would have been referred from my GP sooner. Its also free on the NHS which is good because if you have to pay for it, it's pretty dear. Well because i havent got drunk in 6 months bring on new years eve. All in all its a risk but life is about taking risks, however I'd say for most its a last resort.
November 25, 2007
Pros:
Clears EVERYTHING up
Cons:
Disturbing bi efects..
Amazing.. a last way out really.. dint need to pay for it as i live in sweden! we have good health care ;)
November 10, 2007
Pros:
This works cleared acne up 100% made skin look translucent
Cons:
Severe dehydration, always carried water and lip balm with me.
This really does work but unfortunately didn't fix my acne permanently (I've been on two courses and it has still come back - only after several months though). In NZ it is subsidised if you visit a Dermatologist so the price is very affordable. Skin not only clears up on this drug but if good skincare is used in conjunction with it, becomes very translucent almost like baby skin :0)
July 6, 2007
Pros:
Works quite quickly to clear skin
Cons:
Dry eyes and lips bothered me the most, also aching in my back
My acne is the result of a hormonal imbalance and I never got it until the age of 21, before that my skin was perfect and I was troubled when I started to not be as attractive as I was in my teens so I got depressed and started using isotretinoin in 2001. I had mild but persistant acne and my face was oilfree with no new forming pimples by three weeks.. so i continued the treatment. WOW I thought this is a gift from God!! NOT.. after about 1 year of coming off the medication, the acne was all back again so that was 2002, now its 2007 and getting progressively worse, after a while you learn to live with it but now that its worsening Im considering the adrogen blocker instead as like the androgen blocker, accutane only works for as long as you take it, as soon as it is finished its all back again and within a year.We cant be on it indefinately coz its wrecks havoc on the liver so its really a teaser, we think wow beautiful clear skin then finish the treament only to have it all come back
June 28, 2007
Pros:
20 years after taking the drug, I am still acne free 99% of the time. This drug cleared up my acne in about 6-9 months. What a life saver for a high school student.
Cons:
Experienced dry, cracked and bleeding lips. Had to limit exposure to the sun.
Taking accutane turned my life around. After spending 5 years and thousands of dollars (medications and doctor visits), my dermatologist told me I could try a new medication called Accutane. It has been almost 20 years since that time, and I am fortunate enough to be acne free 99% of the time. I would recommend this to most individuals. This mediciation was definately worth the discomfort I experienced due to the dry, cracked, bleeding lips. Those that I would not recommed it to, sexually active female, then you should be strongly cautioned due to the high risk of birth defects.
May 28, 2007
Pros:
clears even the most severe acne
Cons:
had to go to derm. & lab corps. every month, drying and peeling, lips crackining, skin healed very slowly, not the cure for acne :( tho
i had bad/severe acne for a while but was too scared to go on accutane but by senior yr of high school..i decided i need to look good for prom & graduation...i went on accutane 7 months before prom and stopped 2 wks before prom...the results were drastic..i looked great at prom....thanx to accutane..i still had scars and red marks..but a little make up covered it up...i am off of accutane now and i can NOT say that i am acne free because occassionally i do get a few pimples here and there but its nothing compare to the face i had before accutane..
April 28, 2007
Pros:
CLEARS ANCE HOPEFULLY!!
Cons:
DRY EVERYTHING!! DEPRESSION!!!MOODSWINGS
I've only just started using isotane and its sounds really sweet! I really hope it will clear up my acne because it would be nice to walk on the street and for once, look like everyone else! crossing my fingers for the good results =) *really cheap in NZ*
April 11, 2007
Pros:
Cleared up acne completely after about 3 months.
Cons:
like others have stated, dry flakey skin, lips, aches and pains that got worse as time went on, headaches, sun sensitivity.
I started accutane about 1 year ago and have been off the meds for about 8 months. I had really oily skin and bad acne on my back and face that completely disapeared after about 3 months. The oily skin has returned somewhat but not nearly as bad as it was. I am starting to get some acne on my back as well but nothing that i can't live with. If it gets worse i will return to the doctor for another round of treatment and he warned me that it may take a couple of treatments. Overall i was quite pleased with the results and would not hesitate to start another round of treatment or recommend it to anyone.
Pros:
it has helped somewhat.