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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3.9
2449
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37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

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August 10, 2008

Pros:

works for a good year while your off it.. got rid of 80% and now i only have a few pimples here and there. but nothing compared to how bad it was before.

Cons:

beautiful skin while ur on it. u glow. no makeup near the end. not oily.

i loved accutane. i read so many horror stories but it was great. i didnt break out at the beginning like many people do. the minute i started using it it just got better and clearer. its amazing. dry lips defintely. but nothing sum lip conditioner from MAC didnt fix. i had occasional nose bleeds which sucked, i would get them at the weirdest place.. a girl once asked if i snorted coccaine. was totally embarassing. i was dry and always thirsty. (use cetaphil mosturizer). no depression.nothing. it was amazing and believe me..my friend coaxed me into doing it and im so thankful. now i get compliments on my skin. defintely give it a try! my acne was ruining my life. now i feel the way i should. great.
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July 28, 2008

Pros:

i had mild acne but either way :
gets rid of pimples
reduces sebum oil production, inexpensive.

Cons:

dry skin and lips
sensitive skin and im on a second dose now because my skin became very oily and i got TINY pimples so yeah im taking a second dose of sotret for another 2 months

i had a mild case of acne but and started using it in october 07 till december 07, benefited , but like i said skin became oily again, i dont know why that happened but yes :S , so now its end of july 08 and i will continue treatment till september 08. hopefully ill be oil.pimple.scar freee , cant waiiiiiit :D ! Oh and in india since everything is like super cheap i am paying only 3.8 dollars for 10 pills. so yeah thats pretty insane :D
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July 27, 2008

Pros:

it clears up your skin in ways no other acne medication can

Cons:

it makes you very depressed, possibly suicidal

It truly works wonders for your skin, but it will make you depressed. Numb to feelings, people, and anything else. I lost my prince charming because he used this drug and became a changed person. This medication will clear up your acne, but leave permeant scars on your life and the people who care about you the most. It is not worth the risk, trust me.
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July 24, 2008

Pros:

Cleared me up. Was cheap with OHIP

Cons:

Dry everything, all acne lessions scared while on accutane, blood work and fasting, no sun, gave me sever facial flushing on and off course, back pain, and weird dreams.

You need to mentally prepare yourself. I was never depressed in my life till accutane. Trust me it's more common then you think. I don't mean to bash the tane but as it states only for severe or persistent inflammatory acne. I waited three years before I gave up. Yes, it did work and give it time. However, be prepared because it always gets worse before better. Good luck!
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June 29, 2008

Pros:

it cleared up my acne to a certain extent. i was one of the 10% of people who it didn't work completely for.

Cons:

super dry skin (face, lips, etc)

it was worth it, but it didn't clear it up perfectly. i still use the topical tazorac for breakouts.
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June 24, 2008

Pros:

definitely works so I give it a 5, though it doesn't last.

Cons:

doesn't last, acne comes back like before sometimes worse than before, which was the case for me

i totally regret using accutane, it cleared my skin for about 1.5 years. for all the money and the damage it probably did to my liver and body, not worth it. the acne came back after 1.5 years and it was worse, felt like all the acne was suppressed inside and all 1.5 years worth came back all at once. ARGH!
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May 28, 2008

Pros:

Almost clear skin
Almost

Cons:

The occasional zit is a DISASTER, chapped lips, redness, blood tests

You have to get a blood test every single month, as well as a doctor's visit. It's hella expensive. You won't have as many but the zits you get will be worse than anything you have ever seen. But it works beautifully, and there will be days you're just so glad you took it.
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May 24, 2008

Pros:

Got rid of my acne

Cons:

This is the scariest drug I have ever taken. I looked at the side effects and initially laughed..but this drug gave me, a normal person, crying spells, fits of violence, and, yes, suicidal thoughts. This is a scary drug.

This, by far, is the scariest drug I have ever taken. Yes this drug did clear up my skin, and I have not had acne since, but this indeed came at a terrible price. Everyone who knew me last year would describe me as a calm, collected person. I had many friends and good family relationships. I was a happy person except for my acne. For the first month or two, I experienced only limited side effects, including chapped lips and dry skin. But recently, they were MUCH MUCH worse. I heard about the psychiatric side effects and truly thought that that could never be me..that there was a 1 in a 112341324 chance that I would ever have suicidal thoughts because of a stupid acne medication. Sure enough, I slowly became more and more emotional, cried for no apparent reason, became angry at nothing, and isolated myself socially. I seemed to hide the emotional pain from the world, and even though I had many people who really cared about me that talked to me daily, nobody said or did a
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May 20, 2008

Pros:

clear your skin when you are taken it.

Cons:

Dry eyes,lips, mucosas, back pain,anemie...

Just work when you are taking it, after all problems came back again. I tried twice and felt all bads things like dry eyes, lips, pain...
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May 20, 2008

Pros:

cleared up acne. clear for 2 months after stopping pills, then it came back a few pimples at a time. finally 6 months after treatment, my face was back to normal, horrible way.

Cons:

your face does not stay clear forever. trust me it will come back just when you stop the pills and you think it's gone for good. i was anemic and had high cholestrol from the pills. you have to have blood tests and pregnancy tests every month

it works for while then comes back when you stop using it. go ahead and try it. if you don't mind the frequent blood and pregnancy tests, bloody noses, hair falling out, dry skin, chapped bleeding lips. if you are female must use birth control pills while on accutane. after discontinuing, i went only 2 months before it started coming back. 6 months later i went back on accutane, and it didn't work anymore. darn. i believe it is not worth the beauty it gave me for a short time, then the damage it did.
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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