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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October 28, 2007

Pros:

Few yet, but I am expecting things to clear up!

Cons:

Back pain and chapped lips, REALLLY sun sensitive

I have been on it for about a month now and dont have ANY cystic acne anymore, which is a big plus. My face is really dry but im ok with that. Starting my 2nd month and am excited!
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October 27, 2007

Pros:

Clears up acne a good deal

Cons:

Bloody noses, dry lips, disturbing urinal/intestinal symptoms, joint pains, mucus in eyes

I took this at a fairly high dosage for four months and it got rid of a lot of my acne. However the acne came back (to a lesser extent) within a month, probably because I was taking creatine for the gym. Hopefuly it goes away when I'm done with creatine. This medication had really weird side effects for me. I had strange intestinal pain a week after my treatment ended (its gone now though) and I had painful urination for like a month as well. Hopefully nothing else goes wrong! If you want to take it go for it, but I don't plan on another cycle. Too many possible complactions.
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October 24, 2007

Pros:

I have friends who this really worked for and they've never had a spot since! Did see some improvements.

Cons:

VERY drying, chapped lips, sore skin and it made me VERY depressed and even suicidal. I had to be taken off this medication due to the effect it had on my mental health and the effects on this were long standing.

USE WITH CAUTION
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September 26, 2007

Pros:

Acne cleared finally and minimal pimples since treatment stopped. Nothing and I mean NOTHING else worked. 16 years old looks human again!! Skin is clear, no scars-like my relatives and my self esteem is much improved.

Cons:

Extreme dryness resulting in freq and occas. long lasting nosebleeds, HUGE expense if you don't have insurance coverage (Would have been over 1000 monthly due to the very large doses I had to take) alittle bit of moodiness, dry body skin.

Needed 90-100 mg daily (based on weight and resistance to medication). TOO expensive for private pay! Very few people could afford this amount if it was out of pocket--but my insurance was GREAT. Nose bleeds, dry skin and lips, shorter tolerance for contact lenses. All very worth the 8 months on medication because now only occas. individual pimples on face, no cystic acne and nothing on my back. My self esteem has soared. Must bear in mind the potential for birth defects and take this very seriously!!
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September 20, 2007

Pros:

Got rid of the acne; my face was oil-free all day

Cons:

Dryness; Took a while to work
Mood swings - which sucks especially b/c I'm a guy
Less energy

This stuff works, but you have to consider any possible consequences. For me, nothing else worked and I was sick of living with acne, so I decided to do it. Luckily for me the side effects weren't too bad and it got rid of all my acne, which felt great. I've been off it for about 3 months now. The acne has started to come back, but its not even close to how bad it was before.
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September 14, 2007

Pros:

Cleared up my skin pretty good.

Cons:

My skin was SO dry when i took it. Its been a year since and now my skin is exctly the same way as it was b4 it. Its so hrmful for ur liver i will not take it again and you can only take for 6 mo. dont think about wearing makeup with the flakey skin

Accutane is horrible while you are on it because EVERYTHING is dry- your face, (even your butthole- gross), your lips (i spent about 400 dollars on chapstick- i felt like a chapstick addict), your entire body, your eyes, etc. It's good for 6 months after it.. my skin was pretty clear, but then soon afterwards my skin went right back to normal.. so use this.. and keep up with your derm.. its not a long term thing just keep that in mind, but it does work!
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September 10, 2007

Pros:

Clears up and stays for a while.

Cons:

It is expensive with out insurance.

Reduces oil glands which clear up a lot but they can grow back. I have been fighting acne and I would rather have clear skin than anything else. I am thinking about getting on it again because nothing else works and it is the most depressing thing someone can go through in my opinion. Especially when you cant even look yourself in the mirror.
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September 7, 2007

Pros:

did provide slight improvement in my skin

Cons:

made my triglycerides go into the 1000s when it was only in the 100s prior to the medication.

The i Pledge system sucks. I could only take the medication for 3 months because of its effect on my triglycerides. If you do take this medication, be sure to get blood work done every month.
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August 10, 2007

Pros:

all acne (face and body) clears up during use

Cons:

EXTREMELY dry, cracked lips and skin and swollen face
change in mood
extreme fatigue

I was first on a generic brand which worked fairly well. It seemed like a miracle because my skin was nearly completely clear. Then my dermatologist switched me to the actual thing, and my skin cleared completely. However, my personality changed and I was always tired. I look back at pictures from when I was on it, and my whole face was swollen. My lips would bleed because they were chapped so bad (throughout the treatment). After having been off it four months, my skin started breaking out again. After a year and a half, it looked exactly the way it did before I began treatment. For me (and my sister who also too it) it is a temporary fix that was not worth the horrible side effects.
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August 9, 2007

Pros:

i used this in high school when i had very bad cystic acne. i was on it for 6 months.

Cons:

dry everything: lips, scalp, eyelids.

now, a couple years later: i have never broken out with the intensity that i had previous to taking the accutane. unfortunately my clear skin miracle was short lived, after about 6 months of being off it i have had mild acne every since. the doctors dont want to put me on it again because they say that my skin isnt bad enough for me to be on it so now i am stuck for a lifetime of topical medications. i would highly recommend though because my skin was terrible before and my worse day now doesnt come close to my best day then- face, back and chest!
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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