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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September 19, 2012

Pros:

- cleared acne wherein other products (be it topical, antibiotics, steam extraction etc) failed!!!

Cons:

Whatever you usually hear about this product happens!
Initial breakout (lasts one-two months)
Dry dry dry lips
Dry dry dry eyes
Dry dry dry skin
Headaches (first month)
Thirsty all the time
May elevate cholesterol levels (normal)
Tiredness on first few months

I wanted to give my fair share, as I've used this site to check out whats best for me. I want people to understand that this drug has worked for me and am eccstatic that im finishing the treatment. I first had acne when I was in college in a tropical country in 2002 (normal for most) it wasn't too bad or embarassing. This continued with the odd one two or three at a time. At that time, my dermatologist prescribed me benzoyl peroxide cetaphil, and some other topicals. I would go for the occasional facial (steam and extraction of comedones) this would work for a month, with no spots, then would somehow return. Anyway, when I moved to London in 2007, it stopped, and loved my skin. Maybe it was because of the not so tropical climate. This lasted for 4 years. As soon as it hit January 2011, my acne flared up massively (not normal for an adult). It lasted until June 2012. I would say I got a new spot everyday. This doesnt sound bad, but by the end of the week ud have 7, and if they didnt go down, or ud pop them, ud have hundreds if they didnt fade. At one point, i literally counted 100 (active and blemishes). So i did look like a pepperoni pizza. I went on holidays hating the sun, and would love the dark coz i got uberly conscious. I went to my gp, and had me coming back and forth trying out everything (zineryt, adapalene, erythromycin, isotrex, mino... Many more) until one day he saw that nothing was working, and referred me To a dermatologist who put me on roaccutane! First month-20mg/day-no change very dry everything (use carmex for lips, and cetaphil moisturizing for skin, any eyedrops for eyes) Second month-40mg/day-breakout galore, worse than pre accutane, i didn't go out for social gatherings. Third month-60mg/day-started clearing up very slowly, although spots would come up occasionally Fourth month-60mg/day-started to work End of fourth month-clear, scars fading. For all these years, this pill has kept me spot free. (i hope
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September 16, 2012

Pros:

Completely cleared up my chronic acne. Changed my life & I love having clear skin!

Cons:

Minimal side effects (dry skin & lips)

I would def recommend accutane for anyone who has had enough of living with the burden of acne. Only we who have had it can understand how deeply this can affect your life. It changed my life, let it change yours!
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September 15, 2012

Pros:

COMPLETELY CLEARED MY ACNE.
I have not had a pimple in months.

Cons:

slight eczema
dry lips
have to stay out of the sun
ipledge system is a bit of a pain
very expensive without insurance ($700 per month)

I am 16 now and have been struggling with acne since i was 12. At first i broke out on my upper back and shoulders and i was not too concerned because a shirt can cover that but then it spread to my chest when i was 13 and i went to a dermatologist. I went on about 6 months of different antibiotics and the dermatologist said it was time for accutance but being so young my mom thought it would be best to not try accutance because the system of ipledge and all the risks seemed to be alot. So i switched dermatologists and went on almost every antibiotic and topical cream on the market. you name it and ive tried it. It helped my acne a bit but it was still very red and severe. Finally when i was 15 we all agreed to try accutance and it worked wonders on my skin. I went on a 6 month course and it took about 2 months too see results. I have been off the medicine for about a month now and my skin is PERFECT. There may be risks taking accutance but so far the worst thing i have had is slight eczema but that can be easily be controlled with a topical cream. I have some slight scarring but that will fade over time. I LOVE MY PERFECT SKIN. now all i use is a benezol peroxide soap to prevent breakouts
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September 13, 2012

Pros:

-Cured my acne completely

Cons:

-Dry lips
-Hair loss: While washing my hair, I experienced huge clumps of hair falling out. I still have a good amount of hair, just not as much as i used to.

I have been battling acne for the past 10 years. I have tried EVERYTHING. When it comes down to it, accutane is the only thing that has worked. This seems extreme, but accutane has literally changed my life. I was one of those people who spent months researching accutane and was scared to take it after reading about all of the crazy risks associated with it. Needless to say, accutane has been a heaven sent. There are defiantly some scary risks involved, but if your as desperate as I was, you'll be willing to risk it.
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September 13, 2012

Pros:

Perfect skin
Stop paying for over the counter items they dont work... Isotretinoin works..

Cons:

Dry skin and cracked lips..

Do it now it improves your life so much!
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September 7, 2012

Pros:

Clears under skin spots as well as spots on the surface
Makes skin radiant
Clears all acne, face & back!
Get drunk quicker (for me this was a pro as it meant cheaper nights out but it could also be classed as a con)
Less oily skin & hair
More confidence!

Cons:

Slight back & back of ankle pain
Tiredness
Increased perspiration (sweating)
Chapped lips ALL the time
Dry skin all over body
Eczema
Larger pores
Raised cholesterol
Some bowel discomfort & problems

This drug works! For all those who are scared to use it due to the side effects, don't be. As a hypochondriac I was very sceptical about using this drug but my dermatologist persuaded me to & I am so glad she did. Since I was 11 years old I've always had at least one spot on my face or back. It's been such a pain but I hoped it would pass when I was older. After being on tricylic drugs for two years & then spironalactone for 8 weeks nothing seemed to work..when I turned 18 my spots became considerably worse, mainly situated on my cheeks & jaw. Accutane was my last resort.. I weighed 90kg. So for the first two months I was put on 40mg, & then went on to 60mg for the next four months although there was one month where I was on 80mg but my derm said I didn't need that much so went back to 60mg. The first 3 months, I didn't really notice a change..but I did experience the side effects & bowel discomfort was one of them so I started taking a probiotic & eating more healthily. I would strongly recommend taking extra care of yourself while you're on this drug e.g. eating healthily, moderate excercise & sleeping more. This was especially important for me since it raised my cholesterol alot. It was only after the 4th month when I started to notice a big improvement & after going on holiday & having the sun dry out the remaining spots I was finally, after 7 years, totally SPOT FREE. I've been off the drug for 2 weeks now and my skin is just amazing. I still get the odd spot before my period but my skin is no where near as bad as it used to be. This drug was totally worth it, & to be honest the side effects are totally manageable but just really annoying. Buy carmex for your lips, use a good moisturiser on your face & body & just look after yourself. Also try not to drink excessively, it does not feel good & puts more strain on your liver. If you do get any bad side effects internally tell your derm STRAIGHT AWAY. Other than that, I would strongly recomme
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September 3, 2012

Pros:

-Clears acne
-Gave me back my self-esteem. Infinitely happier and more confident.
-I don't think about my skin constantly anymore, which is about the biggest complement I can give to this stuff
-got it on the NHS, so minimal expense

Cons:

-dry/flaky skin
-facial redness
-backache
-initial breakout

ALL TEMPORARY

Quite frankly, I'm not sure that I've ever made a better decision in my life. The drug has a very bad reputation, much of it undeserved in my opinion. Of course, as a beneficiary of this wonderful drug, and not one who has suffered any of the horrendous permanent side-effects that are rumoured to exist, my words should not be confused with wisdom. However, its success-rate is unparalleled in the dense world of scams and uncertainty that prevail in the acne medication market. As an acne sufferer, I know of how infuriating it can be when people with acne are accused of 'deserving' their condition, because of the preposterous stereotyping of those who label sufferers with their unhygienic lifestyle. As we know, THEY KNOW NOTHING. Its not about simply 'washing your face more' or 'eating less chocolate'. Often, face washes or a better lifestyle will not improve your acne. Sometimes you just have to entrust your treatment to science, and more to the point, PROVEN science. Not the holistic method, which may work for some, but of which I am not an admirer of as it never worked for me despite many attempts. No, sometimes medication is the answer, and people should not be so contemptuous of those that chose this path. Right, rant over, now I'll briefly explain my own experience: Having read at length the pros and cons of numerous people's experiences, and many an internet horror story, I was under the impression that I was putting myself in for a rough deal. Not so, as it turned out, at least for me anyway. The initial breakout was horrid, worst my skin has ever been, but it only lasted for 2 weeks. My skin took a little longer to see sustained clearing than I had hoped, it wasn't until after I'd passed the 3 month mark that I was seeing definitive improvement. That aside, the other listed side-effects were largely manageable and at worst just annoying, nothing more. Think long and hard about it, but if you're informed and level-heade
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August 29, 2012

Pros:

Has cleared my skin up conpetely all over my body after about 3 months of treatment. It's also quite cheap here.

Cons:

Takes some time to get results, some purging in the beginning, side effects such as dry lips, some dry skin, back soreness and some lethargy.

After trying countless treatments for my acne, topical creams, antibiotics, cleansing program's, 3 step program's, led light therapy, salt water etc this has been the only treatment to have fantastic and prolonged results. As someone who was very concerned about the side effects, I was surprised by how easily they are managed and a lower dose at the beginning helped me ease into those. If your acne really gets you down and nothing else seems to work, then GO TO A GOOD DERM AND GET A PERSCRIPTION FOR ACCUTANE it could effectively change your life.
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August 26, 2012

Pros:

Clearer skin
Much less oil

Cons:

Slightly dry and fragile skin.

I have been on Accutane for 3 weeks, the only side effects so far have been slightly dry skin that is more fragile. I am on 40 mg a day. Face is much clearer and make up looks great all day. Chest and back are completely clear. I only get a few small pimples here and there, however they take a long time to heal if I pick at them. I love love love this product!
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August 26, 2012

Cons:

BE VERY VERY

Did the job like a champ! Simply a miracle!
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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