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
April 1, 2010
Cons:
-joint pain
-dry lips
-dry eyes
-monthly blood tests
Accutane is a serious drug and isn't for everyone, but it was a miracle for me. My joints ached like crazy on somedays and it was hard to move around but it was 100 percent worth it and I would do it again in a heart beat. I wear contacts and I had to buy glasses because my eyes got so dry I couldn't wear my contacts longer than ten hours without getting headaches. My skin did NOT dry out but my lips did, but that didn't really bother me. Blood tests were a pain because you have to go early in the morning since you have to fast. I never had any problems caused by accutane. I highly recommend this if you have tried other medications. I have tried everything else and this was the only thing that comletely cured me. There is no better feeling and any side effect I got was outweighed by the tremendous results. I took accutane for six months. It took about one month to stop breaking out and four more months for all of the old stuff to heal.
March 29, 2010
Pros:
Perfect skin
No more oily spots on my face
No more break outs
Cons:
Dry lips
Some tiredness... not bad
Itchy scalp and skin
Bloody nose the first month
Expensive
This has been amazing for me. This is my second round. I'm 30 years old and my first round was 10 years ago. I was completely clear for 10 years up until about 6 months ago when I started breaking out again. I'm doing the same plan that I did 10 years ago which is 40mg everyday for 3 months. So far I'm completely clear and it's month two...loving the results. This is worth giving it a try at least once if you have not yet. It works!! Side effects seem to be different for everybody, so keep that in mind as well.
March 25, 2010
Pros:
no more oily skin and hair! cleared spots within first week of treatment
Cons:
dry lips (blistex intensive moisture is brilliant!!). dry skin on arms. flaking skin on face - especially around mouth/chin. dry eyes with blurry vision - blink a few times and it sorts it out.
I'm 32yrs and have suffered acne on and off with varying degrees of intencity for 15yrs. As with everyone, I was worried about taking this treatment but my derm department at the hospital (Exeter) were fantastic. Everything was explained making the whole course easy and reassuring - even doing a depression/anxiety check each month along with bloods and preg. tests. So, with my concerns in mind, they started me on 20mg for the first week, 40mg the second week with the rest of the course at 60mg a day. I saw results within the first week. I've now got 1 week left and I've not had a single spot since the beginning - fingers crossed they won't make too much of a return!
Please try this treatment if acne is making you low. Talk to your derm if side effects are too much, they should amend your dosage accordingly or advise the best way to continue.
I'm pleased with the results I've seen, I hope it works as well for you - good luck!
February 16, 2010
Pros:
IT WORKS!
Cons:
VERY chapped Lips
Accutane actually WORKS! i been on it for six months and my face is completely CLEARED. I use almost EVERYTHING that was on the store shelf and some did absolutely nothing or made it WORSE! Im so glad my Dermatologist finally recommended accutane for me! The cream in the tubes were NOT working and it BURNED!! I have to say i smile almost everyday now and everyone compliments my skin! So If you have severe acne like me and is tired of WASTING money on stuff that dont work, go try ACCUTANE! you wont regret it :) the only side effect i had was REALLY dry lips, but I just carried a bottle of vaseline everywhere i go.
January 7, 2010
Pros:
Dried and cut down on acne slightly.
Cons:
Gave me sh*tty night vision in one eye, cracking joints, dry cervical discs.
Not recommended. If you do use it, opt for a low dose over an extended period of time (if memory serves me correct, 20 mg over 9 months). Do not opt for 80 mg over 3 months, as it is brutal on your system.
December 13, 2009
Pros:
Clear acne fast.
Cons:
Dry lips. Need to drink a lot of water.
Even with all the possible side effects, it's all worth it. Who wants to live a life with acne/scaring all over the face? ;)
December 10, 2009
Pros:
Totally cleared up my acne. It reduced the size of my pores and my hair is not oily. I have been on it for two months and I love it. I am see such great success.
Cons:
Nose bleeds
Dr. Dan's Cortibalm is the world's best chapstick and is meant for Accutane patients. It's a patented formula and works wonders!!
December 9, 2009
Pros:
Not having any severe break outs, no huge pussy pimples like before. Just a few here and there but then again im just finishing my first month of accutane.
Cons:
dry lips! really really dry lips i use so much lip chap and i use vassaline on my lips every night before bed. my eyes get sore and weak, i wear contacts and they get dry really fast which makes it hard to see. lack of motivation(always had that tho)
considering i've only been on it for a month im liking it. i can definatly see its working and that gets me excited for months to come :) im tired of waking up at my friends house's and running to a mirror first thing in the morning to re-apply my make up so they cant see how gross my skin is. Or getting embarssed when one of my pretty friends compains all day about one little zit she has, while im sitting there with hundreds all over my face. i've had a few comments on how dry my lips are but i hope that doesnt last im stoked on accuatane and am glad to be getting rid of it after having it for 6 long years of my life!
October 23, 2009
Pros:
It cleared up my severe acne for 2-3 years, then I needed another course.
Cons:
blood tests monthly, wreaks havoc with your liver long-term
Altogether, I have been treated with this 5 times, 6 months at a time. Each time, it worked when no other antibiotic/topical combo had for me. Unfortunately, results are not permanent for me, and I need to continue repeating it. Of course, the doctors are very cautious about prescribing it again, and would prefer that I keep my severe cystic acne than to use this again.
February 12, 2008
Pros:
Completely cleared my cystic acne within just a few months.
Cons:
Dry skin, chapped lips, face bled very easily, couldn't be in the sun, backaches. Very expensive with no insurance.
Even with the expense and all the other cons, it was well worth my time and money. I would reccommend it to anyone that has large cystic acne. I've been off of accutane for 3 years now - no acne.
Pros:
-completely cured skin
-hair never got greasy
-cleared other skin problems, like bumps from shaving my legs and a rash i had on my shoulders
-cheap with insurance