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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April 5, 2012

Pros:

-Completely Cleared all the pimples
-Completely cleared all acne marks left behind
-Gave me a perfectly clear and glowing face
-made my complexion even and my skin very smooth

Cons:

-dryness of lips and face
-dryness of eyes sometimes

This medicine worked like a MIRACLE for me, i have no words to describe how much it helped me regain my beautiful clear face. :D I am 17 years old and i had acne for about a year, no other prescriptions or treatments worked and i was finally put on a moderate dose of accutane by my doctor- 20mg for 1st month, 30 mg for 2nd, 40mg for 3rd, 50 mg for 4th and 60mg for the 5th month. These five months changed my life, from a pimply unevenly toned and ugly face , i got a perfectly clear face, a face i couldnt even dream of :D Yes guys, this drug changed my life, after these 5 months, not even one pimple or not even a scar is left back on my face. i have a face which everyone dreams of having- glowing, clear and smooth. This Drug changed my life, it boosted my confidence, it made me handsome :D it enhanced my self esteem and more importantly it made me happy because after all every person who has acne , his/her dream is to have a clear face. i would strongly recommend everyone with acne problem to go on an isotroin prescription. Very often you hear people having acute side effects such as joint pain, suicidal thoughts, loss of hair, appetite, etc..All those are rare side effects and only happen to one person out of a thousand, this shouldnt stop you from taking isotroin as it is a life changing drug :D Precautions and Tips: - you may get more pimples initially , but dont worry as they will soon fade out along with the old pimples. - youre skin may become more exposed to the sun, hence wear a non - greasy and non-codomedic sunscreen lotion while going out in the sun. -use CETAPHIL CLEANSING LOTION as your face wash and CETAPHIL MOISTURIZER -USE URIAGE BARIDIERM LIP BALM. -Stay POSITIVE and HAVE FAITH int he medicine as the results will start showing properly only in the 4th months onwards. -Visit your dermatologist monthly to seek his advice and suggestion. THIS MEDICINE GAVE ME A PERFECTLY CLEAR FACE, I AM SURE IT WILL WORK FOR YOU
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April 4, 2012
I finally have my skin back after years of misery. The image obsessive media and shallow people in the world made me feel like a freak, now i no longer have to worry about people judging me which is all i wanted from this drug. Thanyou accutane!
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April 2, 2012

Pros:

-Started working immediately: I noticed an effect on my sebum production on the second day.
- Porcelain skin only a few weeks into treatment: no shine, no bumps!

Cons:

- Severely chapped lips for the duration of my course.
- Dry eyes and nose and everything else.
- Achy joints.

It wasn't easy, but it's worked. If I need a second course I will do it without hesitation. I'm 35 and took accutane as a last resort against my mild yet persistent adult-onset acne. Differin and Doxycline alone were not sufficient, and while it was rarely more than mild, it was persistent and spread also to my chest. I took 40mg of Accutane a day for 7 months, a low-ish dose and a long-ish course on account of my very slight build (45kg). Although my derm told me to stop using Differin, I had been through one nasty IB with Differin and wasn't keen to experience another when I resumed Differin after Accutane, so I continued to apply it every second night. I felt that I could gauge my skin's reaction and stop if I really needed to, but I didn't. My skin tolerated Differin while on Accutane just fine. I'm not recommending that others do this, it's just what I did. As for why I wanted to continue Differin if the Accutane worked: hooray for anti-ageing. My Accutane side effects were all 'normal' and while uncomfortable, never bad enough to make me want to give it up. I experienced overall dryness, even in places I didn't think it was possible to get dry. Vaseline on delicate lady areas became part of my daily routine, and even now, 6 weeks after my last dose, I have a funny dry patch around my tail bone of all places, and need to apply a cortisone cream to my elbow. Oh, and it also affected my periods. Accutane really does dry you from the inside out. I'm not much of a drinker so didn't mind no alcohol, and used the time to take extra care with diet and getting enough rest. I did miss lipstick and the ability to wear heels without ankle pain, but got more into eye makeup and cute ballerina flats, so no big deal there. It's 6 weeks since my last dose, and I still have the beautiful skin I remember from before adult acne. I really hope it lasts. If it doesn't I will definitely do a second course.
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March 29, 2012

Pros:

-Cleared my skin forever; no pimples at all left

Cons:

-Temporarily, I had dry skin and lips. These side effect lasted while I took the medication.

- Worked for me like nothing else. Miracle.
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March 27, 2012

Pros:

No more acne since end of month 4.
Oily hair gone.
No more oily skin.
Free if your personal doctor sends you to dermatologist.

Cons:

Facial flushing/blushing.
Chapped lips.
No alcohol.
Skin gets irritated from shaving.
Back pain.
Dry eyes.
Nause

I was on 40 mg for 4 months and then 90 for 2 more months. I weigh 80kg and I've reached required dosage. First 3 months will be pain... They will go so damn slow and you'll keep looking at the mirror for any improvements. For me the point of having no acne (not counting 1/2 shaving pimples once a month) was at midle of month 4 since then I only get tiny pimples from shaving but I dont shave very carefuly.. so I guess this can be avoided. Last 3 months I was realy annoyed by the slow acne marks fading.. but as the time flew by acne marks were gone in 2 months they fade way faster when you stop getting acne. Accutane also thins the skin so they'll be more visibile. Now I am 5 days post accutane and my face isnt as dry anymore and the redness is fading. However I still need to use chapstick. And dont worry for the minor acne scars they arent visibile when the red marks fade. It was totaly worth it I havent got any serious side effects and I think they are quite rare. Hope this review helped you and if you have any questions send me a message. =D + I'd like to thank to all the people that post reviews uphere they helped me alot =)
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March 20, 2012

Pros:

Acne disappears
Prevents a lot of acne from returning

Cons:

Dryness
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I took Accutane when I was 15 because my acne so was severe for about a year and it was the best decision ever. The best solution for your lips drying out is Aquaphor and Vaseline. If you put it on and then take a shower it really helps get rid of the dead skin. After taking it for about 9 months I was taken off and am now 18 and being put back on. From my past experience I can tell you that it is totally worth it. The acne stayed away for over and year and only started to return from stress but the 2nd time you take it usually kills off the acne for the rest of your life. The program is a little of a nuisance but for the results it is completely worth it.
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March 17, 2012

Pros:

Clears acne completely
Simplified skin care routine

Cons:

Side effects
iPledge program
eczema if your don't moisturize well!

This medicine is a miracle for acne sufferers. I dealt with acne in varying degrees for 10 years. Once it got bad the last time, my derm said it was time for Accutane. I had no initial breakout; my skin started getting dry and clearing within the first week. My side effects were mild, for the most part. My period migraines were worse and I felt foggy headed in the beginning of my treatment, that's it. My full course was 5 months, not bad for an acne cure!
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March 14, 2012

Pros:

-100% Clear skin

-Eliminates oiliness and even some discoloration.

Cons:

-Dryness

-Rosy to red complexion during treatment

I took accutane about a year and a half ago, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. My skin has been staying consistently clear. I was told by my doctor, however, that there was a possibility that I would need a second treatment. Due to lack of sleep and proper nutrition, along with a difficult semester, I've started to break out again, and will be asking my doctor about taking the second treatment. It is totally worth it, and if you have painful acne, it's a life saver. I didn't experience any of the severe side effects, simply mild dryness. It does work differently for everyone, though.
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March 8, 2012

Pros:

It works 100%

Cons:

It's Expensive There are side effects

I'm just done my 5 month course of roaccutame and I am 100% clear Nuff said
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March 7, 2012

Pros:

It 100% worked for me; I no longer have to worry about getting spots!
My hair was never greasy.
I suffer with bad allergies to animals, dust, etc and I found that the accutane actually helped a lot with my allergies, only during treatment though.

Cons:

I still have to apply lip balm throughout the day even after 8 months of being off the tablets.
You get terribly dry skin, lips, eyes and nose.
I felt I had no energy and felt as though I was becoming very weak.
I did become mildly depressed towards the end of treatment, but since treatment has finished, I've been fine.

I tried so many things before I went to the doctors and they recommended me accutane. At first I was thinking "why would I want to go on a treatment that can cause suicidal tendencies and can give you such health problems?" But I went on it and honestly I can say it is the best decision of my life. I was so unhappy with my skin before and now my skin is so clear, it's actually unbelievable! Yes, it was a hard six months because you're constantly applying moisturizers and I had to give up sport because I just felt too weak and it sometimes hurt on my joints, but after the treatment was up, it was the most rewarding thing. I have had maybe 3 spots since the treatment ended 8 months ago and I have never been so happy with the way my skin is. Yes, it's still a bit dry and I do have to apply a LOT of lip balm, but I genuinely think it's worth it and hopefully these remaining side effects will subside within the next couple of months or so. It is a horrible treatment to have to endure and I definitely wouldn't want to go through it again, but if your acne is so bad that it's making you upset etc, then I really do strongly recommend this treatment because the likelihood is that you'll never have acne again after taking the accutane course. Also, I read a previous review saying that the accutane caused them to burn severely; I went to Greece for 2 weeks about 3 weeks after my treatment ended, was on factor 20 sun cream and not once did I burn; I actually came back with the best tan I've ever had! I guess it goes to show that for certain skin types it works differently. So, don't be scared off by the bad reviews because if you really can't handle the treatment, you can always ask the doctor if you can stop the treatment. Seriously, it was the best decision I've ever made and I really recommend it.
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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