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 2, 2009
Cons:
DRY LIPS, DRY SKIN
Works wonders, but I'm on my second course and its not helping me out yet.
March 31, 2009
Pros:
It works. Been on it for a little over a month and my acne is almost completely gone.
Cons:
Dry Cracked Lips. Expensive. Have to be careful about drinking alcohol.
The regimen is great, but it took me so long every morning to spread the treatment and moisturizer all over my face, chest, shoulders and back.
March 31, 2009
Pros:
Best treatment you can get for acne, hands down. Clear skin within 1-2 months for first treatment. It only took about 2 weeks for my second treatment.
Cons:
Dry lips and skin. I've been off accutane for 2 years and am still addicted to chapstick (every 20 mins while taking meds, still use it every couple hours even off accutane). I have already had 2 treatments and the acne is back...again.
Everything else aside, it gets the job done. Dryness is an unavoidable side affect. I experienced minor depression and lacked interest in some of my usual activities, but the benefits outweighed the risks and my clear skin left me overall satisfied. The only problem is, my acne is back again in full force and I really would much rather not get on accutane again. 1 treatment is worth it....3 is not.
March 27, 2009
Pros:
After treatment, my skin cleared up and is still 99% clear after one year. It made a life-changing difference.
Cons:
Acne will get worse before it gets better and there is significant scarring, but in time, the scars will fade. I had stiff back. For dry skin, use Olay activating cream(the pink lotion)...it's amazing! and use aquaphor for lips.
Accutane gave me my life back. It gave me the confidence that I never had. Just be prepared to have significant scarring from it and know that it will fade. When i started Accutane, i wasn't aware of the scarring. My acne got worse and everything scarred. I thought I was nuts for taking it...but the acne does clear up almost 100% and the scarring does fade. My face looks beautiful now :)
It doesn't happen overnight. It's a process, but i am so glad that i did it.
I have a new lease on life.
March 19, 2009
Pros:
Oil cleared within a month my blackheads just dropped out
Skin gradually got better but the main improvements came after the third month, clear after month 4. tried retin-a, 5 types of anti-biotics and countless over the counter products. this wor
Cons:
Dry skin as expected, dry lips, dry eyes, raised intracranial pressure which resulted in me being pulled of the drug a week early.
Fantastic! so far the drug is totally worth it and works (lets hope it keeps working). However it's not to be taken lightly and make sure your tough enough to stick it out for four months, this isnt for the light hearted. If your ready try this roaccutane now, its free on the NHS!
March 18, 2009
Pros:
i am just about three weeks through my treatment, my skin is already clearing up well.
Cons:
dry lips, drinking alcohol can cause break outs and dryer skin, dry hands, back of my arms are dry and they make me flush and look slightly red. joints also ache alot wen i am in the gym.
i have had acne on my chin area since the turn of 2008 and i jst recently got put on accutane (feb 2009) by my derm. After tryin oxtetracyclin, doxycyclin and trymethoprim including millions of topical treatments like adapalene etc. i feel that accutane was my only positive cure. i do alot of weight training and take alot supplements to enhance my performance, this could have brought it on but i dnt no. i have always washed and moisturised my face morning and night since i was about twelve (i am now 19). a little tip is that if u drink wen on it yor body will dry up even more and dehydrate causing red rashes on some part of your body then u will brake out, so basically drinkin is a no! if u are thinkin about takin it bottom line is that it affected my part time job coz of mood swings but tell yor family also that u r takin it for their support u crnt do it alone!!!
March 18, 2009
Pros:
I have been on it on two separate occasions and by the time I have been done each treatment the skin on my chest, back, and face was left PERFECT.
Cons:
See the Bottom Line. Please read the whole thing.
It was a miracle the first time I went on accutane 3 years ago and i was left with the perfect skin that I had only dreamed of. I had had slight stomach problems and a bit of a downed mood toward the end of the treatment that quickly went away when i went off the medication. After a year and a half, it came back, but not nearly to the degree that it was before. Because of the treatment, I am the extremely self-motivated, self-confident, down-to-earth girl I always knew I was, until acne made me wear a suit of armor to the world. I just went on accutane for the second time. Dryness, yeah whatever. Its called vaseline. I had to stop the treatment early and I am now seeing a therapist for dysthymic disorder. Coincidence? I think not. We'll see how life is a few months down the road but I am starting to think that clear skin was not worth risking my mental health. I reccommend this medication with GREAT CAUTION. If you feel depressed, STOP. Start with a lower dosage and bui
March 17, 2009
Pros:
Cleared up the acne
Cons:
Dry, peeling and cracking skin on my face, hands and scalp
It worked right away on the acne on my face, neck and back but one of the main reasons I wanted to get rid of my acne was to get rid of the scaring and hyper-pigmentation on my skin. Now it's worse than it's been in years because of the peeling and cracking. Also, I've had terrible dandruff since I started this stuff four months ago. I'm just really hoping that my skin will calm down next month after I go off this stuff and I'll be clear and not so dry.
March 12, 2009
Pros:
My skin was absolutely beautiful by about the 4th month of treatment. I totally stopped breaking out and I had never seen my skin in this great of condition.
Cons:
I have been off accutane since Nov. 2008, and I am starting to break out again. It's very frustrating, so I might have to go on accutane again. Hopefully the great results last this time.
Everyone has different results. I loved my skin while I was on accutane, but now that I have been off for a few months the results have not lasted, but I'm sure it varies from person to person. The dryness and other side affects are well worth it, I just hope a second treatment lasts.
March 11, 2009
Pros:
skin is MUCH less oily, smoother softer skin, have not gotten a single zit since starting accutane, hopefully when my scars go away my face will be completely clear!
Cons:
elbows, hands, and lips are VERY dry ALL the time. especially my lips...i have to carry chapstick with me all the time now. my face feels tight after i wash it so i need to apply moisterizer to it. i think my vision might be blurred a little
i am 17 and i have moderate/severe acne. i get it mostly on around my mouth and on my cheeks. i have VERY oily skin. i would have to use blotting paper all the time and even that wouldn't get all of the oil off my face. i also have HORRIBLE scarring. i dont get TOO many pimples at one time but i have TONS of red spots all over my face from past breakouts esp 1 big one on my cheek. a typical breakout would be 2-3 zits at a time. i literally tried EVERYTHING for my face - from basic oral prescriptions to septra to birth control. finally my derm put me on accutane as a last resort.
i started 2 weeks ago & already i feel results. my face is MUCH less oily, although i still have some oil on my cheeks at the end of the day which i hope will reduce w/ time. but i dont have to wipe down my face anymore! my skin is smoother & i have not gotten a single new zit yet! this is WORTH the hassle. it works WONDERS. never before have i felt this good about my skin
Pros:
Cleared my skin on the first course. my acne did come back, but not as severe as it orginally now. Now im on my second course -3rd month running, i dont see a change yet. Guess have to wait til my last month!