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
December 15, 2009
Cons:
My lips are SUPER dry all the time especially here in the cold winters.. they always bleed. vision blurring, and back aches, gets MUCH worse before getting better, still not sure.. i want my clear flawless skin?
I would recommend this to other acne sufferers but, be ready for some disappointment in the beginning . now i hear that it leaves a lot of scars.. I DONT WANT THAT!! ): well keeping a positive attitude that it will work as it did for others!! Wish me luck!!
December 13, 2009
Pros:
less oily skin and hair, less bumps
Cons:
dry lips, skin, scars easily
i've been on accutane for almost 5 months now and so far ive seen improvment but i'm still having constant breakouts on my face. my skin scars very easily also. on my back and chest however i've seen amazing results. no more at all! scars have also faded. im still waiting for results on my face and hopefully it will get better in the next couple weeks or so. im trying to stay positive:) also, of your thinking about trying it i would say go for it. dont listen to all the people who give bad feedback.
November 20, 2009
Pros:
THIS STUFF IS TRULY A MIRACLE DRUG, NO MORE ACNE!!
Cons:
the treatment sucks, you will have super sensitive and dry skin!! Try to keep it as dry as possible as my dermatologist said : "the dryer the better"
Stick with it! All you youngsters asre complaining its not working after a month or two! ITS TAKES SIX MONTHS!! but last a lifetime... stick with it, its worth it... trust me!
October 22, 2009
Pros:
Clear skin!
Cons:
DRY lips and fragile skin
Like many of you on here, I have tried nearly everything to clear my skin. Topicals, anitbiotics (3 different kinds), ProActive and everything over the counter. Acne took many years of my life. Where I went, and what I did depended on how my skin looked at the time. I first got acne when I was 14, I'll never forget that year, and had it up until I was 23. My skin wasn't as bad as some, but rarely was there an occasion where I didn't have at least one or two on my face. I started Accutane about 4 months ago and couldn't be happier. My skin is completely clear, and not oily (it used to be oily all hours of the day), I'm one of the lucky ones who has suffered no side effects other than the dry skin and lips. If acne is causing you not to be yourself, and is pretty much controlling your life, you need to give this drug a shot. It seems like a big decision to make, and kind of a hassle, but it changed my life.
April 6, 2009
Pros:
Nothing else worked to get rid of my facial acne. I had very bad self-esteem and needed something to get rid of it once an for all. Easy to take once the right dose was determined, worked quickly in one round of treatment
Cons:
My dermatologist gave me too large a dose in the beginning and i broke out in a full body rash. I started taking Accutane when it was a brand new drug so no one really knew what it could do back then.
It took one course of treatment to get rid of my persistant acne. That was in 1984. My acne NEVER came back. If i get a small blemish from time to time it disappears in 24hrs for the most part. When I started taking Accutane, they had no idea how long the positive effects would last. 25 years later I am still grateful to my doctor for trying this drug. It changed my life and how I felt about myself. Those who claim it is dangerous haven't lived with acne and don't understand that if used properly it can change your life. I highly recommend it.
December 17, 2008
Pros:
Well your breakouts really get under control in literally like two weeks and I never got the initial breakout.
Cons:
It really extremely dries you out from the inside out. EVERYWHERE! I MEAN EVERYWHERE!! Also plays with your hormones which is exactly the problem with my acne.
The purpose of me posting my experience was because the hormones in the pill clogged up my breast ducks that produce milk and got severely infected. My breast felt literally about 30 pounds each. I had to go the ER two days in a row because the situation just got worse. It was an extremely scary experience and highly embarrassing that I had to go through this because of acne meds. Overall during the infection I felt INTOXICATED AND READY TO DIE!!! Bottom line acne is a part of my life and anyone who is on this page so I really think being positive is the only thing that will improve the situation for us all.
March 28, 2008
Pros:
Works pretty well, easy to use, on lighter doses (up to about 30, 40 mg's) there were no tangible side effects
Cons:
There ARE side effects. And loads of them. Just not so tangible in the first months.
Ok, this product is the only thing that really helps so far. I've tried lots and all I can say- don't waste your time/money/patience with other medicaments. BUT. Even if your doc says you can freely use it, THINK ABOUT IT TWICE. Seriously now, this is one of those medicaments which has LOADS of side effects. And pretty serious ones. My hearing got weak, my sight was poor, the skin was a bit dry but nothing serious and then came the most serious part- my doc told me this thing will really stop my bone growth, and proved it, it fuses the bones. At least, for me. So, if you wanna grow- DON'T USE THIS. For others who are already stopped growing or whos acne is hardcore bad, I can only suggest it, it will most defo help. Don't believe in bull about depression and stuff. I only felt better using it. This thing cheered me up. Unfortunately, I stopped using it. I still want to grow.
Think twice before using though, consider the good and the bad; unfortunately it's 50/50.
February 18, 2008
Pros:
it works. this stuff just...works.
Cons:
the iPLEDGE rules are ridiculous, and my stupid dermatologist doesn't make it any easier.
i've wanted accutane since i was 14---my breakouts were mild at first, but then the derm started prescribing antibiotics and two different topicals and outlining regimens...you know the drill. does it ever seem like that actually works? no, it doesn't! i watched my face worsen over the months as scars developed and the----actually, you know this already! STOP WASTING TIME WITH TOPICALS AND ANTI-BIOTICS AND GET ON ACCUTANE! this stuff works---there's no depression, there's no hair loss, normal sun exposure doesn't become more damaging---all you get is clear, soft, super smooth, even-toned skin that stays matte all day and doesn't oil-up after an hour. you'll save time and headaches by only having to wash your face once per day (not feeling greasy at the end of the day was my favorite part!)...being able to take pictures from any angle and not worry about shine or spots...it's wonderful! MAKE YOUR DERM GIVE YOU THIS STUFF! HE/SHE will try and talk you out of it so you keep coming back!
September 17, 2007
Pros:
None
Cons:
Very unpleasant side effects, nearly killed me and hugely changed my life for the worst
I was rushed to hospital 3 years after finishing with isotretonin and they found a freak rib bone spur that had punctured my heart. They put it down to the isotretonin. To this day I still suffer for that 3 month course 17 years ago. When I think back to my youth, I have clear memories up until the accutane course where all memories become kind of scrambled. I really would not recommend anybody take this drug, it's really not worth the unknown.
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!
Pros:
My face isn't as oily and my face seems to start clearing according to my doctor. I haven't had as many mainful breakouts and I'm on month four.