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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March 26, 2011

Pros:

No oil at all, clear face, the occasional pimple goes away superquick, improves acne scarring as well for some reason. I think the dry skin drops off leaving newer skin underneath? idk. Not to mention increased confidence.

The main pro would be the ability to eat pretty much ANYTHING you want without having to worry about how it will affect your face. kfc anybody?

Cons:

Dry eyes, dry lips.

Don't drink a lot of alcohol. I pushed my limits once and got pretty drunk - felt like my liver was going to explode..It subsided after about an hour but was pretty scary. A little bit is alright but don't go overboard or you'l regret it.

Have just finished my 6th month of treatment. The first month sucks but I tell you it's worth it and will go by faster than you think. After that you will see improvement like never before. Never experienced sore joints or anything like that. I've been continuing going to the gym lifting weights 3 days a week as well as martial arts and gymnastics at least 3 days a week and isotretinoin has not affected my performance whatsoever. I also have never experienced tiredness from taking the drug. I believe it's all in your mind - just continue what your doing, have a happy outlook on life and stay active. It will be the best thing that will ever happen to you.
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March 25, 2011

Pros:

Amazing results. What you dream of!!

Cons:

Dry lips and dry eyes sometimes. Migraines, shivers and extreme tiredness for first few weeks only. Abstinence from alcohol. Possibly slight depression whether it´s due to tablet or not who knows.

The brand I use of Roaccutane in Spain is called Isdibin. I have taken it consistently for 5 months and have one month left. Definitely worth taking as long as your GP monthly checks your blood. If you have a bad reaction, simply stop the treatment. I have eaten high protein foods to prevent hair loss (this terrified me) and I have grown more hair! My acne wasn ´t constant but when it came it was cystic and on three occasions I needed hospital treatment. Mainly on face but also bad on back and legs.
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March 22, 2011

Pros:

- gave me my life back
- oily t-zone completely banished
- pore size diminished
- stubborn under-the-skin cysts completely gone
- uneven skin tone improved greatly
- my confidence and self esteem have gone up a lot

Cons:

- achy, tight muscles and joints
- appetite would go away at times
- it was slightly painful to pass a stool
- dry eyes
- dry, flaky face
- eczema on the backs of my hands
- slight mood swings

I just wanted to thank Accutane for restoring my face to how it used to be. I have never seen my skin so clear. It has only been this clear when I was 11 and had beautiful, untainted pre-pubescent skin. I am so confident right now, and it is so easy for me to leave the house without makeup on. I only need a very minimal amount of makeup now. I have always felt that acne has held me back from my highest potential, that it made me seem like less of a person. Acne was very debilitating for me and made me very paranoid at times. I would constantly poke and prod at my face just hoping that it would go away. No at home remedies worked and the 3 antibiotics that I was previously put on stopped working after the 2nd month. My dermatologist was very thorough with the process of Accutane and told me that it was a last resort treatment. I am glad that I took it. It worked so well on me and it truly is a miracle drug. I am happy to say that it no longer takes me one hour and a half to do my makeup in the morning. I am very comfortable with where my current skin condition is at and am very fortunate to not have to use makeup as my crutch any longer. I am very happy. Please be sure to do an ample amount of research before you go on it. I did about 1/2 a years worth of research on several websites including this one before I asked for the prescription.
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March 22, 2011

Pros:

-oil completely gone.
-minimized look of pores
-glowing skin
-CLEARED ACNE COMPLETELY!

Cons:

-dry lips

i just took my last dose of this medication after having been on it for 5 months. i could not be happier with the results. i've had moderate persistent acne for about 4 years, accutane was the only thing that completely cleared me and gave me 110% of my confidence back. my skin has never looked so amazing. i am left with one active pimple, but they heal much faster than before tane. i would reccomend this to anyone with doubts on this medication, the side effects(or atleast in my case) were all hyped up, and the end result is totally worth it. thank you accutane!
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March 20, 2011

Pros:

No more oil
less acne
Less acne marks

Cons:

side effects
Dry Dry Dry

I have been using Accutane for around 3 and a half months and it is working really well. I went back to the Derm. after 3 months to get more and it was still bad. I was still getting acne every day. 3 days after i saw him i did not have any new ones and then the next day not a new one again. For 15 days now i did not get anything bad (maybe one new one, one or two days) but nothing really bad. My sink stared to heal every day and is starting to look really good. I think in the next 2 week it will be almost perfect. I would tell everyone to try this if there acne is bad.
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March 16, 2011

Pros:

- Very effective
- Definitive results

Cons:

- Dryness

I was 26 when I went through Isotretinoin treatment (it lasted 18 weeks). I had moderate to severe acne since I was 13 years old. It was the only treatment that really worked for me. I wish I had taken the treatment at least 10 years before!! I still have acne after the treatment, but it is rare an SO light that I still really recommend this treatment to anyone that suffers with acne.
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March 16, 2011

Pros:

Cleared skin up quickly when nothing else worked!
Made the texture of my skin improve and look brighter and more even.
Skin becomes less oily.

Cons:

Very dry lips and cracks in the corners of the mouth.
Eczema on the hands and lower arm.
Constant nose bleeds and dry cracked nostrils.
Depression.
Back aches.
General sorness.
Blood tests.
Acne came back after first treatment, however not so severe.

I am on it for the sxecond time and so far so good again. The bottom line is it is the only thing that worked for me so, to be honest, although some people may disagree with me, I was in such a bad way, that all of the side effects were worth it, just to get clear skin and my confidence and ultimatly my life back! Hope this helps you. If you are as desparate as I was then it really is the only option. I had tried absolutly everything else on the planet for my skin and nothing else worked!!
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March 8, 2011

Pros:

Clears any and all pimples and blackheads FOR GOOD!
Glowy skin
Works Fast
No initial breakout
Cheap with the right insurance - paid 20 dollar co pay per month dosage.

Cons:

None

This stuff works... Some people get bad dry skin and lips while on it but I really only noticed my skin flushing easily, like if I went in the sun or if it was warm. All in all...anyone with moderate to severe acne simply needs Accutane. It will change your life.
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March 7, 2011

Pros:

No initial breakout
Oil free skin and hair
No more acne and no blackheads

Cons:

Lower back pain
Dry lips/eyes
Elevated cholesterol
Monthly bloodwork and derm visits

I have had acne my whole life but after college, age 23, I had a horrible breakout and VERY oily skin. I am not a typical candidate for this med but I tried everything and nothing worked. This drug is a last resort b/c there are so many potential side effects. Do your research before you start. Luckily I only experienced very minor side effects. No initial breakout, dry lips(no cracking), and back pain that was manageable. I did have to stop going to the gym b/c of the back pain but looking back it was worth. All negative side effects resolved after I completed the 5 month course. I weigh about 68kg. My first month of treatment was 40mg. I did not see many improvements at this point and my skin was still oily. At this time my cholesterol shot up to 240 (before treatment 198). Month two I went up to 80mg and this is when I really started to see results although this is also when the back pain started. The final 3 months I stayed on 60mg and the back pain lessened but was still there. My lips were dry all through treatment and it was unbearable to not have Aquaphor on my lips even though they never cracked or flaky. My cholesterol is now back to normal. I have been off of Claravis for over a month now. My skin is finally normal, no excess oil. I do get pimples occasionally but no painful cysts like I used to. When you are on the treatment make sure you use SFP on your WHOLE body, gentle cleanser like Cetaphil, and Aquaphor is your friend. All of the cons are worth it in the end! It is a short term treatment, hopefully for a lifetime of acne free skin. If my acne comes back I will definitely take another course of the medication because of the amazing results.
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February 21, 2011

Pros:

cleared my severe acne, both face and back when absolutely nothing else worked.

Cons:

the obvious, severly dry lips, dry eyes, dry spots on hands

I had severe acne for a few years and it started to get realllly bad just over a year ago, i tried every prescription out there seriously, i started on a low dose of isotretinoin 30mg and only went up to 40mg. The first two months were hell as my face broke out soooo bad but my derm put me on a steroid to calm the swelling and then the isotretinoin started to work its magic, 4 months later i was completely clear. I get a few blemishes now and then but they arent the huge pustules i used to get. SO happy i used this medicine definitely a life changer.
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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