Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Results
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.

 [more]
3.9
2449
5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
Number of Stars
Choose All That Apply
Clear All Filters
Done
February 21, 2011

Pros:

Acne disappeared within a month
Only needed to take medication for one cycle and haven't had more than a zit here or there since

Cons:

Dry lips
Have to get a Blood test periodically (i think monthly)

I found this site somewhere around 4 years ago. After reading through all the reviews on acne products i found there was only one that really stood out and that was of course Accutane. So I tried it and although it was a hassle to get my hands on it simply worked! I owe my self esteem almost entirely to this site for showing me the way. One word of advice for those who try it out: Put a disgusting amount of vaseline on your lips before bed. And keep vaseline on you all the time and you shouldn't have any problems with the side effects.
This Was Helpful

66 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 21, 2011

Pros:

fast acting, supposedly very effective. didn't have any initial breakout.

Cons:

only side effect i'm having now is pretty dry lips. if i forget my chapstick they can get pretty damn dry and start cracking, but that's about it. maybe a little drier shoulders too. no head aches, falling out hair, joint pain, mood swings or anything.

taking 80mg/d now. started of with 40 the first week, 60 the next, and 80 the third. after the first day i started to notice a difference. everything was drying up and healing nicely. my cheeks and jawline and pretty much smooth now, and the forehead is healing as well. still got lots of spots and red marks though. probably gonna have scars. hopefully they will fade. Bottom line for me? i absolutely recommend this. it is definitely doing its job and i'm not having any severe side effets
This Was Helpful

51 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 20, 2011

Pros:

it's been nearly three weeks and already i feel a major difference. my doc goes by a low-dose, long-term treatment, so it's 20mg/day for 8-10 months. i've had acne for as long as i remember, and in the last few years, it's been pretty much huge cysts on my chin and jawline with painful pimples alongside my nose and lipline.
even though i had an initial breakout (still probably in that phase, but it's not as severe as it was last week), the overall texture of my skin has improved like wh

Cons:

monthly blood tests and dermo visits
face can be a little itchy due to pimples drying up and flaking off
initial breakout, dry lips, dry eyes (must carry chapstick and eye-drops all the time)... but pros>>>>>cons. this is all nothing compared to the pain and shame of having massive cysts and always wondering whether your makeup is covering it all up

improved skin texture - smooth, soft-looking, feels great! major oil control! no longer look like i have an oil slick on my face by 12pm, with make-up sliding off my face. everything is so much easier to attain! also, my hair is so soft and silky. used to have oily hair, not the case anymore pimples come and go at lightning speed am so pumped by the improvement seen after only 2.5 weeks on 20 mg a day... i'm far from the finish line, but full of positivity.
This Was Helpful

74 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 15, 2011

Pros:

Oil free skin (hair and face)
Clears acne and the redness
Boosts Confidence (Trust me)

Cons:

Dry lips, skin, eyes
Lower back pain (Just a little)

I started taking Accutane just 15 days ago and right now my face is clearer than ever. I literally have only ONE acne left on my face :D. I was scared before taking it but nothing else was working for me. It does have side effects but in my case it wasn't that much of a problem. Just ask your derm for a good cream for your lips and our face and it's all good. You should try taking it. Did wonders for me.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 13, 2011

Pros:

Clearer skin.
No red spots
Smoother skin

Cons:

Sensitive skin
Chapped lips
Dry hands (with dry spots)

Great!!! It solved THE problem.
This Was Helpful

12 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 4, 2011

Pros:

Completely cleared my skin. I feel like a normal human being again. I don't feel ashamed to look people in the eye for fear they will only see acne.

Cons:

Dry lips, dry eyes, some digestive upset. All improved after treatment finished.

While Accutane has some potential for severe side effects, it is important to gauge whether the risk is worth it. To me, it was. And the results are wonderful. If you are afraid of the potential side effects while on treatment, be sure to discuss any changes in your body with your doctor (like digestive upset) and stop taking it immediately if you find you are passing even a small amount of blood.
This Was Helpful

12 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 1, 2011

Pros:

- completely cleared cystic acne
- hair used to be overly oily - now it is manageable and stays clean all day!
- It's been 9 years since I took accutane and still no acne
- drastically improved self-esteem
- avoided the risks of long-term antibiotic treatment

Cons:

- dry, cracked lips
- finding an adequate dosage was difficult
- hassle dealing with pregnancy tests for females taking this drug

Many dermatologists will refer to accutane as a miracle drug and it most certainly is. My acne cleared entirely after 6 months of treatment and in the 9 years since I was treated with this medication I have had only mild, intermittent acne. I would describe my face in middle school and high school as looking like I had been stung by an entire hive of bees and now you would never know I had severe acne. Even with the new discoveries that have emerged regarding side effects, I would still highly recommend this treatment if you have tried all other options and they have all failed. While this drug can have some severe side effects for many patients, they are most commonly transient. There are many commercials on television that are produced by personal injury lawyers talking about the long term side effects of Accutane; the side effects they mention are horrible, but these occur in a relatively small subset of the patients who take this drug. Remember, patients taking antibiotics (tetracycline and doxycycline - and many others, but those are the ones most commonly used to treat propionobacterium acnes, the cause of your acne) for an extended period of time can have severe side effects 30 years down the road and beyond (those nasty side effects are not limited to Accutane, yet you hear about them much less frequently because they are a much more difficult target for personal injury lawsuits). If you are considering this drug, weigh the pros and cons (do the research), consider the severity of your acne (do not let your dermatologist push it on you if you do not have cystic acne), and consider how much your acne impacts your quality of life. If you decide to take accutane, monitor yourself closely, paying particular attention to your mood. Remember, you can always discontinue it if it becomes at all problematic.
This Was Helpful

27 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 23, 2011

Pros:

Clear Skin
Confidence
Less oily skin and hair

Cons:

No alcohol for the duration of treatment
Very dry skin and eczema
Slight hair loss (offset by use of moisturising treatments)

Going on Roaccutane is the best decision I have ever made in my entire life! I say that without any hesitation whatsoever. Yes there were bad times too during the course of my treatment but I honestly couldn't give a crap because I'm acne-free. I had a small initial outbreak that seemed huge at the time but at my 6 week visit I only had two pimples and they were the last pimples I have ever had. I was on Accutane for 5 months (was supposed to be 6) so that means I haven't had a zit in almost 4 months!!! I started off with 20mg and gradually worked up to 50mg so I reached a cumulative dosage of about 100mg. I am very aware that it is 20mg below the recommeded dosage but I hope that since I cleared so early and my acne was only moderate at it's worst but mostly mild that it will stay away. The reason I had to stop early is because of bad eczema on my cheeks that was unbearable for a few days that popped up every weekend (weird pattern) over Christmas. It also coincided with extremely cold weather here in Ireland so that was probably an exacerbating factor. My bottom line for Accutane is this - if you've tried everything else and your acne is really getting you down then go for it. I suffered for 5 years before I made the plunge and it was well worth it!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 18, 2011

Pros:

Embarrasing Acne is gone and I feel and look hott!

Cons:

Chapped Lips, and may have to go on a second treatment

It is worth it! I had chapped lips, and that's it. My acne has come back a little bit, but I did not take the prescription as I should have, so I am going to go back to the derm. and get back on it and take it like I should have. Even so my acne now can never compare to what I had. Also it is easily covered with make-up. My boyfriend before I knew him had terrible cystic acne, I met him while he was on the drug and I got to see him gradually get better. He also looks amazing. The bad side effects are rare, and I did all my research before I took the stuff. It is worth it if acne gets in the way of your social life or if you want to look better.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 11, 2011
This is my 2nd time on accutane. I took it nearly 4 years ago. My cystic acne was at an all time high when I decided to go back onto it. Do the side effects suck? Yes, dry, flaky skin & cracked lips aren't fun. DRINK WATER! In the end, it is the only medication that took it away & kept it away. I've done all the other medications, trust me.
This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 38 39 40 41 42 … 82
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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