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
October 30, 2011
Cons:
-Joint/Back Pain
-Thirsty Skin (easily controlled w/ cetaphil cream)
-Photosensitivity (SPF all day, every day)
-IB on body
Results seen after 1 month. Had an IB on body, but not face. Just got better after 1 month. 3 months in, and clear. Dark Purple hyperpigmentation is gone. Side effects are completely bearable. From my understanding, all of the potential side effects are treatable and subside after treatment ends (obvious exception is the alleged causation of suicide). So I guess if the effects get worse, I can just stop taking the pill. My doc gave me a somewhat high dosage (about 1.5 mg/kg) for faster, longer-lasting results. Anyways, weigh the risks and decide if they're worth taking. I just wrote this to tell you that, for me, they were.
August 25, 2011
Pros:
-No oil production! After years of blotting oil off my face, I could go a whole day with no shine. Also didn't have to wash hair much (every 3 days)
-No cystic acne
-was on 40, 80, and 120 mg for 5 months--now its 2 months later and my skin isn't clear, but much better than how it used to be before treatment
Cons:
-Dry/gross lips (stopped wanting to kiss people...in college this is not okay!)
-Helped, but didn't clear my overall problem which is lots of blackheads and little zits
-Not supposed to drink, but I did occasionally...made me feel guilty
-Slight depression b/c of circumstances...being in college (no tanning, gross lips/overall flakey skin, guilt from drinking) so it kind of made my spring semester suck a little
-dry stool/bleeding sometimes...eeek
-Didn't completely clear my ski
Reading reviews can scare a lot of people, and I hesitated throughout high school to try this stuff. Looking back, I wish I would have done it back then--before college!!! It really isn't that bad. I think the emotional problems come from feeling a little gross (no tanning/sun, dry skin, dry eyes, dry lips), some days are hard and you might feel like crap, but its never that bad. It truly does get rid of oil. I LOVED this. Not looking shiny is so nice. Plus, you don't need to (and shouldn't have to) wash your hair very much---that doesn't mean don't shower haha! Invest in a shower cap :) Big, ugly pimples will be gone--especially after a few months. I didn't notice major changes until my 4th month--so stick with it. Unfortunately for me, I am still left with noticeable pores, blackheads, and some zits here and there. But regardless, my skin looks a lot better than it did before Accutane (Claravis is what I took). I do not regret taking it and am thankful for the changes it did make--even if it didn't go perfectly. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! For all those you are on the fence, just go for it. Be positive, do your research, try (unlike myself) to follow ALL the rules. I was resistant to really bad side-effects...so take my advice with that in mind.
July 5, 2011
Pros:
Made acne slightly better.
Stopped major acne break outs
Cons:
I have been on Accutane for 6 months and expected MUCH better results. I've stopped taking the drug, as my doctor says my skin will continue to improve after the treatment.
Sensitive, itchy skin all over body.
Cut/scratch very easily.
Nose bleeds, dry/cracked skin on and inside nose.
Anxiety.
Crying spells/feeling down.
Achy joints.
After stopping my course of Roaccutane after 6 months, I feel like it was not worth it. I'm hoping that my skin will continue to improve (as the doctor said) and that the redness of my face will start to go away. Alot of people are really positive about their Roaccutane treatment, and I wish I could say the same. I thought it would be alot more effective that it was. However, I was relieved when the doctor said he wanted to take me off the drug, as I was really starting to get fed up of the side effects! From my experience, I wouldn't recommend it, but after reading so many other reviews by other Accutane users, I'd suggest you gave it a try, as it may work for you.
July 4, 2011
Pros:
CLEAR SKIN!
confidence booster!
Cons:
chapped lips
i had comedonal acne since i was 12, the derm gave me every kind of cream and pill and nothing worked. so finally at 16 he finally put me on and it worked wonders on my skin cleared EVERYTHING ! but it now after 6 months is coming back :(
June 16, 2011
Pros:
It gets rid of so many types of acne.
Cons:
It has severe side effects!
It did clear up my acne. I had moderate to severe acne. I used to get the big red ones that hurt like crazy. I was put on accutane when I was around 16 years old. I am now 31 and I have had complications with my stomach. They told me I had crohns disease because of the accutane I was on. I was put on it for 6 months. It did wonders on my face but not sure if it's worth the side effects and according to almost everyone that has used it, they have complications years later. I did rate it a 5 because it did work but I'm not sure if it's worth it because of the side effects.
April 6, 2011
Pros:
-non greasy hair to wake up to
-no oily face
-black heads on nose all gone
-spots on shoulders have gone and back (were very few
Cons:
-nose bleeds (first 2 weeks)
-chapped lips occasionally
-dry skin
-facial spots no real improvement
-insomnia
I have been on accutane for 2 whole months now, not had any real problems whilst on it which bother me, i am going to see my derm in 6 days and hopefully during the 3rd month i will see a severe improvement as most cases thats when they get there ( AHHH moment ) fingers crossed eh guys...good luck to everyone else who are on it i hope you see desired results soon :)
January 27, 2011
Pros:
Cleared cystic acne
Cons:
Makes you very moody.
Makes lips very dry.
Monthly blood test required for females.
Hard time getting insurance after taking this medicine.
SERIOUS birth defects possible if you get pregnant.
My dermatologist put me on this for about 5 months. He claimed it was "The miracle drug". I had some cystic acne, it cleared it up about 95%.After I went off the medicine I started a new job a few months later and worked for a company where I had to find my own health insurance, one of the questions on the application asks if you have taken this medicine.I said yes and Blue Cross declined me. Cigna approved me but is charging me 20% more because I took this medicine. Bottom line is there are far too many negative side effects that I was unaware of when I started taking this.My doctor did not inform me of all the side effects, he mainly focused on the fact that it causes birth defects, I was so caught up with trying to clear my skin I didnt research it enough. Now I see all the commercials about people that took Accutane and how it can seriously mess up your colon and other parts. I now use the Clinique Acne solutions 3 step and my skin is 99% clear without all the crazy side effects that Accutane brings. I would suggest trying all other options first and only using this as a last last last resort.
December 30, 2010
Pros:
-made my face less oily
-Acne starting to go away
-no oil
Cons:
-Made me broke out! a lot!
-big painful cysts in the beginning of the week
-But is part of the initial breakout that you get
-
This pills are really good, i apparently don't have more oil in my skin, yay because before i started this my skin was like a pot of oil that i would touch it and my whole finger would be cover it up with a lot of oil. These pills cost like $348 for the 30 pills but my insurance paid for it.It made me breakout horribly but now is starting to go away!
Overall it takes like 3 months to see a difference and i am hoping to get clear skin !
September 12, 2010
Pros:
Cystic acne gone
Blackheads gone
No more oilyness/greasyness
Confidence
Cons:
Got MUCH worse before better
dry skin
cracked lips
some achyness
This medicine took me through hell and back, but the ride was worth it. My acne got severely worse before I saw improvement. I broke out on about every square inch of my face. Luckily, I began my accutane (I was on the brand "claravis" right before school ended, so I had a lot of time before school started. After 3 months, my face stopped breaking out and all my acne began to go away. I am left with redness, but I am told that it will heal faster once I am off accutane. I havent had a breakout since. If nothing has worked for you in the past to clear your skin, accutane is a good last effort.
March 16, 2010
Pros:
acne goes away
beautiful skin
oil free
you wake up every day so happy that you dont have any new bumps on your face
Cons:
joint pain
fatigue
dry skin
dry hair
acne seems to come back within time
I took it for 9 months, happiest 9 months of my life I couldn't believe how beautiful my skin was. So you will experiece some side effects big deal they go away after you stop the treatment. If there was something else that works as well as accutane I will be the first person to post it on acne.org, but for right now people who have acne that doesn't go away with benzoil peroxide wich is the best creams for acne right now, or with antibiotics, then you can try Accutane. I can tell you one thing you wont regret it
Pros:
-Clear Skin