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%
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
September 28, 2010

Pros:

it DOES work - my skin is smoother, pimples have gone and I feel so much better, plus my skin has never felt so good (you could literally go a week without washing it!!!)

Cons:

dryness - eyes, nose and lips, but nothing that cannot be handled with chapstick and vaseline!

It really is amazing stuff and to think I very nearly didn't start treatment - I cried after I left my appointment as I was terrified about side effects and I was probably also in denial about how bad my skin was! However, I am now on my last week of treatment (after 6 months) and it was genuinely one of the best decisions I have ever made. My skin isn't completely perfect - still slightly red, but can be 100% covered up with make up and is most importantly, very smooth (and will continue to improve apparently..even after treatment.) After trying all the antibiotics and creams under the sun, I can honestly say that this is the only thing that will clear stubborn acne. Sure, the side effects are a worry and maybe I have been lucky, but apart from a little bit of achyness and tiredness (which may not have even been the drug, as I play a fair bit of sport) I have felt totally myself throughout the treatment and the dryness is absolutely nothing in comparison to regaining confidence!! Just a note however, that it did take an age to kick in, I got very disheartened 3 months into treatment and so if you're reading this thinking the same, please persevere! The feeling of waking up with no new spots is incredible after suffering for the past 4 years and I am now about to start university with lovely skin! So don't get put off by the negative reviews - I know everyone reacts differently to it, but the best thing you can do is give it a try!
This Was Helpful

25 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 22, 2010

Pros:

EVERYTHING
clears acne up. its amazing!! highly recommended!

Cons:

dry skin all over body
got eczema on arms for 1st time ever
got very dry scalp
dry lips
but these are all easy things to treat!

do it!! i put of taking roaccutane for years as family said it was too strong for my acne. my skin wasn't that bad but it effected me and my confidence and it was constant. i always had stubborn spots that wouldn't go. true a few things worked liked laser treatment, proactiv, pills and potions form the doctor but the spots always came back or it wouldn't clear completely. so after 12 years of spots, turning 26 years old and seeing my friends skin clear up amazingly on roaccutane i decided to go for it and im soooo glad i did. sure dry skin, eczema and dandruff is annoying but not as annoying as feeling so self conscious about ur face and worrying about ur make-up all the time. the side effects are easy to treat. use a good moisturiser like 3 times a day. i also used jojoba oil at night. look after yourself. i cut out drinking for the 4 months and started a diet and exercising. use a anti dandruff shampoo, moisturiser ur whole body every morning and have a lip balm on you at all times. it took like 3 months to see any difference but i have now finished my 4 months and my skin is clear. this really is a miracle drug. sure some people get worse side effects but thats the gamble with any drug u take and 99% of people will be fine. so take it, get clear skin and get your life back! im so happy i took it!
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 15, 2010

Pros:

works like magic
been clear for 20+ years

Cons:

dry eyes, dry nose, dry scalp, chapped lips, very miserable for the first couple of months.

Went from looking like i had been in a fire because my face was so covered with cystic acne that only got worse as was prescribed one antibiotic after another till my doctor finally reluctantly put me on accutane. I am left with scars some 25 years later but I didn't get pregnant while on the medication and I have 3 beautiful perfect girls that unfortunately have their mother's skin. I am taking them both in tomorrow to get on it! Keep in mind I was paying $100 a month 25 years ago! And it was worth every penny!
This Was Helpful

14 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 11, 2010

Pros:

Gets rid of acne when nothing else does. Changes your life (for the better in most cases).
Restores confidence.

Cons:

Side effects can be a bit creepy.
Blood and pregnancy testing (if applicable) are a pain.
Can be expensive if you don't have insurance.
Can potentially lead to long term health problems for some people (debated).

My side effects were -Dry skin, lips, and eyeballs. -Very brittle skin- scratches that would have normally been nothing would bleed and take a while to heal. -My liver enzymes went up so I had to reduce my dose. -Bizarre pain in the heels and achilles (which was reported by others on the accutane logs) -freckled very easily in the sun ALL OF THIS WAS 100000000% worth it. I am so much happier having taken this drug. I used to think about my skin constantly and now I get to think about other things. I look better and feel better and really feel like I can put the years of acne and failed treatments behind my (forever hopefully). If you have problems consider lowering your dose. Odds are you will still have a good outcome and lessen the side effects. Don't be too scared to try this. I wish I had taken it two years sooner at least. I ended up loading my body up with all that crap, AND THEN ALSO accutane. I should have just cut to the chase. If a doc tells you your acne isn't bad enough and you have nodular or cystic acne, or chronic moderate acne or worse, find someone else. Get this drug guys, I can't emphasize that enough.
This Was Helpful

9 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 8, 2010

Pros:

It was a huge confidence booster, it completely smoothes out your skin, and eliminates all of your acne!

Cons:

Dry lips, you're going to need LOTS of chapstick.

I have suffered with acne for as long as I can remember. I've always been the girl that wears too much make up to cover it up and it was humiliating. I decided to make a change and went on this site to see what were good options for me. This drug completely changed my life. I used to avoid taking pictures and participating in many of my school activities because I felt so self-concious about my face. I'm a completely different person now. I still have light scarring but all of my acne has cleared and I would highly highly recommend it. This drug will change your life.
This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 7, 2010

Pros:

IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS GOT RID OF MY ACNE I HAVE HAD FOR LIKE 9 YEARS!
I HAD NONE OF THE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS!

I took 40mg for 5 months and in the FIRST WEEK it totally got rid of my oily skin!!!!
My skin is now completely oil free AND acne free!!!!!

Cons:

I would not really say these were cons but the general...
-dry skin
-dry bleeding lips
-have to wait a few months for it to work

its a miracled drug!!! goodluck with anyone going ahead with this! :)
This Was Helpful

14 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 18, 2010

Pros:

-My scars are beginning to subside. I am very impressed because I scar easily and they take a long time to go away

-I had a slight breakout but it went away in 2 days

-My skin feels smooth and nice

Cons:

-I've been getting small whiteheads but that's not a big deal

-My lips are a little dry but again no big deal

-My head hurts but I am not sure if its due to accutane or my stress

-This is a weird but I burp more?...LOL yeah I don't know

I've been on it for 6 days and my acne has started to go away. There are side effects but I think it all depends on what dosage the doctor put you on. I take 20mg everyday because the doctor wanted me to ease into a higher dosage without me breaking out severely. So don't be afraid of what other people said because it could be due to the dosage that they started with. But I am not really sure because the dosage is relied on weight too...who knows...anyways get it because I know my acne is going to get better from this day on
This Was Helpful

7 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 18, 2010

Pros:

Skin is 98% perfect, amazing!
I get the odd blocked pore but nothing serious.
I am me again.
Confidence 200%

Cons:

Dry
Made it worse before it got better
It only looked like it started to work in the last month and I was on it for 12 months! I thought there was no hope.
Thirsty
Sun sensitivity
Can't wax AT ALL! Skin will rip off. No joke. And if you don't heal well, it can scar.

Amazing product! Love it! Pros outweigh a year of bad skin. Now I can go out of the house without any make-up complexion is almost 100%, its even, no redness. Heaven!
This Was Helpful

Report
August 12, 2010

Pros:

-First Clear Skin in 2 Years
-Confidence
-Happiness

Cons:

-Quite emotionally draining
-Dry Lips
-Eczema
-Scared about other side effects
-Initial breakout

After suffering with bad acne for over 2 years of antibiotics, creams and home remedies, the emotional effects of acne began to take their toll. At first I was very afraid of the side effects (especially hairloss), but after 6 months of Accutane I experienced none of these "scare stories". The hair loss is extremely scary for those who suffer it- but honestly you would be shocked how many hairs you lose daily anyway- and sadly i think many people stop despite purely normal hair shedding. I very nearly did, and 6 months down the line am SO glad I carried on. You cannot put a price on clear skin- i say if your acne is bothering you- don't let anyone stop you from sorting it out. There are side-effects, but all of these are nothing compared to the side effects of acne.
This Was Helpful

23 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 7, 2010

Pros:

Clears skin very well

Cons:

Dryness of lips, skin, nose. Cuts take longer to heal

Accutane is the only thing that seems to be working for me, so I figured I would write a review about it. Accutane gets too badly represented by the internet. If antibiotics don't work for you then take accutane. My skin dried out horribly and my lips are getting worse still, but my skin is getting clearer as this happens. I am doing judo as I take accutane and my performance isn't affected by the drug. I do take glucosamine for my joints. I still have 2 more months to go and I encourage all of you guys to try accutane through a dermatologist. Stay up!
This Was Helpful

16 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 42 43 44 45 46 … 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