Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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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3
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1
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July 17, 2008

Pros:

Did a fairly decent job of clearing my skin.

Cons:

Still have slight monthly breakouts right before my period but it's not too bad. Got AWFUL rashes on the backs of my hands and down my arms.

Well, this is the third time I've been on Accutane because after finishing the treatment period my skin only remains clear for a year or two. Good medication overall, haven't experienced any bad side effects except for the rashes. For those of you who suffer from AWFUL RASHES I finally have the answer!!! =) Last time I was on Accutane I got pretty bad rashes and my dermatologist gave me precription creams and nothing worked. However, this treatment period I'm with another dermatologist who recommended an over the counter moisturizer. I thought she was nuts but I tried it anyways and I'm so glad I did. Completely got rid of all my rashes in like four days. I told my other friends who were on Accutane and had rashes and it worked for them too. Anyways, it's called.... AVEENO SKIN RELIEF MOISTURIZING LOTION. It is a godsend. Hope this helps some of you!!! =)
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July 15, 2008

Pros:

Accutane completely stopped the horrible oil and got rid of cystic acne.

Cons:

Took about five months for it to work and those five months I broke out horrible. Do have scars from those breakouts. No horrible side effects for me though

I was on 80mg a month for 6 months and I weigh 130lbs. The first couple months I broke out terribly and even in month 5 I was wondering if this was going to work for me. After I stopped taking accutane is when it started to clear for me. I had acne for about nine years off and on and my pores were SOOO clogged! Accutane cleared them out but it looked bad for awhile. Now I'm five months post accutane and I can't say I never break out. BUT the horrible cystic stuff (the stuff that caused me to not leave my house) has not returned. I am VERY glad I did this treatment and would recommend it to anyone! I was lucky and my health insurance covered it 100%, so it cost me nothing. Goodluck!
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July 12, 2008

Pros:

Cleared my skin beautifully. Once things cleared up, I was able to go out in public without makeup if I chose to.

Cons:

Incredibly drying, sunburned verrrrry easily, at one time felt dreadful while walking in the sun. WARNING: Do not under any circumstances get pregnant while taking this drug, the outcome will be tragic.

I used this product about 20 years ago for 5 months. I had very severe cystic acne from age 12 to age 23. My doctor told me it would make my skin look worse before it looked better. For the first 3 to 4 days, he was right. Then it started to clear nicely. After the treatment was finished, I enjoyed clear skin for about 5 years straight. Any breakouts that I did have (which was very infrequent)only lasted about a day instead of weeks or months.
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July 12, 2008

Pros:

will get rid of the acne after several months depending on severity

Cons:

it will scar your skin, discoloration in areas where you had acne, hair loss after 5 months, rashes on hands, exhaustion, can't concentrate on things

im really divided on accutane. i do have about 15 days left on it (6 month course), and my acne is gone mostly but it left behind TREMENDOUS damage. and when i say scars, i mean both discoloration and dents in my face. prior to taking tane i had persistent acne, mild-moderate at best. tane gave me an incredible break out with CYSTS that i never had before. i went from having moderate acne to full blown cystic severe acne..pencil eraser sized monster cysts. never before have i had that. it was embarrassing walking around in public for 3 months. yeah i cleared, but at what cost? my skin looks SO damaged. now i have shallow rolling acne scars (it looks like someone scooped collagen out of my face in spots). i'm not trying to scare anyone, but i'm just trying to warn you that it is VERY likely that tane will make your skin scar and derms downplay the risk. i thought it wouldnt happen to me since i DIDNT PICK and used expensive moisturizor.. yet here i am, discolored
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July 9, 2008

Pros:

Cures acne, make you feelamazing when you see your clear skin. side effects go away soon after ending treatment.

Cons:

DRY LIPS. some body acks, dry skin, at first i got really angry and sleeppy but it past after first month.

a doctor once told me there is no cure for acne and thats when i had to pay $150 for retna( biggest waste of time) well doc i found the cure and ist called acutane. after for long months fighting dry lips i have a clear face, best it looked in 8 years. if you can get past dry lips( chap stick works wonders) and dry face( the right lotion fixes this problem) then you can cure your acne too. pluse i only had to pay $6 per month for this.
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July 8, 2008

Pros:

my skin looks 50 percent better after two months. Hoping that by the end of the fourth month i'll have a beautiful complexion again.

Cons:

i'm pretty lucky with the dryness and stuff. umm, use burt's bees lip balm with pomegranite oil once every five minutes and you should be good. and try checking out CeraVe moisturizing lotion for a moisturizer.

i'm seriously a perfectionist with regards to my appearance, like i'm the type of person who would sit and mope around all day because i had a new pimple. so it sucked a lot when i broke out really really really bad back in january. i tried everything and finally one day my dermatologistt was jsut like "lets start accutane" so far i'm sor of happy, my face is smooth after about two months, the redness had turned to grayness mostly, i still get two or three zits every two weeks, which is lame.i'm hoping beyond hope that i won't ever get acne again. and i hope this stuff actually clears me up completely. i find that a good face wash is biore's pore unclogging scrub. for some reason it doesn't iritate my skin. i really regret not starting accutane sooner. Overall, i don't think i'll be dissapointed.
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July 6, 2008

Pros:

Makes acne better

Cons:

dry skin achey boness

Skin cleared up a lot all (not all completely gone)but only been on it 3 months i have felt depressed at times should i come of it ? what you think ?
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July 4, 2008

Pros:

Worked after 6 months. Cleared my skin for 5 months.

Cons:

Acne returned after 5 months. Dry lips and nose. Aching body.

Worked well for the time I was on it, as nothing else has worked. But as the acne returned wasn't really a point to it. Was very frustrating going through such a strong medication for little result. Furthermore, it is very toxic. However it works for some, and maybe I was one of the few it didn't work for :( I would say try it once if you are desperate, but don't go on another course if it doesn't work the firs time.
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July 2, 2008

Pros:

Improvement in my face, but not my back and shoulders.

Cons:

EXTREMELY chapped lips. TO the point where they were cracking on the sides and it hurt to open my lips or smile! Cleared up my forehead and half way down my face, but do get breakouts during my period and every 2-3 weeks.

I say, try everything once. If you have tried the rest, why not?
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June 29, 2008

Pros:

directly after coming off it my skin was great except some minor scarring

Cons:

its been 2 years and im starting to break out again in different areas... besides that the stuff increased depression and suicidal thoughts and i ended up in the emergency room

it helped alot... i shouldve gone back on it but if u have a history of depression and anxiety BE CAUTIOUS. it made me lose my ability to enjoy anything. i weighed 110 and lost 20 pounds and all i wanted to do was die. it messes with ur head.
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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