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
December 16, 2008
Cons:
EVERYTHING!
I was on Accutane in college. It worked wonderfully. However, as soon as I was off of it, my acne returned. My derm put me back on a "booster" set (i took it for a month) and for a while my skin was fine. I'm now 23 and my skin is back to being horrendous. Accutane, I was told, is supposed to make it so that you never get acne again, or if you do, it's very minimal but this is NOT THE CASE. I still get cystic acne, which is both painful and embarassing. All that money spent...and not to mention the long term effects. Since Accutane dries out all the oil in your body, it harms your joints. I still have a lot of back pain when i stand too long or exercise and i attribute this to the Accutane. Overall, for a product that is supposed to be the acne "cure" (or the closest thing too it), it just didn't cut it.
November 15, 2008
Pros:
Cleared my skin up after 3 weeks, got It on the NHS cost about £25!
Cons:
Lasted nine years before returning, although not as bad as it was.
The first week of use my acne was the worse it has EVER been, but after that unbelievable.
Defo worth a try
July 21, 2008
Pros:
No more acne...so far. Compliments galor from people who never knew I had acne as well as from those who knew I did. The iPLEDGE system is VERY STRICT!!
Cons:
Chapped cracking lips. I could only use Aquaphor on my lips for 5 1/2 months. The corners of my mouth were dry and scaly. My skin was thin and prone to injury.d I had mild joint pain. Moderate hair thinning. The iPLEDGE system is VERY STRICT!!
I was put on 40mg twice a day for 5 months. I have been off the accutane for two months and I've only had one pipple the size of a pen tip which dried up on its own within 3 days. The joint pain I experienced went away in the 4th month of the regimen and I was able to excercise and lift weights without any difficulty. Today, my skin remains totally clear and I am now able to wear lipstick. My biggest concern with taking accutane were my labs. However, they remained in their pre-accutane state. Hopefully, I will remain acne free but if I don't, I will be more than willing start the treatment again.
May 20, 2008
Pros:
clear your skin when you are taken it.
Cons:
Dry eyes,lips, mucosas, back pain,anemie...
Just work when you are taking it, after all problems came back again. I tried twice and felt all bads things like dry eyes, lips, pain...
May 10, 2008
Pros:
Took 98 procent of my acne away. Completely ended the deep cystic acne.
Cons:
Dry skin etc. I am writing this review 24 years after I finished the treatment. So far there has been no long time side effect...
I truely think this is a miracle drug (of course with some side effects) for those severely suffering from acne.
February 16, 2008
Pros:
Clear smooth skin
matte complexion
Cons:
chapped lips, dry skin, no alcohol, iPLEDGE systems a pain, bloodwork every month, Doctor vists..but SO worth it.
I've only been on it for 1 month on 20 mgs and It cleared my skin up. I used retin A micro a month before I started my accutane treatment and it made my moderate acne severe. I didn't have a patch of clear skin, it was horrible. Then a month on accutane it cleared me right up and totally changed my skin from very oily to normal and matte. I'm only on 20 mgs once a day but every month I move up on the mgs. My face is totally smooth, so if this is what I get after just one month I can't even fathom what my skin will be like AFTER the treatment which is 6 months long. I HIGHLY recommend it, don't let those " suicide stories" scare you. If you take it, cetaphil cleanser and aquaphor are you best friends. If you've tried everything and didn't get results go to your derm and ask about accutane. Im only 18 but I still wish I took this sooner. This prevents scarring, but I've you've already got acne scars this medicine helps it too. Good luck with your treatment!
February 11, 2008
Pros:
I had bad acne over my back, neck and face. This med dried out my skin almost from the first tablet and got rid of the acne at the same time.
Cons:
Chapped lips ( used a lip balm which helped). I woke up one night to blow my nose and had blood all over the tissue. That only happened once thankfully!
Worth trying to see if it would help you as much as it helped me. Be wary of possible side-effects. I had to see a skin specialist to get this medication which was subsidised by the Australian Goverment
September 21, 2007
Pros:
Dries up the skin and makes it more managable. Clears up your face. Gives your face that overall clean feeling after you cleanse. NO initial breakout for me.
Cons:
Very very MINOR dryness. Slightly chapped lips.. Just used chapstick. Felt tired after taking the medication.. So take it at night after dinner. Minor headaches in the first week which I can also attribute to stress of moving into college.
Accutane works. The side affects are minor if you're on 40mg or lesser dose.. Of course side affects are dependant upon the individual.. If you've tried everything over the counter, under the counter, and all around then I recommend giving Accutane a try. After three weeks all the acne on my face has dried up and is going away. My cystic acne has been improving daily and the large mass it was three weeks ago is nearly gone completely. It is indeed the miracle drug.. Even if I need to go on another round of it I will.. Side effects are negligible. Ipledge will be your biggest problem.. Good luck!!
August 10, 2007
Pros:
None yet
Cons:
Huge Nodules all over my face.
I started medication about 2weeks ago and i can hardly see any smooth space on my face now. I'm really tempted to stop but some ex acne victims i know have encouraged me not to cos it's all coming out to get better. I honestly can not wait to see how wonderful my face would be cos i'm a naturally pretty black girl, but my acne has really oppressed me.
June 16, 2007
Pros:
Really helping my skin clear up.
Cons:
Really dry lips (elizabeth arden 8 hour cream really helps), dry skin (moisturise all over EVERY DAY), can't wax or use any scrubs. Worst is that my skin became heaps worse about 3-4 weeks into treatment.
I'm glad I have gone onto it. My skin has been difficult for years. I'm 26 and it has been a constant but mild problem. I have been on Isotane for 4 months and finally it is looking better. Don't give up on this, even if your skin gets heaps worse to begin with. It did with me and then it got HEAPS better.
Pros:
none