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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April 12, 2010

Pros:

-Perfect Skin
-Huge confidence
-No worries of acne
-Works FASST
-Dryness combated EASILY with AHA
-Dry lips sorted with LIP MEDEX (Blistex)

Cons:

-Start to realise acne wasn't only bad thing in your life

-A bit of depression, can be avoided by not watching sitcom marathons (eg. Waa I wish my life was as great as theirs, etc)

-Blood tests

Amazing treatment! I went to my dermatologist and got some (if you don't have a derm, go find one, they are great) The blood tests were unbearable, nothing worse in my life! (I hate needles) Very fast (within a week) people said my skin looked better. I was just waiting for the flare up.. But it never came. I got some insomnia, but stopped the treatment for a month, in which tiny bits of acne came back, and like 2 days after restarting, my acne is gone :) Still got 3 months left of my 6 month course too! Bloody fantastic medication, it has changed my life! Keep hydrated, and take an iron supplement! The last few days I watched over 100 episodes of a tv show, over 4 days. It has got me a little depressed, wondering what life'll turn out to be like, and hoping I am as happy as they look. Accutane can DEFINITELY cause suicide, so just be happy as much as you can, and don't, I repeat, don't watch too much real-life based tv, try to stick to things like family guy and south park. LOVE Accutane, just be careful and enjoy your new skin!
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April 10, 2010

Pros:

Clear skin (obvious), confidence.

Cons:

Chapped Lips, dry eyes, dry naval passage, eczema, dry skin all over, depression, ANNOYANCE.

This is my fourth month on accutane. I am going to start by saying I am writing this review because I feel compelled to give feedback. During my worst times on accutane, I would continually check this forum for support. It would help me think about the future, as opposed to the terrible acne on my face. Accutane has changed my life. After my second month, the drug started to work. It completely cleared my acne and I had only a few tiny zits since then. But, that does not mean it was an easy ride. There are a few things that I had to compensate in my normal daily routine. The first - the capped lips. I used a few different products, but the fist I would recommend is Dr. Dan's Corti Balm. This chapstick is like no other. It is designed for people on accutane, and works like a charm. It repairs split corners too. The second is the eye drops. My eyes got SOOO dry. It is soo annoying, I know. But the best drops I found to work were GenTeal eye drops. The Moderate/Severe ones seemed to work the best. This may not be common, but I had a very hard time with my nose getting very dry. My nostrils would get very dry and on some occasions would bleed. When I remembered, I would use Cortizone, a cream that I used for the eczema on my arms, in my nose. I would simply swab a q tip with Cortizone, and wipe it around my nose. It would help so much. Again, I am writing here because I know how it feels to be on this drug, and it is miserable. But if you are sick of having sh*t-confidence, then it is very worth the side-effects. I did experience a little depression, but it is no worse then the depression that I felt looking at myself everyday, day after day with acne. Just dont worry. I cant stess this enough. You WILL get through this. Just wait for two or three months, use the products described above, and you will be fine. GOOD LUCK!
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April 9, 2010

Pros:

It works. Cleared my severe acne in 1-2 months.

Cons:

Slightly dry lips, dry hands, dry hair but that's all! I have had VERY few side effects. Amazing medication. The only thing that works for me.

Take Accutane seriously but it's truly worth a shot.
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April 2, 2010

Pros:

-Clears up all acne in a couple months

Cons:

-dry skin
-getting blood tests

It has been about 4 years since I used Accutane and I have only had about 2 small pimples since then! Accutane cleared up everything. It is the only thing that really works for bad acne. I never had any of the serious side effects that everyone talks about. I just wished that I used it sooner because Im left with the marks and scars from having acne all those years and they will never go away unless I have expensive surgery and I will never be able to grow facial hair. So if you are thinking of going on this stuff dont wait like I did!!!
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April 1, 2010

Pros:

-completely cured skin
-hair never got greasy
-cleared other skin problems, like bumps from shaving my legs and a rash i had on my shoulders
-cheap with insurance

Cons:

-joint pain
-dry lips
-dry eyes
-monthly blood tests

Accutane is a serious drug and isn't for everyone, but it was a miracle for me. My joints ached like crazy on somedays and it was hard to move around but it was 100 percent worth it and I would do it again in a heart beat. I wear contacts and I had to buy glasses because my eyes got so dry I couldn't wear my contacts longer than ten hours without getting headaches. My skin did NOT dry out but my lips did, but that didn't really bother me. Blood tests were a pain because you have to go early in the morning since you have to fast. I never had any problems caused by accutane. I highly recommend this if you have tried other medications. I have tried everything else and this was the only thing that comletely cured me. There is no better feeling and any side effect I got was outweighed by the tremendous results. I took accutane for six months. It took about one month to stop breaking out and four more months for all of the old stuff to heal.
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March 29, 2010

Pros:

Perfect skin
No more oily spots on my face
No more break outs

Cons:

Dry lips
Some tiredness... not bad
Itchy scalp and skin
Bloody nose the first month
Expensive

This has been amazing for me. This is my second round. I'm 30 years old and my first round was 10 years ago. I was completely clear for 10 years up until about 6 months ago when I started breaking out again. I'm doing the same plan that I did 10 years ago which is 40mg everyday for 3 months. So far I'm completely clear and it's month two...loving the results. This is worth giving it a try at least once if you have not yet. It works!! Side effects seem to be different for everybody, so keep that in mind as well.
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March 25, 2010

Pros:

no more oily skin and hair! cleared spots within first week of treatment

Cons:

dry lips (blistex intensive moisture is brilliant!!). dry skin on arms. flaking skin on face - especially around mouth/chin. dry eyes with blurry vision - blink a few times and it sorts it out.

I'm 32yrs and have suffered acne on and off with varying degrees of intencity for 15yrs. As with everyone, I was worried about taking this treatment but my derm department at the hospital (Exeter) were fantastic. Everything was explained making the whole course easy and reassuring - even doing a depression/anxiety check each month along with bloods and preg. tests. So, with my concerns in mind, they started me on 20mg for the first week, 40mg the second week with the rest of the course at 60mg a day. I saw results within the first week. I've now got 1 week left and I've not had a single spot since the beginning - fingers crossed they won't make too much of a return! Please try this treatment if acne is making you low. Talk to your derm if side effects are too much, they should amend your dosage accordingly or advise the best way to continue. I'm pleased with the results I've seen, I hope it works as well for you - good luck!
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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
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March 12, 2010

Pros:

Skin cleared in about 5 months and no longer oily.

Cons:

Very dry skin in the mornings, had to put on a lot of lotion. Difficult to get a prescription.

Does what it's supposed to and cleared my skin completely.
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March 5, 2010

Pros:

clear skin, loss of painful cystic acne, confidence

Cons:

dry skin, flaking around mouth, headaches, loss of energy

Despite the dry lips and flaking around the mouth, If you want clear skin you have to suck it up. I don't regret taking accutane at all and really recommend it for those of you out there that are sick and tired of eating healthy foods, taking immaculate care of your skin, and exercising for your skin, and not getting any results in return. It changed my life.
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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