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 20, 2008

Pros:

clears skin up nicely and keeps it clear even after you stop taking the pills. If you have bad acne just take it and don't worry about being depressed and all that jazz, i was never depressed. just take it!

Cons:

Very dry skin! i got really red as well. acne came back 7 months after finished taking accutane.

It is good and powerful. It will clear you up no matter what but in a small percent of cases it comes back which sucks. If it comes back I wouldn't advice taking it again.I went 4 months without seeing much improvement the second time. IF YOU HAVE BAD ACNE MAN UP AND TAKE IT. Don't avoid the issue that it is the best treatment out there that lasts because of the idea you may get depressed and whatever. It really is nothing to be scarred of and you get blood drawn which isn't that bad.
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April 20, 2008

Pros:

I took accutane in 1986 after minocin stopped working. It cured my acne almost completely for 20 years, but it came back, mostly on my back, two years ago. I have been on minocin, but it barely controls it. I will need another accutane treatment.

Cons:

Blood work, dry lips and eyes; nosebleeds at first when dose was too high.

It cured a major problem for 20 years. For me, it was a wonder drug, despite the great unpleasantry during the treatment.
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April 19, 2008

Pros:

shrinks pores, makes skin glow, really clears it and seems to last

Cons:

takes a long time to work and makes acne worse at first. @ one pt. i as one 3 dif. meds bc it got so bad. sensitive to the sun and to porducts, your face especially can burn and hurt

great product. have to be willing to have bad skin for just a few more month though and have to be patient. I was on it for 5 months then insurance took me off for 2 month break now im back on it for 5 more months (2 to go) I am really seeing great results and im sooo happy! the most annoying part is all of the blood work and messing around with insurance and government regulations
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April 18, 2008

Pros:

clear skin, confidence!

Cons:

minor depression, dry skin, chapped lips, DECREASED SEX DRIVE, overall apathy

This is the best stuff ever, you just have to know how to handle the side effects. Ive been on it five months and im going off next month. My main downside was that i got depressed and had to break up with my girlfriend of two years because of it. It decreased my sex drive like crazy and dried my skin out but as long as you use lotion for your face and vaseline on your lips at night you wont have problems. I wish i could saty on it forever
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April 18, 2008

Pros:

It works, but it costs your body and mind more than you pay in cash.

Cons:

1. Fact: Accutane will make your acne 100% worse before it gets better. 2. Dried my face and lips. 3. Blood work. Blood work. Blood work. This medication is serious stuff. 4. Acne returned 1 year later, but no where near as bad as before Accutane.

If you call 15 cysts on your face a good day, then you should get on accutane. You have to do your blood tests as required. If the accutane itself won't make you depressed as some claim, then the massive surge in acne halfway through the treatment will. My doctor timed it so i would be out for summer vacation during the rabid peak of acne. Thank god. Unfortunately, my acne returned to a different area. The areas that had acne before accutane have not seen cysts in years. Now I am on a milder med. Stay tuned for further updates.
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April 14, 2008

Pros:

My skin is 90% clear of acne after 6 months of taking 40mg x 2 a day

Cons:

stiff joints, dry lips, dry skin and I suffered through some nose bleeds in the first 8 weeks.
Most importantly, I had the worst acne of my life for the first 4-5 weeks I went on Accutane

I knew the medicine has to be working for my skin to get worse in the first month of being on the drug. My understanding was that Accutane is bringing everything to the surface and it has. I have just stopped taking it and I hope my face stays as clear as it now is for a long time. The medicine cost me nothing because in Canada we have medicare which is free and universal.
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April 9, 2008

Pros:

By the end of 4 months, i had PERFECTLY CLEAR skin

Bonus-My hair never got greasy while i was on the medication

Cons:

Dry nose and very frequent nose bleeds, rashes on hands and legs, Depression (which i think was mostly because of my acne and not accutane), SEVERE SEVERE initial outbreak

I had moderate acne prior to going on accuatane. After a month's use i had SEVERE acne, deression, nose bleeds every single day and rashes periodically. I believe it was the initial outbreak, which was SEVERE, that caused my depression... it seemed as the day went on i kept getting more and more pimples. HOWEVER, my skin cleared up just as fast! From when i left school on friday and came back on monday my face had cleared up tremendously! each day after that my skin became clearer and clearer. by the end of 4 months i had perfectly clear and unscarred skin. The cons are AWFUL-but for all you acne sufferers-the PROS strongly outweigh the cons! i have been off accutane for 9 months now and i never ever get pimples. I HIGHLY recommend acctuane! sometimes i forget that i ever had severe acne since its so clear everyday :) PLEASE TRY ACCUTANE!
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April 5, 2008

Pros:

It is very good at cleaning up acne, and relatively quickly at that! Once you go on it your supposed to be mostly acne free for the rest of your life

Cons:

Can result in damage of kidneys, dealing with the blood test every month, opening the stupid packaging!

I am 17 years old and i was on accutane for six months. It cleared up all my acne. I have been off it for 6 months and now all of a sudden its all coming back. The most likely cause is that I lift alot of weights and that naturally causes more hormones to arise which increases the acne no matter how many times you take a shower or wash your face a day
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April 4, 2008

Pros:

Clears up your face quick
It's just a pill, not a science of face washing with all sorts of creams and such.

Cons:

Horribly chapped/dry lips.
Dried out, peeling skin on face
Very sensitive eyes. Red face. Overall skin dryness. Bones are more sensitive. Caused anger in the first two weeks of medicine.

I started with 40mg a day the first month, then went to 60mg the 2nd month; Now I am halfway through my 3rd month with 90mg a day total. Im using the Sotret accutane(offbrand) and it works just as good. I used doxycycline, tetracycline, topical creams, every type of face wash, nothing worked. Accutane cleared my forehead up instantly but I have deep acne on the sides of my face. The accutane took out the lumps after about a month and a half, but I'm at the three month period and you can still see acne on my face. It's just smoother and not as obtrusive. The main problem I have with this medicine is the sensitive eyes because no matter what eye drops I used they all didn't work and I always ended up squinting a lot or resting my eyes. My face was very red and I had white circles around my eyes. That wasn't too cool, but it will all clear up and be worth it.
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April 3, 2008

Pros:

(Suppose to) clear my acne forever!

Cons:

Drowsiness and makes me feel a little "buzzed"

I've been on the generic form of claravis 40 mgs a day for about 5 days. My skin just started to slightly get dried out (peeling). Most of the deep cysts on my face have seem to flatten and dry patches have appeared over them. I am very optimistic that this drug is going to work and I will update you as I progress! I've had a couple of my friends that went on this and their faces are as clear and smooth as a baby's bottom!
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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