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
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
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September 18, 2009

Pros:

Totaly ckeared up my skin. After atleast 10 years of acne and treatments that didnt solve the problem i tried Accutane. It became worse but after about 3 weeks and Retina and bleach for the exsisiting dark marks TRY IT!

Cons:

Dry lips

The bottem line is if you've tried every thing eles now try Accutane. Please consulta a Dr. and keep up woth your blood work. It has workes for me an i feel fine. Plesae try it, st this point youhave notthing to loose. My skin was depressing and very bad, now i get compliments and see a change. I have a new confidince because my skin is nearly "normal"
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September 14, 2009

Pros:

It cleared up my acne COMPLETELY, and worked like a miracle.

Cons:

During the session I got chapped lips, dry skin, more acne, eczema on my arms and legs.

If you've tried everything OTC and prescription, definitely try Accutane. I took it for 5 months and at first I would always break out in eczema and my acne got worse and my lips were extremely chapped but with time everything started clearing up. Now my acne (which was pretty bad) is completely gone and my face is so clear, and I'm much more happier.
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September 14, 2009

Cons:

dry lips, sun-sensitivity ( just use sunscreen if its a problem, i have rosacea on my nose but it doesnt get red w/ sunscreen.) hmmm expensive if you dont have insurance, with decent insurance i getit for 5$.

amazing. the best decision of my life. i was depressed, having suicidal thoughts, all over stress n the way i looked. i had common days where i would "rather" stay in just for the sac of not fearing who sees me. honestly, if you wake up with a new pimple / zit every day, and you feel nothing else has worked effectively enough, try it. for the first 3 weeks my skin was not great. so over the 2 week period i had unhealing cysts, but they only stayed the same til i managed to get by and THANKFULLY was able to stay on accutane. I started accutane 2 weeks before college so at first it was hard but omg now i feel alive. i didnt talk to girls, avoided to many ppl. these days im on top of the world. lets put it this way, if you have the chance to get accutane thru insurance, and have bad acne right now, SEE YOUR DERMO NOW :) trust me its unregretful, dont listen to the BS rumors. you dont deserve to be told its bad by ppl who have perfect skin , or even any skin but yours.its h
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September 10, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up my acne

Cons:

extremely chapped lips

I've had acne issues since I was 12 and I'm 30 now. I took Accutane for the first time 6 years ago and again, for a second cycle 2 years ago. NOTHING has ever cleared up my skin like Accutane. I had nodular cystic acne and I've tried everything from Differin, Retain A, and a lot of other topical medications that my derm prescribed to Proactiv, Murad, DDF, Boscia, Peter Thomas Roth, and almost everyother acne product that Sephora sells. Accutane is the best thing ever for my skin.
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September 8, 2009

Pros:

amazing!no more pimples!!(btw i had nodular cystic acne)

Cons:

dry skin,lips,nosebleeds,rashy arms,red acne scars a bit of redness

get it
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September 8, 2009

Pros:

Uhmm, cures acne for 90% of people? If you have a reason to whine about it then just give up on clearing acne, its a miracle drug. I'm on my 3rd month and my skin looks perfect. I get dry lips but if you use a chapstick you shouldnt need to whine!

Cons:

NOTHING, its perfect!

Dont listen to uneducated people, you get a blood test after a month of using it, if it comes out okay then YOU'RE FINE. Dont be a frikken hypochondriac, i was really scared because i was on the internet and found a bunch of bad opinions of it, if you're gonna be afraid and whine about taking it, dont take it and give up on life, because sometimes to get what you want you have to take risks. It has worked perfect for me so far, no noticeable side effects people could point out, it just makes my skin really sensitive to acne products, you have to find a really gentle yet effective face regimen. I'm not saying it will work perfect for everyone but if it does, your life will change!
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September 3, 2009

Pros:

Beautiful clear skin. Cleared Black heads, pimples and scars too! No more random breakouts.

Cons:

Drys out everything including the vagina. Gets worse before it gets better. Anxiety problems that come and go. But I was depressed when I had acne. Now I'm clear.

A pound of makeup, hair in my face and head in hands feeling like nothing will ever fix this. I've tried ever drug under the sun to clear this stuff up and have had the oilest skin ever. I had the body acne, deep painful jaw line zits and everything else. Accutane sucks for side effects but you get use to it. Cleared completely after 6 months. Definately worth the wait. I've wasted so much time and money with everything else. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I was only on 40mg the whole time too. Scars go away too, so stay on it. People comment on my skin all the time now. :):):):)
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August 22, 2009

Pros:

Cleared most of my acne in the first couple of weeks.
Haven't experienced any of the side affects other than the obvious dry lips everyone experiences.

Cons:

-Dry Lips
-May be too expensive for some people, but my mom's work insurance pays for all prescription drugs (%100) :D Apparently my 3 month prescription costs over $250 if I had to pay out of pocket expenses.

I'll recommend this to anyone suffering from moderate to severe acne. I was nervous to even start on this program due to the 'side effects' all written everywhere on the package and online. But I wish I hadn't because I wasted weeks of valuable time. Don't hesitate for weeks people! Take a day to take it all in, but no more than 2 days. Start on it immediately and start living an ordinary life!!!! *I am not at fault for whomever suffers from severe side effects after being enticed from reading my post.*
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August 17, 2009

Pros:

100% clear face back and chest....

Cons:

dried eyes, nose, and lips which isnt too bad.. for dried lips and nose get AQUAPHORE its better than chap stick.... minor joint pain and stomach pain... minor depression

WORTH IT!!!
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August 14, 2009

Pros:

Clearer skin and better self esteem

Cons:

Dry skin and peeling

I have suffered from acne since I was twelve. My breakouts leave ugly dark scars no matter how small the pimple. I am now 30 and I have had it! Everyone around me says i'm over reacting and that my face looks good. They have never seen the acne scars on my shoulders and back. My face is not evenly complected. I can see every little imperfection. I have been on accutane for 11 day and on Loestrin 24 for 3 months. I am telling you that I can see an improvement already. My lips are really dry, but smooth. I do worry about the possible side effects but I will not stop using til I learn otherwise.
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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