Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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Side Effects

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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4
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3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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January 2, 2012

Pros:

Clear, perfect skin!!!
Eliminated blackheads
Non-oily hair
Confidence!

Cons:

Dry lips and eyes
Some inconveniences - staying out of sun, blood test, no waxing

I'm 5 months into treatment and I only wish I went on it sooner. I was terrified of trying Accutane because of the very vocal nay-sayers and vowed never to try it. I only went on after being strongly encouraged by my doctor and dermo. (Which I thought was rude of them at the time but now I'm practically kissing their feet, haha.) I actually couldn't sleep the night before I started taking it because I was so scared of the side effects, as I'm very sensitive to medications. Well, I was lucky enough to not get an initial breakout. My skin was smoother in a week and I was almost completely clear going into my 2nd month! Since then my skin has been perfectly smooth, clear and glowing. I get compliments all the time. AND, the blackheads I've had embedded on my nose since I hit puberty have vanished!!! (I'm 26.) My hair no longer gets oily hours after washing it. It feels so good to go without makeup and know I look nice. The kicker? The only side effects I've had are mild dry lips and eyes, which are easily treated with balm and drops. I'm on 20mg a day (47kg/104lbs body weight). My dermo said I could take 30mg/day but it's just as effective to stay on the low dose, which I think I might. Of course, the last hurdle will be seeing if I stay clear after treatment, but since I responded so well I'm hoping I will. The side effects have been so mild another course wouldn't break my heart anyway. All this said, I suffered with acne for over a decade and tried everything else under the sun first. Even.... urine therapy. And I did a tonne of research on accutane before going on it. Yet my advice is to take horror stories with a grain of salt - everyone's different and the only way you can know how you react to it is to try it. Someone with a bad experience is going to be a lot more vocal than someone for whom it worked and they just went on with their life. Be prepared that the drug might not be for you though and remember your health
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January 1, 2012

Pros:

better results than other prescription treatments

Cons:

expensive
had to get blood drawn every month
results were temporary

I'd tried other prescription treatments, but none of them did much for my acne. Accutane did more than they did, but the results didn't last. After taking Accutane for a year, I thought that I wouldn't have to worry about acne any more. I was wrong. Within a few years, my acne was back in full force. Conclusion: Accutane is a big pain, and it's not a permanent solution.
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December 31, 2011

Pros:

Clears you up no doubt

Cons:

sunburn
hair falls out
dry
red face
lips bleed
leaves scars

I had to do two rounds of this.. The first time my beautiful skin lasted 6 months and the second time it lasted a year. I'm breaking out again and it's because I went off of Yaz (girls do not get off of this! This was my problem both times). It did make me have fantastic skin for a while, but I will never go on this again. My face is tomato red in all my pictures and it took about 6 months AFTER getting off of it for me to start tanning again. I don't go to tanning beds, but my face was ghostly white for those 6 months no matter how much sun I got. DO NOT GO ON THIS DRUG, Try Yaz for 3 months if you're a girl, try medicines like Menocycline (I couldn't get on this because of stomach issues), and BENZOYL PEROXIDE (which I'm allergic to). Hope that helps!
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December 30, 2011

Pros:

Destroyed and Eliminated Acne Cysts
Confidence Regained
Clear skin for over a year to date

Cons:

Redness (treatable)
Dryness (treatable)
Scarring (treatable- consider dermabrasion or at home dermabraision after treatment)

Accutane for most and for me cured my acne. The pores produce sebum oils which irritates the hair folicle and causes cysts. Accutate dries the oil and trains the pores to push out impurities. Without oily pores you cant have acne... For me accutane is a wonderful, amazing drug and has kept me clear for 13 months now and I have never had a severe outbreak. I am still battling reddness and scarring but both are getting better day by day, and I have the skin I once had. For dryness buy a mosturizer that also helps the redness. Eucerin is my #1 pick. Carry chapsick with you during the course of accutane and once your done with the course I belive that you will see a difference. I hope it works for you as it di for me and good luck to all!
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December 30, 2011

Pros:

none

Cons:

makes acne worse
causes dry skin

this is the worst drug that i have ever tried to clear up my acne. Though people said that accutane takes some one month to clear up acne completely, the initial breakouts were unbearable. my breakouts were worse than before. I couldn't tolerate it anymore and stopped using accutane.
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December 26, 2011

Pros:

no pimples
redness fades
I have my life back
I feel like a normal 35 year old male now

Cons:

DURING TREATMENT:
9 months of treatment
sore back/neck
red sunglass face
no energy
moody

Accutane offers hope of clear skin when you have no other options!! It's not a drug to play around with...very serious!!..but it can work wonders. Trust your doctor but verify your treatment plan. I had obsorption issues and had to lobby my doctor to increase my dosage... I finished on 160mg/day... the highest dosage prescribed for my weight (2.0mg/kg). In the end though it worked. Currently Post accutane 4 weeks and I wash my face 1x/day with water only and sometimes I still need a slight amount of moisturizer on my forehead and cheeks. Using soap dries my face out really, really bad and turns it irritation red. But, No pimples currently and I hope it continues!! Good luck in your journey.
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December 24, 2011

Pros:

Completely eliminated acne
No redness
No cysts
No spots/yellows
No blackheads

Cons:

Really dry lips
Came back within 2 months!!!
minor joint pain

Isotretinoin was one of the best things I ever did. It got rid of my acne completely and boosted my confidence sky high. Didn't really suffer that many side-effects, but I was on the lowest dose for my bodyweight. The really bad thing was though; it came back!!! Within a month or so, it my acne came back with a bite, but at least I no longer get cysts and is now only moderate, I am back on it now, hoping to rid of it again soon!
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December 22, 2011

Pros:

Less Oil
No more shine
Smoother Complexion
Pimples starting to fade

Cons:

More redness of skin
Chapped Lips
Fatigue
Can't go in the sun

It's been 16 days now, first started off on 20mg went and saw the Dermatoligist last night she has bumped me up at 40mg. Was expecting major results but maybe that's because i wasn't on a high dose. We'll see how the 40mg goes. If it's what everyone is making it out to be then i'm just going to hold on and keep waiting for these wonderful results.
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December 16, 2011

Pros:

works brilliantly
very smooth skin

Cons:

dry lips
nose bleeds
blood tests
pregnancy tests
increased sweating

i went on roaccutane as a last resort - having pretty bad acne since 9 years old (i am now 18) and having tried everything. I tried various antibiotics, the pill, and all other treatments under the sun. I finally decided to go on Roaccutane this August and am coming off on Wednesday! have been on it for 4 months in total and it is absolutely amazing! i wish i had done it years ago. I have to say, I was worried at the beginning that it wasn't working, as it can take time to work. family and friends told me it was working straight away - but i was self critical so didnt noticed a change until a few months in. Even in this last week it has improved immensely and i am very very happy! (it did get a little worse before it got better but not hugely worse) My side effects consisted of nose bleeds - however i had them frequently before so that will be why i had lots more. I also had increased sweating (which is one of the rarest side effects) which I have to say was very embarrassing and upsetting, however my skin is amazing so was worth it! I also had dry hands and arms which went away with aftersun! And of course I had the most common side effect - dry lips for which I used 'eucerin aquaphor' which was absoutely amazing and sorted my lips out overnight like magic! - seriously recommend it. depending on the dosage each month, i paid between £25- £35 for the prescription. So in total it will have cost about £150. Best money ever spent! I would 100% recommend accutane as despite all the many side effects, it has brought an end to bad skin, and i now feel very confident and do not feel self-conscious all the time! i would truly recommend it, it is life changing.
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December 16, 2011

Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

messed my eyes up
messed my stomach up
dry skin
still bad acne

Don't take this it better to have acne then have bad health now i need to take medicine for my stomach and I still have pain sometimes. I still don't know what wrong with my eyes. Plez don't take this for the sake of your health! My problems are not big but still don't take this it better to have no problems!
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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