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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3
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1
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December 6, 2011

Pros:

Temporary clear skin

Cons:

Everything..... Results are only temporary
Causes so many problems and at the end of it your acne comes back

The more people I can stop from taking this medication the better. Acne started at around 16, took all the antibiotics, oxytetracycline, 2 types of minocycline, erythromycin, amoxicillin and lymecycline. Took these for years, nothing worked. At same time had benzoyl peroxide, zineryt, clindamycin, retin a, differin, duac. The effect of these topicals was very minor, and they caused irritation and redness. Finally referred to a derm, and was prescribed accutane 30mg for first 2 months, 60 for next 2, and the last 2 dose dependant on how well it was working. Cut a long story short, nearly all my hair fell out, the redness and flushing was unbearable, sever gastro problems, nose constantly pissing with blood, severe joint, muscle and tendon pain, lips so dry they bleed. I looked and felt this way for 6 damn months, acne didnt start clearing until month 4, acne came back after about 6 months. Not worth it. This medication damages your body beyond belief. The flushing and facial redness is much worse than spots, believe me. People, there is no cure for acne, all this crap we take either doesnt work or it makes us red and masks the spots and we think its working. I was one of the people who was on the internet every night, researching accutane, deciding whether or not to take it. I wish I had never put this poison into my body, because now i'm so messed up its unreal, all for a few spots. Spots will go away in time, just be nice to your skin and if they bother you, buy a quality concealer. Please dont take this poison; I will never be the same a
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December 3, 2011

Pros:

- Clears all acne
- Improves skin quality (Flawless/smooth skin)
- Clears oily skin

Cons:

- Severe dry lips
- Initital breakout lasted 3 months
- Takes a while to work

I'm 19 male and had acne since the age of 14. It has gradually been getting worse and worse to the point where I had severe cystic acne. The docotors tried everything to clear from anti-biotics, many drugs and tropical creams. All worked a little for a for a few weeks but no major improvements at all. Eventually I went for Isotretinion on the NHS which took around 3 months to get from my initial appointment as they have so many checks to do and big que's of people waiting to see the derms. Any how I finally got my Isotretinion in June 2011 starting with 20mg for first 30 days then upto 40mg after then. Within 7 days of taking my skin was feeling really smooth and got less oily everyday. However around the 20 day mark I gradually started getting extremely bad cystic acne to the point that around month 2-3 I had 20 big red cystic acne spots that would just not go. However as I hit month 3.5 I work up one morning and literally they were all nearly gone and from then I have been improving everyday to the point now I don't have one single spot and everyone I know is commenting saying wow you look amazing, even got myself a nice girlfriend. I would 100% recomend Isotretinion and just stick for the first 3 months of breakouts because they are defiently worth it!
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December 1, 2011

Pros:

100% clear, smooth, non-oily skin
No spots at all!

Cons:

Dry lips
A few outbreaks of eczema on hands

Background: I'm a 23 year-old male and had mild/moderate acne for about 3 years. I tried pretty much everything before Accutane, including topicals, antibiotics, and changing diet. The only thing that worked somewhat were the Tetracyclines, but I quickly grew immune to them. I had flirted with the idea of Accutane for a while but the final straw for me was when I had a big break out and my face was bleeding after shaving... I felt so unattractive and miserable that I had no choice but to cancel my date and stay home that day. That's when I decided enough was enough, and I went to the derm. I took a low dosage of 20mg a month for 3 months. Nothing much happened for these months. My skin was no longer oily but I was still breaking out. Then on month 4 I went up to 30mg and my skin started to really clear up. After 6 months I was totally clear. All in all, it worked wonderfully and the side effects were very mild! My advice would be to take a low-dosage over 6-8 months if you want to avoid the worst side-effects. And stick with it. It takes months to see results. Overall - going on Accutane was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
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November 30, 2011

Pros:

Removed All spots and now a year and a half later I'm still clear and 1 spot is now a big deal!! Cannot recommend it enough

Cons:

A few side effects
- very dry lips + skin
- mild ecsema
- some muscle pain
But how does this weigh up against perfect skin?

I was really concerned to start Accutane after reading all the side effects but my dermatologist assured me it would be ok. My skin was horrible not only on my face but my chest, back and arms. I was on 60mg a day for 6 months and the results were and still are fantastic. I did not have a breakout (thank goodness) but my face peeled like i had really bad sunburn. with some heavy duty moisturiser this was fixed quick and I noticed a difference within a week, there just werent any new spots!!! Sadly the effect didnt stay that quick the whole time and it did take the whole six months to slowly go bit by bit. Now my back and arms are literally perfect and my face has a little bit of scarring (but only i notice it :P). I know some people have a bad time but I would do it again 1000x over for the results I have now. Good luck and I hope it goes as well for you too :) xxx
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November 30, 2011

Pros:

clear skin
oil is gone
feel like I have my life back

Cons:

they are all worth it if the acne stays away...
ears ringing (gone now)
SEVERE neck pain (gone now)
severe face redness and flushing (gone now)
depression (gone now)
general joint pain (gone)

I hate accutane...and I love accutane. I am soooo glad to be finished. It was terrible!!. But sooo worth it in the end. At proper higher doses Accutane kills acne. I am 35 yrs old. I don't think it would have gone away for a long time without Accutane. I was isolating myself b/c of acne. I am post accutane 4 days and haven't washed my face with soap in a month!!! My face is totally clear...flawless!! I was on a high dosage; 160mg--2.0mg/kg. I could not afford to take a 2nd course, so I wanted to ensure 1 course was effective. I wanted to make sure my acne would not come back and also had issues absorbing the medicine. I am really hopeful that it will not return.
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November 25, 2011

Pros:

A true miracle of modern medicine.

Cons:

Although very effective for the vast majority of people, I had to cease treatment after taking my 15th pill due to a relatively rare side-effect.

I want to be clear that I'm not trying to scare anyone into not trying accutane; I think it can be a miracle cure and I know many people whose lives have been changed for the better from taking it. However, I would caution anyone trying it to be very diligent and to listen to their body for the duration of their course, and to read the literature that comes with the pills. I experienced bad stomach upset during my second week of taking accutane (40mg/day) and on the 15th day noticed a very small amount of rectal bleeding, which I would not have noticed if I wasn't looking out for it. I ceased the pill immediately and told my doctor who confirmed that this drug is not suitable for me. I have no history of colitis, crohn's or IBD and none that I know of in my family either. I should be ok because I did not take it for very long. Please be diligent, listen to your body, and best of luck!
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November 21, 2011

Pros:

Don't have to wash face every 2 hours
Gets rid of acne

Cons:

Have to moisturize all the time
Very dry lips
Monthly blood tests

I have had bad acne for 3 years. After trying all other products and fighting with my doctor to finally write me the prescription I started accutane. Started at 40mg a day for 1 month. Then 60mg a day for another month. Then 80mg a day. It took about 3 months to see any results. The initial break out came in the second month and lasted about 30 days. it was BAD! I've now been on accutane for about 6 months and am 98% clear, however I do have a lot of scaring which will have to be dealt with. I have decided to stay on the medication for 1 more month even though my doctor has told me to get off of it. "He is probably the worst doctor I have had" I don't believe anything he says. Bottom line I would recommend this product hands down. I had minimal side effects aside from dryness and its nice to look into a mirror and not be horrified with the person looking back. I will never get those 3 years of my life back but at least I can be confident going forward. If you have really oily skin go an accutane its the only thing that works. Don't let the doctor waste your time with creams and all the other crap none of it works believe me.
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November 21, 2011

Pros:

completely cleared extreme cystic acne.
Renewed the skin- no scars left from previous acne.

Cons:

Extremely dry lips

I was lucky only to experience one bad symptom from this, the extreme dry lips. But for me it has been a miracle, completely transformed my skin from horrific cystic acne the size of maltesers under the skin, to clear skin. I would definitely recommend this! I was on this for around 8 months.
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November 20, 2011

Pros:

Cleared Acne
Got rid of face oil

Cons:

Joint Pain in Knees
Stomach Aches
Adds more digestive risks to my Hirschsprungs
Dries skin
Dries lips
Causes Dandruff

It cleared my acne. The side effects that I had weren't that bad. I am used to stomach aches due to being born with Hirschsprung's disease. The dry skin went away with the humid St. Louis summer. The dry lips could be fixed by Aquaphor. I got used to the joint pain. I just couldn't run the mile at my school. However, my ensurance company decided to only pay for five months when my dermatologist recommended six... Thus, my acne returned. Not as bad as it was, but it's back... I took 80mg a day.
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November 19, 2011

Pros:

Clear skin
Dryer skin (definitely a pro if you're an oily mess)
Smoother face/back/chest

Cons:

Dry lips
Dry eyes (can't wear contacts for too long)
Dry nose (especially a con when you're fighting a cold)

I was extremely nervous to start Accutane. After reading reviews (which happened to be mostly negative), I decided most people probably don't get on here to express how happy they are when Accutane is working for them...so I decided I needed to. With all of the monthly precautions, its easy to say, Accutane can be very dangerous. For females, you are REQUIRED to be on a form of birth control. You will be required to take monthly pregnancy tests as well as Cholesterol/Liver tests every other month. If you're not prepared for the monthly lab work...don't consider this. When I first started I was the nervous "initial break-out"...thankfully, that never happened. BUT that is most likely different for everyone. Within a week my current imperfections were cleared...and my skin began to dry out. Unfortunately, the worst part about this would be the incredibly dry lips. I have bought so much chap stick it is unreal. You won't catch me without my chap stick...even when I work out. I have found that Burt's Bees (Medicated) and Aquaphor Lip Repair work wonders! I've been on Accutane for 3 months now and either I'm getting used to the chapped lips or they're not as bad as they once were. I'm so incredibly happy I started this medication. It was a long process to get started (since my doctor had me try almost everything else before Accutane). I have to answer questions through the iPledge system on a monthly basis in order to pick up my prescription...but they are pretty much common sense questions, so no big deal. Again, everyone is different...but this medication has worked wonders for my skin. No make-up, no cover-up and no being self conscious about imperfections...it's been great! My medication costs $10/month with insurance. Although, I have seen on my prescription that my insurance saved me roughly $800 for each refill I have received. Without insurance, this would be an extremely expensive 4-6 months! Great results t
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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