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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June 21, 2007

Pros:

made my skin completely clear up

Cons:

muscle aches, dryness, chapped lips, takes awhile to work

i'd go for it if you really want your face cleared, but if you're an athlete it's harder because you can get really bad muscle pains
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June 16, 2007

Pros:

Really helping my skin clear up.

Cons:

Really dry lips (elizabeth arden 8 hour cream really helps), dry skin (moisturise all over EVERY DAY), can't wax or use any scrubs. Worst is that my skin became heaps worse about 3-4 weeks into treatment.

I'm glad I have gone onto it. My skin has been difficult for years. I'm 26 and it has been a constant but mild problem. I have been on Isotane for 4 months and finally it is looking better. Don't give up on this, even if your skin gets heaps worse to begin with. It did with me and then it got HEAPS better.
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June 12, 2007

Pros:

Cleared up my skin quickly, highly effective

Cons:

Dry lips and eyes, sore joints, some fatigue

I have had acne in one form or another since I was 15 or 16. I am now 54, yes you read that correctly. Over the years sometimes my acne is mild with one to three small pimples and other times I might have several or more of the deep cystic type. I have tried various antibiotics on and off for many years. Twenty years ago I was prescribed accutane when it first became availble. I took it for about 5 months and it worked very well. Mostly cleared everything up for about 5 years or so. It gradually came back and I was put back on oral and topical antibiotics. My doctor is now trying me on a low dosage of accutane (Claravis)and it is working very well so far. My skin is much less oily and I am not breaking out at all. I have only been on it for about one month. I'm hoping this time it will stay away for good. It's no fun having acne at any age but it is especially depressing when you are older. There are plenty of other medical problems to worry as we get older.
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June 11, 2007

Pros:

It clears (cystic) acne!!!

Cons:

A lot of TEMPORARY side effects...they may be harsh, but they're temporary.

IT WORKS!
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May 31, 2007

Pros:

Got rid of my acne completly for almost a year and now only hav a few spots that are easy to manage

Cons:

lips were so dry it was ridiculous
face went red because of the sun (but may have been my fault for not using sun cream all the time
break out at 1st although wasnt as bad as i expected

i hated being on it as it made me look worse than i already did but im sooooooo glad i did go on in as my face was completely clear for a long time and now i only have a few spots got it on the NHS too...woop
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May 28, 2007

Pros:

clears even the most severe acne

Cons:

had to go to derm. & lab corps. every month, drying and peeling, lips crackining, skin healed very slowly, not the cure for acne :( tho

i had bad/severe acne for a while but was too scared to go on accutane but by senior yr of high school..i decided i need to look good for prom & graduation...i went on accutane 7 months before prom and stopped 2 wks before prom...the results were drastic..i looked great at prom....thanx to accutane..i still had scars and red marks..but a little make up covered it up...i am off of accutane now and i can NOT say that i am acne free because occassionally i do get a few pimples here and there but its nothing compare to the face i had before accutane..
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May 28, 2007

Pros:

starting to clear my skin

Cons:

dry lips, acne flare

I would not recommend accutane to someone who wants a quick fix. Only if you have tried everything and your acne bothers you enough try accutane. The bad thing I have a severe flare during the first 4 weeks and also a skin infection that I had to take antibiotics for. But it is beginning to clear up and I am literally peeling the zits off my face.
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May 23, 2007

Pros:

has stopped big cysts from forming, less oily skin

Cons:

chapped lips, mild headaches and blurry vision at times

I'm only on my second week of Roaccutane. I have moderate acne and medium sized cysts form mostly on the right side of my jawline. Now, on my second weak of treatment I'm getting small to medium zits on places I never used to get like my chin, forehead, etc. But the cysts I use to have on my jaw are reducing in size and inflammation. I guess I'm on the stage in which you breakout out more just to get better afterwards. I'm on a small dose, 20mg / per day but do have lots of faith that Roaccutane will work for me. I don't feel my skin is that dry 'cause I use moisturizer but I do feel it less oily though. Hope Accutane works wonders for me since I've heard so many success stories and to everyone taking it, GOOD LUCK Y'ALL!
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May 18, 2007

Pros:

Leaves skin perfectly clear months after treatment is finished.
Easy to Use.

Cons:

Dry skin, chapped lips.
Acne reoccurs after about 6 months of not using the medication anymore.

I've taken Accutane twice. It worked perfectly both times and left my skin 100% clear. I went from having tons of pimples on my forehead and chin to having one every four months or so, however the acne eventually returned and was just as bad as it had been before my treatment, which is why I started it again. It has now been almost a year since the last time I started Accutane and my skin is horrible again. Accutane is great but my skin has returned to its original condition. I don't know what to do :[
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April 13, 2007

Pros:

IT WORKS. It gave me BEAUTIFUL clear skin on my face, chest and back. Only thing to ever clear up my back-acne.

Cons:

Too many to list. The biggest ones: dry, cracked, bleeding lips; and of course... the acne came back.

I was one of the UNlucky ones, I went on it for 6 months and was clear for a full year before it started coming back. So 3 years after my first round I did another 5 month round. This time it came back after just 4 months. There is also a huge time commitment involved with getting blood tests, going to doctors appts, doing the online portion and picking up the prescription. Every single month. The federal gov't wants to make it as difficult to get this as it can. If you are female and you get pregnant while on this you will have totally messed up alien babies so they REQUIRE you use TWO forms of birth control, hormonal AND barrier. If you have serious acne PLEASE talk to your doctor about going on this. It could change your 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