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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March 7, 2009

Pros:

I began having acne at 15 on my face, back and chest. It continued heavily for 8 years. I got desperate and took this medicine at 23 for six months. I'm now 35. It cleared up my skin beautifully. ResuIts have lasted. Oil production diminished

Cons:

Moisturize, moisturize. Wear zinc oxide to protect your skin from the sun. It will burn and get dry easily, but it's so worth it.

Even if your acne doesn't clear up right away, don't get discouraged. It is so worth it. At first my acne got worse for about a month. By the third month I wasn't getting any new pimples. I continued the entire treatment and have no problems with acne today. Everyone reacts differently but I had no side effects and am very pleased with the results. Thank you so much Accutane!
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March 6, 2009

Pros:

Clears skin up fast!

Cons:

Chapped lips, dry skin.

I've been on accutane now for only about 2.5 weeks, and my face has already dramatically cleared up! I take 40MG once a day. So far the only side effects I've experienced are the chapped lips and dry skin... no big deal. It's nothing a little moisturizer won't take care of. If you have any acne at all (whether severe or not), THIS IS THE DRUG TO TAKE. Don't even bother messing around with proactiv or any other over the counter treatments, those all suck. They're just a waste of money. Don't let all the side effects mentioned in other reviews scare you. My dermatologist told me that he's prescribed accutane thousands of times, and has never seen any serious problems.
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March 5, 2009

Pros:

gets rid of acne, hair is less greasy, pores smaller, and skin is so smooth!

Cons:

chapped lips

AMAZING! don't let the warnings put you off. I tried everything for years, and had to spend so much time on my face before this. any makeup and cream would make me break out! now i only wash with a gentle cleanser and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize and im good to go. seriously try it..i've been on it for about 4 months, and so many people have complimented me on my skin.
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March 3, 2009

Pros:

amazing skin! clear. small pores. smooth as a babies butt.
less anxiety about break outs. increased self esteem. all smiles

Cons:

dry lips and achy joints. easily dehydrated.
annoyed at times that you have to take it twice a day but so worth it!

i took this drug with 20 mg of prozac to help with signs of depression. it helped me so much and made the entire treatment easier for me. it was a last resort for me to take accutane i had tried everything with my doctor and my acne was increasingly getting worse over time. Beginning to scar and taking a toll on my self worth.
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February 27, 2009

Pros:

So easy versus applying creams and gels everyday. Simply take a pill twice daily and that's that!

Cons:

Don't get hung up on all the warnings. The prescribing information makes it sound like the world will stop spinning and plunge into darkness, but all it really does is give you dry lips. Buy a product called Cortibalm for dry lips.

Worked extremely well for the 6 months that I took it. Unfortunately it's been 6 months and I'm already back on Doxycyline Hyclate tablets, Differin gel, and Duac gel. However they work MUCH MUCH MUCH better than they did prior to Accutane. That's the one thing to remember! Accutane is not the be-all-end-all guaranteed "cure" from acne for life. Many people have their acne come back. But it's less severe and way less stubborn. I tried Aczone gel and it didn't really work for me. But using the Doryx, Differin, and Duac post Accutane my face has remained completely clear.
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February 27, 2009

Pros:

Clears skin, on face, back, chest and in your scalp.

Cons:

It takes like every fluid out of your body, so I was always dehydrated and dry, but moisturizers and water will help that, if you have nothing to be depressed about than you won't be. I'm not at all and my life is amazing.

Don't use any more cream treatments. Proactive is full or S*IT. this Accutane is the way to go. you will get use to the dry lips. chap stick will help that. this will dramatically change your life.
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February 27, 2009

Pros:

Completely cleans up your skin. Fantastic.

Cons:

Dry Lips, Dry Nose kind of and a Red Face for a while after the drug, but to be hones that's all I experienced... Pretty good huh?

This is worth taking... I would even recommend it to people with moderate acne...you want to catch it why its early, you don't want scarring, trust me. Its a miracle drug. It changed my life.
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February 26, 2009

Pros:

been 2 weeks and my pimples are still same old

Cons:

Dry lips ..... big deal

yah
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February 25, 2009

Pros:

got rid of acne completely. no side effects... at all

Cons:

sometimes dry lips in the beginning.

i took accutane for 5 months at the maximum dose. i am 21 and have had acne for like 5 years. the last couple years have been a little rough though. not cystic, but not healthy either. i have tried pretty much every topical and oral there is. some of them worked for a while and some didnt work at all. i got on accutane 5 months ago and have had no major side effects. i had dry lips for the first month, but after getting the carmex sticks that went away. i also got the occasional bloody nose, but that subsided too. today is my last day and i have not had a zit or anything for a couple months id say. bottom line is, go into it cautious but there really is nothing to worry about until there is something to worry about.
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February 24, 2009

Pros:

Skin is left clear, acne went away and never came back.

Cons:

dry skin, chapped lips, easier pains

Although the side effects can be horrible, after a while you get a lot of confidence because your skin becames so much clearer.
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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