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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November 30, 2006

Pros:

My face is no longer oily and i have no more zits. Since i live in canada my health insurence covered very cent! It would of cost me about $200+, if i hyad to pay that I would of!

Cons:

- very dry lips and i have super high cholesterol now :S.

100% worth it!
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November 29, 2006

Pros:

cleared me up completely 4 almost a year

Cons:

horrible being on it, face was soooo red, but i dont know if that was cuz i didnt wear enought sun cream, lips were ridiculous...so dry and flaky and nothing could stop it!

sooooooooo glad i took it! but spots starting to come back now but nothing like before but i am sooo glad i took it!
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November 25, 2006

Pros:

clear forehead, jaws... except cheeks. T_T

Cons:

Extremely dry lips, dry face. more severe breakouts during end of the first month.

there is scarring, red marks on my cheeks ever since i went to shanghai. (china is really badly polluted) i am taking 20mg per day after the heaviest meal. normally it is at night. some topical gels apply 2x daily at pimples. I just start using it for 1 and 1/2 months, so i shall not jump to the conclusion so soon. normally the procedure to cure acnes topical gel -> antibiotics -> isotretinoin
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November 25, 2006

Pros:

beautiful clear, smooth skin really fast,dont need ta wash ya hair for lyk a week as your body just dosn't produce any oil!less of an apetite= lose weight 2.

Cons:

dry lips! can literally peel them off,get sunburnt easily.rash on arms and hands but goes away,joint pain-woke up one morning and thort my foot had broken,itchy skin!dry eyes-water all time coz hurt.cracks in your nose.cost

this drug IS a miracle drug! i've had acne on chest back and face since was bout 12,now am almost 18.had tried dozy(antibiotic),the pill(estel) and made me gain 10 kg, also all the drying face washes and pimple gels...oviously didn't work.i started izotane (1 pill 4 2 weeks) and saw instant results! wud look forward to lookin in mirrow everymrnin to c how much beta it was.have been on it now for about 1 month 2 weeks and my skin is just amazing! i'm tempted to give my dermatologist a big hug next time i c him.i no longer hav to pack on the makeup! yay.everyone who needs to go on this stuff shud!its expensive for the dermo appointmnts but i wud pay mor if i had to, its that gr8!
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November 23, 2006

Pros:

My skin has never been so beautiful. I had acne for nearly 15 years before going on accutane (and had tried EVERYTHING). Accutane worked wonders and I have never felt more confident about my skin.

Cons:

I did experience some uncomfortable side effects: lower back pain, very dry eyes, the typical cracked lips, and some headaches. The medication is also quite expensive if one does not have insurance, although the generics available help alot.

Accutane is an amazing medication. I feel that have been 'cured' of my prior skin ailments (which include severe oilyness, perioral dermatitis that did not respond to ANY treatment--oral contraceptives, differin, tazorac, duac, three types of oral antibiotics, retin-a, nicomide-t gel, topical corticosteriods, azelic acid, proactive, you name it!, and constant breakouts into my mid twenties). The side effects were annoying and occasionally distressing, but i just had to remember that I was making an investment in my skin and my self esteem. Find a dermatologist that is invested in your treatment, and be informed about your decision to use accutane. You need to be able to recognize the side effects and treat them appropriately. Overall, however, it has been one of the best decisions of my life. I have *perfect* skin! I haven't had a pimple in over a year, and I've been off accutane now for 7 months.
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November 13, 2006

Pros:

While this medication did not completely eliminate my acne, my skin is significantly clearer than on any medication or other treatment. It also does not negate the effectiveness of birth control as the antibiotics I previously took did.

Cons:

There are mild side effects -- severely dry skin and chapped lips, headaches, back aches, etc.

While I did have side effects which were frustrating at times (especially the chapped lips and headaches) to me it was still well worth using this product. I have been seeing a dermatologist since my freshman year of college (almost 6 years ago) and nothing has worked. I have tried multiple antibotics, different kinds of birth control, topical creams, other medications, etc. While I still get some pimples, they are much smaller, less frequent and fewer in number than before. To me this means a world of difference. The advice I would give anyone would be to be realistic about your outcome and give the medication time. I didn't end up seeing dramatic results until a few months into my treatment. It's also important to be honest with your doctor about the side effects and your progress.
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November 3, 2006

Pros:

IT WORKS GREAT. WORKS FAST. NO OTHER PRODUCT BROUGHT FASTER RESULTS. WAS VERY SATISFIED.

Cons:

IT CAN CAUSE DEPRESSION BUT ITS A MATTER OF SELF CONTROL AND PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR SYMPTOMS will make you more suitable for the medication.it does cause mood swings but hey who cares i look beautiful and know what you need to take care of.

Its not for everybody. not every patient can deal with the drawbacks as you can see in the other ratings. respect the medication and its not a permanent one. your acne will come back in a year or so. mine did but i took the medication again for a month in a half and i was fine. its all about maintanence. Acne is a part of life is your born with it. so learn to control it and move on with you life with out the depression and dry skin for that month or two. use moisturizer!
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October 29, 2006

Pros:

clear skin! finally!

Cons:

severe dry lips, eyes and nose as well as mood swings.

I am a 28 year old female that developed persistent acne at the age of 24. I tried all conventional methods of over the counter and oral medication and finally changed dermatologists who put me on Accutane. The first three months my face was awful. It was embarrassing to even leave the house. Then week by week I noticed improvement and now I haven't had a new spot in almost 3 months. I have 10 pills left out of a 5 month treatment and my derm. tells me I have an 80% chance it won't come back so I'm hoping. If it starts to I'll be right back in her office because the end result far outweighs the side effects.
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October 25, 2006

Pros:

Cleared up my acne extremely well. took a while, but cleared skin, and made stopped it from coming back for the most part. the acne got worse during the first month of treatment, but then was suddenly much better.

Cons:

side effects, especially dry skin, chapped lips. if you don't take it regularly it will not work well. the acne gets worse for the first month of treatment.

Acutane works great when nothing else will. the side effects can be bad, make sure you have good moisturizers, and read all warnings and side effects, make sure you understand what you are getting into. it works very well
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October 19, 2006

Pros:

effective long-term/permanent

Cons:

Gets worse before it gets better because it has to 'flush' it out of your system, up to 5 months of Extremely dry and sensitive skin and very very dry and chapped lips

Very good product. I first took it when I was 16. Took it for 5 months and had very clear skin. I had been on a low dosage since I was young so the acne came back about a year and a half later. I took it again when I was 18 and was put on a dosage 3 times higher. after about 2 or 3 months I had to have it lowered do to a strong dull pain in my brain-it was then 2 times higher than the first time I had taken it. It again cleared up after the 5 months and have been clear until recently. I'm 21 and have started breaking out a little bit. Nothing like previously so I was advised to take tetracyclen 2 a day for 3 months and then will take 1 a day for a couple years until I'm either pregnant or feel that I will be fine off it. We will see. Also, Aveeno products have been really good and gentle on my skin and more effective than clean&clear and nutrogena type cleansers
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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.
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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