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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2
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1
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Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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July 24, 2011

Pros:

AMAZING skin.
Reduces scars and stretch marks while its at it.
3 days on it cleared all of the acne on my forehead.
Nosebleeds, great excuse for lateness (!), I had some all my life before the treatment, loads during and pretty much none afterwards. I think it helped stop me get them any more.

Cons:

If you still have a few spots left at the end of your course, request another month or two, I wish I had.
Dry skin, if you moisture its fine.
Dry lips, request Epaderm its a lifesaver, can also be used anywhere on your body as it is mainly meant for excema, but works wonders on sore lips.
Nosebleeds, I used to have quite a lot of them anyway, but there were a lot.

GO FOR IT! At first I looked at the list of side-affects and was like no way especially as the whole depression thing was on there and I was going through a rough time with some now ex-friends and had got a bit depressed after I came home from a weeks skiing (probably just the lack of endorphins), so I didn't want to really risk it. (While on Roaccutane I didn't get depressed at all just to clarify) So I tried the cream verion of Roaccutane and it made my face hurt, so I came back and decided to go for Roaccutane. And I wish I hadn't delayed it. I had a blood test which was ewwy (I hate them, I had two blood tests, both 12 hour fasting ones for this treatment, on the second blood test I fainted as I didn't even have any water in the 12 hours.) I went on Roaccutane and within 3 days my forehead was COMPLETELY CLEAR, granted I only had little ones there, but I didn't get any spots at all on my forehead during the treatment. Well I can't really remember if I had any "breakouts" as such probably because I was so psyched about my forehead. I probably had a few, but they didn't seem different to the amount of spots I had before the treatment. I think my treatment lasted 8 months and I only had a couple of spots here and there and I was offered another appointment to get another month or two on it, but didn't get my mum to arrange one. I wish I had because you're supposed to stop when you have completely clear skin for about a month and about 6 months later a couple started to creep back and another month they were bad enough for me to try and wheedle an appointment. I was then prescribed a cream which didn't work. I came back a few months and got another cream (Differin, the same cream that I had while I was worried about the side affects of Roaccutane, it is supposed to be "the cream version of Roaccutane" as it contains the same active ingredient, made my face go all tight and itchy, horrible) and then 3 months lat
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July 22, 2011

Pros:

clear skin
no oily skin
no blackheads
do not need to wear make up
flawless skin

Cons:

chapped lips
dry eyes

this is worth it for anyone who suffers from really bad acne. the only thing is that your acne may return after you stopped the course. my acne returned again but not as bad. it's a gamble to see if your acne will return but it is definately worth it.
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July 16, 2011

Pros:

It pretty much will work no matter what

Cons:

Too many side effects

This pretty much is a last resort drug if nothing else works. It works wonderful. But I get back pains, chapped lips, and joint pains. But after a while I get used to it. I do reccomend this who has tried everything.
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July 15, 2011

Pros:

CLEAR SKIN

Cons:

Dry Skin
Achy muscles
Side effects
Have to take it at the same time everyday
Chapped lips
Stomach aches if you don't eat before taking it
Acne gets worse BEFORE it gets better

Honestly, I had no hope of ever having clear skin. Since the age I hit puberty, my skin has haunted me everyday, and every time I looked in the mirror. Others have had worse, I knew, but somehow it still managed to frustrate me and be a constant bother in my everyday life. So, when my dermatologist said there is something that could make a difference, something that even offered the POSSIBILITY of CURING my acne - I leaped at the chance. This was only before she read of the list of serious and common side effects, before I researched the product online, and before I read the horror stories online of others. My cousins, who had taken it, pushed me to try it, but I really don't know what changed my mind. All I know is I tried accutane and I am SO HAPPY I did. My acne did get worse, and I did have to up my dosage. My skin did get PAINFULLY DRY, and my lips are chapped all of the time. But I use lotion daily and I carry chapstick where ever I go, and my skin hasn't been this clear in more than 5 years. I've been on accutane for 3 1/2 months and I don't regret it at all. If you have NO POSSIBILITY OF GETTING PREGNANT, and you are willing to work with your doctor and be conscience of side effects - This medicine gave me my skin back and gave me hope that I could one day look at my reflection without being distracted by acne.
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July 14, 2011

Pros:

-Completely cleared up Acne
-Super new found confidence

Cons:

-Seriously dry lips
-Does flare up at first
-Dermal fragility (Get cuts quite easily)
-Easily sunburned (If you don't use sun cream)
-Dry skin
-Some Residual redness but is clearing

After trying everything from commercial products such as Proactiv, Clearasil Etc to medical prescriptions such as minocycline i had severe acne covering my face and some on my back. I was on 40mg Roaccutane for a little more than one year and in the first three months my face had flare ups and i didn't think it would work then slowly but surely it did begin to gradually clear up until about 5 months later it was virtually gone. i have been off for one month now and so acne what so ever has appeared. Tips: -Get your dermatologist to inject your Cysts with a steroid called Cortisone each time you visit in combination with Accutane/Roaccutane. -Avoid using products with Benzyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid or labled antibacterial as it irritates the skin and switch to a gentle product such as Cetaphil. -Check lables on all products for Non-comedogenic. -If you can handle it ask you Dermatologist to extend your treatment for a few more months because your success rates will increase.
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July 13, 2011

Pros:

1. my somewhat sever, very painful cystic acne completely stopped
2. my blackheads, mostly on my nose, completely dried up and the pores were invisible after
3. all of the pores on my face shrunk
4. most of my previous scars started to heal and disappear
5. cleared up my back acne for good
6. the acne hasn't come back, aside from small black heads on my nose, and its been four years

Cons:

1. drying out of my skin and hair
2. my hair started to fall out a bit more than normal
3. hallucinations

If you can get a dermatologist to approve it, do it. It was the best thing I ever did for myself after growing up with terrible skin. It was about three months of waiting, I wasn't sure how much better it would get and how bad the side effects would be. It paid off. A bit of dry skin for a little while is worth years of great skin! Just use Aquaphor on your lips, and drink lots of water and use a good lotion. After treatment I went on a strict routine with Proactiv and have not had any outbreaks.
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July 12, 2011

Pros:

Perfectly clear soft skin whilst I was taking it
Cleared up my keratosis pilaris for a year

Cons:

Severe joint pain
Constant nosebleeds
Dandruff
Headaches
Scarring
Bleeding, crusted over lips
Dry eyes
Lowered immune system leading to various infections
Bruised easily and wounds took a long time to heal
Worsening of depression

Ah, where do I even start? This was really a last resort for me, after trying every topical lotion and potion, and every oral antiobiotic my derm could prescribe. Sadly it just didn't work for me. Actually, that's a lie; It did it's just job of clearing up acne wonderfully, it just came at a really painful cost both physically and mentally. I have no idea whether a full course would have permanently cleared my acne because my derm took me off it after 6 months due to the way my body reacted to it. Now even a year after I stopped taking it many of the negative side effects have persisted, whereas any positives have long since disappeared. I don't mean to scare anyone away from taking the drug because I know it works wonderfully for some people, but just make sure you really think it through first because there's no way to predict how your body will respond!
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July 10, 2011

Pros:

Clear skin that looks healthier
Confidence
Skin can breathe without having to wear makeup

Cons:

Extreme sensitivity to sunlight/UV lights
Chapped, burning lips
Dry, itchy skin (can improve depending on dose)
Dry, itchy eyes (basically every hole on your body can become dry and chapped... yes your bottom parts too!)
Appetite change

Bottom line, IT WORKS. The pro's defiantly out way the cons. I began suffering with acne starting at 18. It all began when I started to work at Hooters (being exposed to an open kitchen around grease and buffalo sauce was not the best thing to eat nor be around 6 days a week) Once my acne came it never stopped. Antibiotics, expensive make up, expensive face wash (obagi, proactive, aveno etc) never did a thing. Creams (retina, tazerac, diffren etc.) did nothing. Chemical peels, microdermabraison etc barely helped. Finally, 4 years later I decided to give Accutane a try (isotretinoin). I am 5 foot 3 inches 115 lbs and my derm originally put me on 40mg once a day for 5 months which was about $240 a month. On my 6th month (which I am finishing up now) she increased my dose to 60mg once a day, that doubled the cost to $580. I have very good health insurance so I am unsure as to why it is pricey. All of my acne is completely GONE! I am only left with some scarring (my scarring is basically like red freckles) my face is completely smooth with zero pimples/ white and black heads. My derm said the scarring is the longest thing to get rid of and it will go away with time even after the medication cycle is complete. The things I suffered with was decrease in appetite, sunburns EXTREMELY easy, dry/itchy skin, weekly nose bleeds, peeling and cracking of the lips (ask to be prescribed to Cutivate... works wonders!) dry eyes, head aches if medication is taken on empty stomach, emotional sensitivity (cry spells mainly over sad movies, touching stories etc.) Joint pain (I also flipped my car with no seat belt 3 months prior to starting Accutane so my wreck can contribute to the pain) and dry mouth. Dry skin can be solved by baby oil baths and lots of water and fragrance free lotions/soaps. I find purpose facewash has been the most gentle face wash, its great! I truly do recommend this medication!!! EVERY side affect can be treated!! But Accutane is what will treat your acne! Do it
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July 9, 2011

Pros:

after my total treatment with accutane, my skin was clear. I didn't have any pimples for about a year or two.

Cons:

I've since started to break out almost as much as before accutane

I started the treatment when i was 19. I was on it for about 4-6months. My acne had seemed to be gone. After about 2yrs. my acne came back! Now I'm a 26yr old who looks like their 16. Nothing seems to work. The doctors wanted to put me back on accutane recently..... I just don't think it is ultimately worth your health. Read over all the side effects very carefully and decide if it's worth possible liver failure, etc. and then have your acne come back!
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July 8, 2011

Pros:

-cleared acne completely!
-eliminated face oil

Cons:

-severe scarring on the face
-back pain
-depression
-chest pain
-red face
-developed eczema
-sensitive skin
-dry lips

I suffered severe acne on both my chest and back--to the point where keloid scars developed. Although I suffered with acne on my face, it was never severe. Accutane definitely cleared up my acne (i was put on the highest dose for my weight), but 5 months later, acne began reappearing on my face...and worse than ever. My skin was so much thinner that every pimple left a scar--I am now plagued with indented scars on my entire face, whereas I never scarred before accutane. I regret going on accutane; results were only temporary and there were more negatives than positives.
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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