Acne.org Products
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 17, 2008
Cons:
Dry lips.
I have used it only for ten days so far and I my skin is looking much better already! Even my old deep scars seem to disappear.
November 8, 2008
Pros:
not sure yet
Cons:
mild dryness of the eyes so far.
My son just recently started taking accutane. When he developed acne at age 11, we took him right in and he was started on clindammycin gel mixed with Benzoyl peroxide gel every night. This worked beautifully for about a year then the acne came back with a vengeance and nothing would clear it up. I took him to a different dermatologist and he said that all the topical things, as well as oral antibiotics, are minimally effective because they do not stop the excessive production of sebum due to high sebaceous gland activity that some people have, especially during puberty. He said that in the 20+ years of prescribing accutane, he's never had a single patient have permanent physical side effects such as GI problems, hair thinning, visual problems, etc. As an RN, I am skeptical of the stories about permanent side effects from accutane because such effects just do not make sense considering accutane's mechanism of action related to anatomy and physiology but I am watching him closely.
November 5, 2008
Pros:
a miracle drug after years of failed treatments for very severe cystic/nodular acne and very oily skin. don't be afraid of warnings/side effects. you can go from insecure and single to getting a date with anyone in 5 months. that big of a diff.
Cons:
dry/cracked lips. dry nose/nosebleeds. always carry a good chapstick/moisturizer a saline nasal spray to keep nose lubricated. check mirror frequently for small flakes of skin on lips. be patient. will get worse first then completely clear fast.
i took 1st 20 wk. course of accutane in 97'. i took 2 40mg pills per day. severe acne was completely gone after wk. 20 and stayed pimple free until 2001. In 2001 acne slowly reappeared and then turned very bad again. Took a 2nd 20 week course of 40mg pill twice per day. Acne was completely gone again after week 20. I did not have a single blemish again until late 2007. It did not come back as severe as it did after the first course of treatment. It appears to be heading that way though as the skin has become much more oily throughout 2008. The pimples were just that, they were not the large cystic/nodular acne but still disappointing. I just began a 3rd round of accutane today. I was completely clear for 4 years after round 1 and for 6 years after round 2. I am hoping that after the next 20 weeks I will not have to worry about a single zit ever again. The years my skin was completely clear have been the best years of my life. No problems meeting women and getting dates:)
October 14, 2008
Cons:
fatigue, chronic dry, scaly skin and chapped lips, headaches, extreme photosensitivity, overall sense of feeling sick
This drug did more damage to me than anything I have ever tried. I was on it for 3 months and i became so sick with it that I couldn't function. After the bloodwork came back for the third month my doctor told me to stop taking it immediately as it had done a considerable amount of damage to my liver, which is not permanently damaged because of this f**king drug. This drug is poison, its toxic. I would not wish the suffering I endured during the three months I was on it.
October 2, 2008
Pros:
less oil production, existing spots heal faster and very few new spots, on the way to clear skin
Cons:
slightly dry lips and skin (mild flaking), no alcohol, expensive without insurance
I've only been on the treatment for just over 3 weeks and was on a very low dose of 10mg for the first two weeks and am now on a dose of 25mg. I didn't want to deal with an initial flare, so my dermatologist is slowly working me up to a full dose of 50mg. I've already noticed positive results. I used to have to blot my skin on the hour to avoid looking shiny, and now I can just forget about my skin and get on with my life. Little bumps and blackheads that I've had for months are slowly going away and all cystic acne is gone. The side effects have been very tolerable so far, but we'll see how it going when the dose increases. I tried drinking a glass of wine over the weekend and had a very negative reaction - essentially felt drunk after a few sips. It will be hard not to drink socially over the next months, but the results are completely worth it for me. I finally feel in control again.
September 29, 2008
Pros:
Most effective treatment I have used, and I have used a LOT of them.
Cons:
After a few years, the effects slowly wear off. As you age, the side effects become more severe and dangerous.
I am in my late 40's and have had acne since I was 11. I have used almost every treatment invented. They invented Accutane when I was in my early 20's and I immediately took a course. At that time, the side effects were not severe, some dry cracking lips, dry skin spots, that was about it. The effects were miraculous, no more acne! All over my body it was gone. About a year after treatment acne slowly started to return until about 8 years later, in my early 30's, I took it again. It was still effective, but this time the side effects were more severe. Joint pain, hair falling out, nosebleeds, dry eyes and the weirdest side effect of all, bleeding from under my fingernails. About 5 years later, toward the end of my 30's, I tried to take it again, but had to quit after a couple of months. Very severe, life threatening side effects, my triglycerides shot through the roof, plus all the old side effects and new ones. It works, but be CAREFUL.
August 15, 2008
Pros:
There are absolutely no pros about this medication. I kid you not. I thought that I would be one of the people who only had pros... I was wrong... and should have went with my gut instinct not to start it!
Cons:
Severe headache, dizziness, horrible stomach burn, nausea, trouble breathing, felt like something was in my throat, couldn't swallow, sore ribs, you name it... I more than likely had it.
I've had cystic acne on and off since 10th grade. I'm now currently a senior in college. I took this drug for ONLY one week and had this severe reaction to it. I have not been the same ever since. It's been 5 months since I stopped taking it. I've been trying very hard to overcome all this, the only trouble I have left is the feeling of something being in my throat, and I occasionally suffer from panic attacks.I sometimes have trouble walking around a lot. I feel like the blood is rushing to my head. This medicine is NOT worth it. I'm a nursing student and I've talked to multiple doctors who told me after I took it that it was the worst drug for your body. It does more harm than good. Please take my advice and DO NOT use it. There are other options out there available. Believe me, I've tried EVERYTHING imaginable to try and rid myself of acne. Birth control like Yaz has done wonders for me. So I do recommend the birth control at least.
July 22, 2008
Pros:
none
Cons:
MAKES IT WORSE
Gave me new cystic acne in areas i havent had before (new scars), extremely bad dry lips, to the point of scaring/ scab (healed now), Extreme depression, suicidle tendancys, am now over life and just want to die.
July 6, 2008
Pros:
EVERYTHING
Cons:
DRY LIPS.
I'VE BEEN ON IT FOR ALMOST 4 MONTHS AND I'M ALMOST CLEAR, ITS AMAZING MY ACNE WAS SO SEVERE AND ITS ALMOST GONE. AMAZING!!!!
June 24, 2008
Pros:
Definitely works - it is amazing the way it literally unclogs pores.
Cons:
Your skin will be dry and I experienced flushed cheeks, but only slight discomfort really.
Definitely worth trying. I used this five years ago and haven't had more than the odd whitehead since. I've also been taking diane-35 for the past five years and it has kept my hormonal related zittage under control.
Pros:
It really works!