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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September 20, 2008

Pros:

Less oily and clear skin.

Cons:

Dry lips, cracked mouth, nose bleeds, achey joints/muscles, some tiredness.

I have suffered from acne for 13 years on my face, chest and back and had tried literally everything for it with no success. I finally went on isotretinoin and took it for five months and can say that skin wise they have been the best five months i have had in the last 13 years. My skin was never so clear, of course i got the odd couple of spots but not nearly as many or as severe. I did suffer from dry lips and the sides of my mouth cracked a few times which was painful. I also experienced nose bleeds, and the last couple of months more tiredness than normal and from time to time my joints ached but could be due to the fact that i am very active and didnt cut back. I didnt have any pyschological effects, infact i dont think ive been happier! However...i have been off it for nearly two months now and i noticed a change about a week after coming of the drug, eg. more pimples, oiler skin however not nearly as bad as it was before. I love this stuff!!!
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September 16, 2008

Pros:

CLEAR SKIN! It honestly works wonders.

Cons:

cost (but its worth every penny when your skin clears), VERY dry lips and skin

I would reccommend this to anyone who has tried everything from topicals to antibiotics and still has persistant acne. Its not the most pleasant medication to be on, the first three months were a rolllercoaster (the initial breakout period) but once that clears, its smooth sailing. I didn't experience any pains /mood swings/ depression. I used TONS of carmex on my lips and i was still able to wear my contacts daily (they would sometimes get irritated at night if i would wear them all day but using ClearEyes with redness relief did the trick). Clear skin can truly boost your confidence so much. Not having to hide behide my hair and being able to wear a tank top without worrying about what people are thinking about my back and chest is truly priceless. BOTTOM LINE... if you are ready to get rid of acne for good, struggle through the beginning and you'll be so happy!
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September 12, 2008

Pros:

Been on it for 1 month so far and haven't had any major breakouts. My skin looks 100x better, it doesn't get oily and my pores shrunk. Aside from all of the "depressesion side effects"..those are wrong..Ive never been so happy (30mg) 2x a day

Cons:

Dry Lips. I go through a chapstick a week. Other than that everything seems normal, but then agian it's only been a month. The only drawbacks are taking blood once a month, and the way the pills are packaged

DEFINITELY GO ON THIS MEDICATION if you have bad acne. My body acne is 100% perfect and just taking this medication with positive thoughts makes you so happy and confident. Trust me, I read 500million reviews and was extremely nervous to try the pill considering all the terrible side effects. I am an extremely nervous person, but this drug so far seems harmless to my body. I smoke weed occasionally and take adderall sometimes and drink sometimes and even then, I act and feel normal. This medication is highly recommended.
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September 9, 2008

Pros:

This is the only thing that has worked since I became immune to minocycline! Inexpensive since I was given a prescription for the generic (Sotret) and have a low copay for generics.

Cons:

Very dry lips- I think I used more chapstick during the five months on the medicine than the entire 27 years prior put together. Headaches (at least once a week). Felt some moderate fatigue at the highest dose (60 mg/day). Dry/bloodshot eyes.

If you're willing to put up with some fairly minor side effects, this treatment is definitely worth a try. I had dry lips and eyes for five months, but it was totally worth it for me. I haven't ever gotten compliments on my skin until now, and it really does wonders for self-esteem after having years of acne problems. Stock up on chapstick and eye drops (Visine Tears are great!) and you'll be fine :)
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September 6, 2008

Pros:

Clears skin pretty quick

Cons:

Dry lips, Diarrhea, Headaches, Mild Depression

Just about done my first month and I'm already seeing major improvement. It takes a while for it to start working but it's well worth it if you're patient.
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August 27, 2008

Pros:

Good if you have health insurance, Clears up nodular acne, dries out blackheads

Cons:

Not a permanent cure, Gets worse before it gets better

I have always had light acne with blackheads and a rare cyst every now and then, since about 12. At 18 my face exploded in cystic-nodular acne (it's genetic in my case). I, for some strange reason, avoided seeing a derm even though I had health insurance for a year. Because of this I have scarring. As soon as my derm saw me she wrote me a script for Accutane. It definitely got worse before it got better. I loved how all my blackheads practically committed suicide and fell out of my face. I wasn't totally cured, but after treatment I would only get a couple before my period. Still have to use makeup because of scarring, but people actually compliment me on my skin now. I was looking this up because my acne is back (6 years later) and am considering using it again. Hair loss.... Now I'm totally petrified!!!!!!!!!!
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August 16, 2008

Pros:

Slowly and steadily clearing Acne (1 week in) :) Any spots i do get dry up and essentially fall off :s Free on prescription (under 18!)

Cons:

Red Face, Dry Peeling Skin, Dry Lips

Working so far!
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August 5, 2008

Pros:

skin improved first month of using it, but i do get zits and acne but no more than 10 zits within the first month. very very happy with the result.

Cons:

chapped and split lips (solve with chapstick), dry nose (solved with nasal gel), occasional dry eyes (solved with eye drops). itchy dry scalp (solved with using moisturizing shampoo made for dry hair).

my skin is definitely not oily anymore, but also not dry enough to the point it sheds. it is quite a scary sight when my blackheads automatically ejects itself from the skin, leaving a disgustingly huge pore. my dermatologist has increased my dosage, and going into the 2nd month i hope things will only get better. my hair is doing fine, and i wish to keep it this way, just because its so nice and thick and shiny and beautiful :D no other side effects really, im as happy as ever.
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August 5, 2008

Pros:

- has taken away all the oil from my face
-generally zit free now

Cons:

-cant tan in the middle of summer cuz i just burn :(
-kinda chapped lips, not as bad as people say
- depression isn't that bad, it's bearable and generally only happens when you are alone or at night

I've been on accutane for about 3 months, i have 2 mothns left to go, and so far its pretty good. I occasionally get a zit or 2 but they usually arent that big, and i dont have an oily face anymore which is good I'd recommend it, it seems good so far and i can only pray that i never get acne again, and so far as for bad side effects, all of them are bearable you just have to suck it up think about it , acne=depressing, ruins social life, etc effects of accutane=no ance, so cancel all the stuff up there yea u get my point so the benefits far outweight the negatives, just forget about the bad side effects and you wont even realize them trust me Good luck, i recomend
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July 21, 2008

Pros:

No more acne...so far. Compliments galor from people who never knew I had acne as well as from those who knew I did. The iPLEDGE system is VERY STRICT!!

Cons:

Chapped cracking lips. I could only use Aquaphor on my lips for 5 1/2 months. The corners of my mouth were dry and scaly. My skin was thin and prone to injury.d I had mild joint pain. Moderate hair thinning. The iPLEDGE system is VERY STRICT!!

I was put on 40mg twice a day for 5 months. I have been off the accutane for two months and I've only had one pipple the size of a pen tip which dried up on its own within 3 days. The joint pain I experienced went away in the 4th month of the regimen and I was able to excercise and lift weights without any difficulty. Today, my skin remains totally clear and I am now able to wear lipstick. My biggest concern with taking accutane were my labs. However, they remained in their pre-accutane state. Hopefully, I will remain acne free but if I don't, I will be more than willing start the treatment again.
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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