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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February 1, 2012

Pros:

Gave me a 6 month window of clear skin.
Made my hair less oily so I could wash it less.

Cons:

My acne came back within 6 months of finishing my course.
I have permanent side effects: sensitive skin, more migraines, joint pain (often severe).
While taking the drug I was exhausted, made my skin painfully dry, lips were bleeding/cracking.

I regret taking accutane. I seriously wanted this to be the "miracle cure" that so many people made it out to be. Originally after taking accutane I was all for it, but then all my acne has come back, PLUS I've got some bad side effects that I'll likely be stuck with forever. Research this drug extensively before you think about taking it!
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January 30, 2012

Pros:

helps temporarily

Cons:

didn't give me long term help and the side effects were extremely hard to deal with

i think this is dangerous medication the side effects aren't worth it
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January 8, 2012

Pros:

TEMPORARY clearing of acne
That's it.....

Cons:

Acne comes back
Severe facial redness and intense flushing
Gastro problems
Completely throws out your nervous system

Right, first of all I am sick of people 'recommending' accutane and awarding it 5 stars when they have only been on it for a few weeks, or in the case of the complete douche below, after the first pill. After YEARS of studying skin diseases and isotretinoin, I have discovered that 90% of positive reviews are made while the patient is still on the med, or very shortly after completing the course. The severe and life destroying effects of this poison can begin from day 1 right through to a few years after taking. I had moderate acne, which showed no improvement whatsoever after years of oral and topical antibiotics, benz-perox, retin a etc, and was prescribed accutane 30mg. After 3 DAYS, my hair began to fall out in chunks, my face turned bright red and I began flushing at the slightest thing. I am in my mid twenties and had NEVER FLUSHED in my life, never been red and I could use the harshest waxes in my thick dark hair and it never fell out. After 2 weeks on this sh*t I had to stop. Having always had an olive skin colour, I now have permanent red, blotchy, swollen flushed face. And that 2 weeks was over a year ago. I am not allergic to anything, never been ill apart from the odd mild cold in 25 years, always been fit and healthy. Im now ruined. I can no longer be around people, because as soon as the attention comes to me, even from people I have known for years I flush INTENSLY. All because this 'medication' messes up your nervous system. Its affecting my job and social life, I sit inside and dont go anywhere. Please please sit up and listen to many people on the internet as well as me. I always thought, 'it will never happen to me'. Wrong. I would take acne, which is never as bad as you think, and which can be mostly covered up with a good concealer, over this red mess anyday. I think about killing myself all the time because I cant live like this, the only reason I havent is because ive been waiting for it to go, but its clearly here to stay. Please
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December 30, 2011

Pros:

none

Cons:

makes acne worse
causes dry skin

this is the worst drug that i have ever tried to clear up my acne. Though people said that accutane takes some one month to clear up acne completely, the initial breakouts were unbearable. my breakouts were worse than before. I couldn't tolerate it anymore and stopped using accutane.
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December 16, 2011

Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

messed my eyes up
messed my stomach up
dry skin
still bad acne

Don't take this it better to have acne then have bad health now i need to take medicine for my stomach and I still have pain sometimes. I still don't know what wrong with my eyes. Plez don't take this for the sake of your health! My problems are not big but still don't take this it better to have no problems!
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December 14, 2011

Pros:

was on it for 6 and a half months None really, my skin was not oily while I was on it.

Gave it a 1 rating as could not submit my review otherwise

Cons:

Made my skin worse then ever - had cystic acne break out all over my face when I only ever got spots on my chin an a couple on my temples when I was on my period soi used to getspots which would last for about 2 weeks then clear up then start again 2 weeks later each month nothing to what happened with tablets now I have red marks and deep scars on my cheeks when used to have perfect skin on my cheeks, nose bleeds dry lips and skin on body. a few smaller spots now after being off it for 3 months

I went on this after being recommended by a dermatologist as explained that I had tried lots of different antibiotics but I still broke out in spots, mainly each month when I got my period my skin would break out on my chin mainly and I would be so conscious of it, I went on the pill but they made my headaches even worse although now I just wish I'd put up with the headaches as my skin was perfect. going on roaccutane was the worst thing I ever did my skin broke out terribly all over my face I couldn't even sleep resting on my face it was so painful, never held my head up as felt so disgusting. I never had spots like I did when I took these antibiotics and now I have ice pick scars on my cheeks and don't know what to do to try and improve them. I went back to the dermatologist a month later and he was shocked at how bad my skin had broken out, he put me on another antibiotic aswell as the roaccutane to try and calm the infection down, then two weeks later on top of all these he put me on a steroid again to try and calm the spots down, so I was then taking 9 tablets a day. I did not go out anywhere other than work which was awful for 6 months and now I just feel worse about my face than before, I really wish I'd never gone on these because now I think back my skin was not really that bad compared to what happened to it. I know everyone reacts differently, but for me I did not suffer from acne as bad as some people and had the worst effect. Everyone I know always says 'but you never had bad skin before you went on those tablets' so maybe I was just seeing it worse then it was because it was my skin, but I would take that any day over the scarring i have on my once perfect cheeks. Has anyone tried any treatment to reduce acne scars, the dermatologist has suggested dermabrasion but after his suggestion of roaccutane I don't know whether to not do anything to make my skin any worse. Has affected my self-esteem so much, even worse than before.
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December 6, 2011

Pros:

Temporary clear skin

Cons:

Everything..... Results are only temporary
Causes so many problems and at the end of it your acne comes back

The more people I can stop from taking this medication the better. Acne started at around 16, took all the antibiotics, oxytetracycline, 2 types of minocycline, erythromycin, amoxicillin and lymecycline. Took these for years, nothing worked. At same time had benzoyl peroxide, zineryt, clindamycin, retin a, differin, duac. The effect of these topicals was very minor, and they caused irritation and redness. Finally referred to a derm, and was prescribed accutane 30mg for first 2 months, 60 for next 2, and the last 2 dose dependant on how well it was working. Cut a long story short, nearly all my hair fell out, the redness and flushing was unbearable, sever gastro problems, nose constantly pissing with blood, severe joint, muscle and tendon pain, lips so dry they bleed. I looked and felt this way for 6 damn months, acne didnt start clearing until month 4, acne came back after about 6 months. Not worth it. This medication damages your body beyond belief. The flushing and facial redness is much worse than spots, believe me. People, there is no cure for acne, all this crap we take either doesnt work or it makes us red and masks the spots and we think its working. I was one of the people who was on the internet every night, researching accutane, deciding whether or not to take it. I wish I had never put this poison into my body, because now i'm so messed up its unreal, all for a few spots. Spots will go away in time, just be nice to your skin and if they bother you, buy a quality concealer. Please dont take this poison; I will never be the same a
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October 24, 2011

Pros:

- No Oily Skin
- Sort of Cleared Skin

Cons:

- Bleeding noses 2 times/ day (Even with use of creams)
- Blood tests
- cracked splitting lips ( even with Aquaphore)
- Trouble with contacts
- Dry hair, scaly patches
- Increased Cysts in amount and size
- dry bleeding patches on face
- Temporary reduction of acne, then explosion
- Scars
- Abdominal muscle cramping
- Sore joints, muscles
- 30 pound weight loss
- Stomach issues

I was on a 30 MG dose, which was causing many side effects, saw a brief improvement in skin but then caused worst acne I've ever had probably 10 times worse then when I started Accutane. Constant symptoms, unexplained weight loss, and a hugely lowered self esteem were more than enough to make me stop. Family doctor more or less told me there was nothing she could do, since I was still on a low dose of accutane with no improvement whether small or big dose- so my DR sent me to a Dermatologist. Dermatologist told me I did not react well with the Accutane and should've ended it 4 months before. Now am on Doxycycline, went months without a single pimple now with school it has come back, So I may try Minocycline or an extremely dose of Accutane under heavy supervision. Accutane works for some, but there is a very good chance it may not work/ cause unbearable symptoms.
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October 7, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne (for awhile)

Cons:

- Is not a cure, my acne came back.
- Every single part of you is dried out - skin, lips, eyes!
- Light sensitivity.
- I had depression, suicidal thoughts, this was definitely linked to taking roaccutane as it occured suddenly and stopped once I stopped taking it.

I guess everyone is different, but from my experience it is so not worth it! Living with acne (as most of you would probably agree) is not great for your self esteem anyway, but ironically the clearer my skin became with this product the worse I felt about myself, the less confidence I had, the less I wanted to even speak to anyone or be involved with anything at all. I took this at the age of 17 and it did clear my skin for some time, but at the age of 28 I am still trying to find a product that can keep my acne away : ( This was a terrible product (for me) and looking back I am just glad I survived taking it!
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September 27, 2011

Pros:

Skin did clear quickly for me no initial outbreak , skin was easier to manage and hair was less greasy too ! Made me feel good about myself that was working until.. the other side effects kicked in.

Cons:

Dry Lips
Confusion
Not knowing anything anymore
Wondering about everything !
Doubt on everything
NO CONFIDENCE!!
Panick Attacks
Crying all the time over nothing
Mood Swings
Un Social
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS even to the point of thinking how I could do it and who would miss me.
EXTREME anxiety ! not going out with friends, not going to work as to worried about getting there etc even though i have driven for years !

After going to the derm specialist and telling him i kept feeling like i was suicidal etc and depressed non stop and couldnt go out anymore he increased my dose?!!! which even i thought was stupid , i then went to my GP as i wanted help with the suicidal feelings and not being able to go out because i kept thinking the worse scenario for any everyday task which i am no way and never have been previously to taking this drug , my GP Signed me off work as i constantly had to stay busy with cleaning, over and over again etc to keep my mind busy and my job is office based in a tiny dark room making me more depressed, i have now cut the tablet down to 20 mg as i was on 30mg then increased to 40 which i refused to take and after a week on 20 ill go to 10 and stop completely , the doctors advised that the anxiety, depression etc will most likely remain so i am now attending councelling and hypnotherapy, I have always moaned about my skin which to be fair wasnt SEVERE acne but looking back im suprised the derm didnt give me more info and maybe tried anti-biotics i just agreed after all he was a specialist! now iv started coming off the pills my spots are returning but I have realised now lifes to short to worry about spots ! be you and get on with it id rather be spotty than have this horrible feeling everyday of sickness, panick, stomach pains and constant worry about everything and anything for example im now worrying about worrying !! Everything affects everyone differently but if your depressed anyway or low mood , down etc i would not reccommend i was fine bubbly happy and the most confident of all my friends now i have become the boring, safe, miserable, moody , un social friend, and my poor fiance is getting the whole backlash of my mood changes!! Just try everything else first possible !! im hoping to get a strong cream and anti-biotic to try instead !..... Seriously if you have to sign something to say you wont get pregnant etc and the i-pledge doc you know its bad
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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