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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March 15, 2011

Pros:

+ Acne dissapears for a year or two
+ Skin becomes very flawless
+ You feel better (for a while)

Cons:

- After the first month of using it, your whole body have a major breakout. Very bad!
- After you finish using it, acne comes back (in a year or two) and generally it's worse than before
- VERY bad for your liver
- makes your whole skin very dry.
- chapped lips, elbows, knees etc.

I would NOT recommend this product at all! It the heaviest and most dangerous drug I've ever used in my life. Yes, it makes your acne go away but it comes back eventually. I don't like this. You shouldn't have to kill your liver for this. I recommend using other products...
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March 15, 2011

Pros:

Clears up skin for a while

Cons:

Acne came back
Depression
Dry Lips
Bad for Liver

I went on accutane twice in my life. Once in college and once in high school. My new dermatologist suggested that I might go on it a third time....but since my acne is more hormonal we decided on another course of treatment. I'd give it a higher rating if it got rid of my acne forever. It's one of the harshest drugs I've ever been on...so definitely don't recommend it as a first option.
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February 7, 2011

Pros:

Size of spots/cysts reduces -
However, no real improvement with first or second course

Cons:

Dry and cracked lips
Ladies be very careful - use adequate contraception

Didn't really work for me - even after starting a second course. It could work for you though - worth a try! Ladies - Even whilst using two methods of contraception I managed to get pregnant - make sure your consultant takes you blood to rule out pregnancy beforehand - mine didn't!!
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February 7, 2011

Pros:

cleared skin

Cons:

suffered very bad side affects, severe headache, sight problems, joint ache etc.

worked but not worth the side affects, i was literally bed bound from the second day of use. it took three days from stopping the treatment to return back to normal.
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September 18, 2010

Pros:

It works! Oil free, clear skin without the need to cover it up with make up!

Cons:

Aside from the typical dry skin/lips...
-Rash/Eczema on hands, arms and now legs
-Nausea and other digestive disturbances
-Pain in low back, hips and elbows
-Losing more hair than usual
-Really irritable mood!
Recently my eyes have become more red and dry. They look and feel really irritated. My liver enzymes/Cholesterol are high.

My skin looks fantastic but I am giving up after 3 months due to all the side effects. Some people feel that you can't put a price on clear skin, but I feel that you can't put a price on your health!
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July 8, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up acne for a couple weeks

Cons:

Clear skin did not last. The worst side effect was the red skin and the serious flushing that happened after being in cold/hot temperatures or stressful situations. Also experienced heightened anxiety and occasional anxiety attacks. It is very expensive (about $1000 for 60 mg) if you don't have insurance. It increased sensitivity to the sun and made my skin very fragile.

Don't expect perfection like I did, because you could be seriously disappointed. I was on accutane for 8 months- 60 mg for the first 7 months and 80 for the 8th- and it only cleared me up for the last month and two weeks after that. Then the oily skin came back, with small break outs, and then larger breakouts similar to what I experienced before. I am now back on the topicals and oral antibiotic treatments, and considering a second round of accutane. I am 23 and have had acne since age 12, which has gotten worse since i turned 21. I think accutane is worth trying because the potential benefit of clear skin is worth the costs of this intense drug. I hope it works better for you than it did for me!
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June 16, 2010

Pros:

Cleared Acne

Cons:

only cleared acne until i stopped using it
made me depressed
red skin
chapped lips
dry skin ( some spots worse than others)

I used for 7 months and after the first few months of the chapped lips and sensitive skin it worked and cleared all of my acne...until i was taken off of it and now my face has gone back to the way it was before.
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May 25, 2010

Pros:

It will clear up your acne, slowly but surely!

Cons:

-dryness everywhere (skin, eyes, hair)
-joint pain
-hair loss
-very dry lips that looked disgusting!
-long term side effects that can last your whole life

This is my opinion people. Roaccutane (accutane) is a VERY strong drug. It will definitely work to clear up your acne. But should only be taken if you have SEVERE ACNE such as cystic acne or if you have very persistent acne and your over 20 years old. the way i see it is that acne will naturally go away with age once a person leaves their teens, that is when oil level naturally reduce and so there's no point of jeopardizing your long term health for clear skin. My story is that im going to be 20 in a few months but my acne was light, as in i would (and still have) a couple red spots on my face and my skin (and hair) were very oily! they're noticeable but nothing significant. And my acne is not only on my face but on my back and scalp which is a pain!! i tried most things but then my GP here suggested roaccutane to rid me of acne everywhere once and for all. Since its free in the UK i thought why not. i did do research but then once being on it for a month i really thought its not worth it. Accuntane has both long and and short term side effects which i personally feel are not worth going through just to clear up something like acne, unless like i said before its severe or your 20+ years old. i was on accutane for one month and then noticed my hair started to become very thin which scared the sh*t outta me! Not only that but my joints were sore and im a sporty person and its summer here in London. I just hope and pray that my hair becomes thicker as it used to be! Bottom line: EVERYONE CONSIDERING ACCUTANE NEEDS TO THINK VERY HARD!! i made the rash choice because the drug was free and quickly available so i saw it as a quick fix for my acne but boy do i regret it!! If you have light or mild acne and are still in you teens then try not to sweat it people! You will grow out of it! LIFES TOO SHORT TO BE DEPRESSED OVER YOUR SKIN! SMILE AND BE HAPPY! BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY...EVERY LITTLE THING IS GONNA BE ALRIGHT! :) Hope this was hel
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May 24, 2010

Pros:

Really cleared my acne, much less oil production

Cons:

Extreme dry skin, bloody noses, cracked skin, depression, high cholesterol

Accutane was a last ditch effort to get rid of my acne while I was in college. Everything else I had tried didn't work. The accutane dried me out. I was so dry I had to put a vitamin A & E cream on my lips so I could talk without them cracking and getting bloody. I would randomly have bloody noses. My cholesterol levels jumped up 50 points, and I was moody and stressed. I only had to wash my hair once a week because I wasn't producing enough oil to get it dirty! For about six months after my skin was beautiful and flawless. No acne at all! Then it came back. Not as bad at first, but a couple years ago it got worse than it had been before. Long term the drug might have given me Lupus like symptoms. The warning label for that has now been added to the drug, but when I was taking it I had no idea it could do that. Now my joints ache all the time and my eyes have never regained their normal tear producing abilities. My cholesterol did drop back down to it's normal levels after I stopped taking it. I wouldn't recommend accutane for anyone. Too many long lasting effects and it was hell while I was taking it. Even as a last resort I would urge people to really weight the pros and cons before taking it.
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May 17, 2010

Pros:

-No more Oily skin.
-Skin feels a lot better
-Some what feel more motivated

Cons:

-Dry eyes, skin everything
-Hair thinning, hair loss
-tired all the time
- Feel like sh*t a lot
- Make you feel angry and depressed some times
- The big one is joint pain and that sucks so much.

If you have acne that wont go away then i say take this, but bottom line, the cons are worse than the pros in my mind. If you want to clear your acne without these side effects i say follow dan's regiman and you won't experience this gay sh*t. My suggestion is its all up to you, but if i could go back, i would've not of taken it.
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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