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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April 23, 2008

Pros:

AWESOME - worked for about a year after the end of 5 months of treatment. (But I took a five month course (then 8 months off) for 5 years total. 5 times didnt work long term...but read my bottom line...!!! There is another way to prescribe!

Cons:

my acne came back after 1 yr (A took it 5 times). Need lots of moisturizer, chapstick, and sunscreen, but it's managable. Online stuff in USA stinks. Don't get pregnant! Make sure you fill prescription on time.

I am about to go on it for the 6th time. This time I am going to take it ON for 5 months OFF for 2 months, then ON again for 5 months. This is supposed to be helpful for those with resistant cystic acne (like me). After this, I will be doing "The regimen" in combination with products including Alpha lipoic Acid (ALA) and DMAE. Both are higjly anti inflammatory. I will also use glycolic acid Products by Peter Thomas Roth and MediMorphisis exfoliating Scrub (by Cos Medicine). I also like Perricone's products and Janson Beckett. I will post my list of favorite products now... GOOD LUCK!!
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April 22, 2008

Pros:

clear skin, smaller pores, no breakouts at all

Cons:

chapped lips, dry skin, rashes, decreased sex drive, redness, sore joints

This will clear your skin up and you won't have to worry about your skin holding you back. The side effects can be relieved with Aquaphor for lips or skin, my doctor prescribed Triamcinolone for the rashes, asprin works for my joints. Also drinking more fluids can help w/ side effects. Overall, well worth it to be rid of the horrible problem of acne I had dealt w/ for 8 years!
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April 22, 2008

Pros:

My skin cleared up 100% within 3 days, (3 days!) of taking Accutane. My pores are smaller, and my scarring has gotten SO much better!

Cons:

Chapped lips like you wouldn't believe! Really dry scalp too.

I have had acne on my chest and back for 17 years, and severe acne on my face for 1 year. I didn't experience a lot of the side effects, and my acne didn't get worse when I started- my skin was flawless within 3 days of taking it. ...To help with the dryness and to help my skin regenerate, I also applied aloe and vitamin E oil to my skin at night after I showered. I wish I had taken before pictures, because I had deep pitting and scarring on my cheeks, and on one side it's not even visible anymore.
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April 21, 2008

Pros:

clearer skin, no oil,

Cons:

dry lips, face, body
rashs on hand arms and legs
bloody nose(not a lot though)

accutance works, i've used proactive, antibiotics, tazorac, all the over-the-counter products for about 5 or so years now. none of it works. ive been on accutane for about 3 months now and my skin is beginning to clear up. i have one pimple or cyst every two weeks or so instead of waking up to a new one everyday. my skin is alot less oily. there is the issue of dryness buy chapstick and lotion can help that. i didnt have an initial breakout like other people so im happy but kinda scared that it might not of happened yet. but overall try accutane if you can, if it dosent work out then simply stop. but im pretty sure it will.
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April 17, 2008

Pros:

-much clearer skin
-can go long periods with having to wash hair
- no more breakouts

Cons:

-severe dry lips and nose
-nose bleeds
-stiff joints

its def. worth it, its frustrating the first few weeks because of severe nose bleeds and dryness but its good knowing that its taking it away in the longrun. I tried literally everything without it workingat all before so this is amazing. I think its important to not get discouraged with the uncomfortable side effects because you might find out it works perfectly.
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April 15, 2008

Pros:

Beautiful skin, no longer oily, great compliments, its terrific! Ususally I would have to wash my hair everyday because I was so oily...now I can go a whole week without washing my hair!

Cons:

CHAPPED LIPS...NOSE BLEEDS..weird panic attacks, made me turn red when I was hot or nervous ( i wouldn't turn this red before medication)

I love it...I can deal with the weird side effects in order to get my perfect skin. It helped me within 2 weeks...Some people are different than others...I was one of the lucky ones! I have received compliments from my co-workers, classmates, friends, family. It's truely amazing! My sister took it before me, and my mom took it before her, I will keep reccomending it to everyone I know.
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April 14, 2008

Pros:

it cured my acne- I was one of the first to take this drug when it was approved in 1981. I had tried EVERYTHING to clear up my skin. Years of antibiotics, retin A, topical antibiotics. Nothing worked.

Cons:

Dry nose, dry eyes, chapped lips.

I would highly encourage those that have persistant, deep acne to try accutane. I consider it a cure for my acne. For years after the treatment, my skin was actually normal. About 15 years after taking it, but skin became oily again, but with no breakouts. My dauaghter is coming of "age" and before her skin gets as bad as mine was (scarring) I will put her on accutane. To me this drug was a miracle and I really can't understand all the bad press about it.
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April 13, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin of course! No more oily skin/hair.

Cons:

Took awhile for it to work on me.
Scarring.

For me it took 3 1/2 months to notice ANY results at all. By 4 months my skin was clear. It cleared up in 2 weeks. From severe acne to clear skin in 2 weeks. I was discouraged at first, due to the fact that I used it for over 3 months, and had NO results, my acne was worse than it had ever been before! It is worth it once it clears your skin though! I would not want to go out of the house when I had bad acne, really made me sad and felt depressed and lonely. Not anymore!!!! So worth it! Been on it for 4 1/2 months.
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April 10, 2008

Pros:

Clears acne up and you never have another break out again.

Cons:

Severe break during first 2 weeks then subsided, dry nose, dry lips, dry skin, muscle / bone pains.

I tried quite a few of antibiotics, which didn't seem to make my acne subside as much as I wanted, Isotretinoin is doing that for me.
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April 10, 2008

Pros:

- cleared up my skin, complexion amazing
- hair is not as greasy, can wash hair less often!
- more self confidence, less makeup

Cons:

- joint/heel pain/stiffness, not being able to go to the gym
- dry, peeling, red lips
- nasal dryness/bleeding

go for it...this is as close to a cure for acne that exists...there are some side effects...but it definitely works..i have general/annoying acne that is continuous from age 16 (I'm 25 now)...and nothing helped/worked...wasted so much time/money/grief/pain/stress over my acne...accutane took all that away...for ME the benefits totally outweight the risks.. :)
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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