Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Results
Side Effects

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.

 [more]
3.9
2787
Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
33.4%
3
15.6%
2
7.4%
1
6.6%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
August 14, 2013
Really helps but take as a last resort

Pros:

Lasting clear skin

Cons:

dries lips out
multiple blood tests
expensive if you don't have good insurance

Accutane is for people with severe acne that have tried everything else including other oral and topical prescribed medications. I did not have a lot of acne but I would get nodular cists under the skin on my face, which were very painful and couldn't be popped. I tried every medication but I still kept getting them. Accutane was the only thing that got rid of them and I have only had one or two since I stopped the medicine 5 years ago. I loved taking the medicine because my face was NEVER oily like it always was, even today. This medicine is a pain though because it dries your lips out severly. At my local drug store I found a chapstick called "Dr. Dan's" and it was the ONLY thing that worked to quench the thirst of my lips and keep them from cracking. It tasted awful but I couldn't live without it. Accutane is also a pain because you have to get a lot of blood work done so they can make sure your body is staying normal, and females also have to take a pregnancy test every time before you getting a new prescription as well as take an online quiz about pregnancy prevention before you can fill it. Also the medicine can have side effects that make people depressed or have bad thoughts, but that never happened to me, not even a little bit! It must do that to people with low self-esteem or who already aren't the happiest in life. I also am a very active and competitive horseback rider, which is really hard on your leg and shoulder joints, but I had no joint pain at all which is another possible side effect.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 27, 2013
Tolerable, but beneficial!

Pros:

Clear/Clearing Skin
Non-Oily Hair

Cons:

Slightly achy joints/back
Dry Eyes/Lips
Tired

Overall, I feel its a great medicine with annoying but tolerable side effects. I think if you listen to your dermatologist, and avoid the scary horror stories online (it tends to psych you out) If you can deal with the dryness, chapped lips, etc.. You're golden.. And honestly, if you can't tell your derm if your side effects are too much, you may need another doctor.. They should listen to how you're dealing with the medicine. Good luck!!
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
July 10, 2013
Hairloss = worth it?

Pros:

Cleared skin
Got rid of oil
Don't have to wash hair everyday.

Cons:

Hairloss
Dry lips
Moody

After taking Accutane for just 3 weeks my hair began to rapidly recede; if I wasn't completely obssessed with my image it wouldn't have been a big thing haha!
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
June 11, 2013
It does work, although...

Pros:

Clear skin!!! No more cysts

Cons:

Dry skin, eyes, lips and achy joints
Initial breakout
Hormonal acne will return

I used accutane back in 2010 for five months. Completely got rid of my cystic acne and oily skin. I was clear until January of this year (2013). However, the acne I have now is mild and hormonal. Accutane is meant for cystic acne and oily skin, and it cured me of that, so although I have hormonal zits now, it did its job, and I'm happy everyday that I took the plunge. The only major side effects I had were dry EVERYTHING and achy joints. Oh, and some weird dreams.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
June 3, 2013
Just do it.
I spent years researching Accutane. At the point the decision was bothering me way more than the acne, I finally decided to take the plunge, age 24. Clearly everyone reacts differently. You won't know how your body will deal with it until you give it a go. I stopped after two weeks due to severely dry eyes. I mean seriously dry. I couldn't see and sometimes went whole nights without sleeping because the pain was so bad, and no products helped. Doctor said this was very rare, especially on my low dose of 20mg. But I don't regret it for a second. At this point, two months after stopping, my skin is mildly dryer, and my eyes are still pretty irritated in the mornings and evenings. But now that I know I will never touch the stuff again, I feel free. Now that my last resort has failed, I have accepted that I will have to get on with my life without perfect skin. So while this isn't an 'Accutane was the best decision I ever made' post, it's not a horror story. Give it a go.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 3, 2013

Pros:

Skin is MUCH less oily
Very few breakouts (1/month)
Haven't had this much self-confidence for a long time

Cons:

Extremely sensitive skin (while on the drug)
Pain in joints when doing explosive work (i.e. not warming up before sports)
VERY dry lips

So, I'm a male, 17 years of age, weigh about 67 kg and am about 1.80m. Since the age of about 15, I started getting acne. At the start it was never too severe, a few white heads every week, but blackheads all over. I went from dermatologist to dermatologist, trying over 20 products and spending an insanely large amount of money. Nothing worked. Finally, I got to a dermatologist who said they would put me on accutane, my course dosage was: Month 1: 20mg Month 2: 40mg Month 3: 60mg Month 4: 60mg Month 5: 60mg Month 6: 60mg During the course, my outbreaks were hideous. I had huge cysts all over my face, a new white head on a daily basis, and the black heads remained. Now, 4 months off the course, I get a white head every month or so, and no more cysts (thank god & accutane!). The side effects (shown below) were definitely annoying, but they're a price to pay for such perfect results.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 28, 2013

Pros:

Skin not oily
Clears skin well
Makes it soft
Makes it smooth
Self confidence back

Cons:

Severely dry lips
Joint pain
Dry skin
Cold sores
Dry nose
Dry eyes
Completely dries u out
Still having breakouts in 5th month

I've only been taking this product for almost five months. It started clearing me up pretty fast,but still had breakouts throughout, mostly during cycle. I'm not sure y I'm having breakouts still, I am currently havin one, and I'm in my 5th month. It is a good product. And it does clear u up well. I'm just still breaking out. It still breaking out by the time I go back to Docter I'm a ask her for another month. It does work tho, gonna write another review when I finish this month.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 14, 2013

Pros:

completely got rid of acne
long-lasting
don't need other products at the same time

Cons:

elevated liver triglycerides and stomach pain
gets worse for the first month
dry, red skin everywhere

I'm a 19 y.o. boy. This is the best acne treatment hands down. But it is serious medication so heed all the advice your dermatologist gives you. I was on the min dose for 3 and a half months and it completely got ride of my acne, and it stayed away for a year and a half. I did everything I was supposed to while on it, but unfortunately it elevated my liver enzymes too high and I had to stop. It also gave me stomach cramps, but I still wish I could go back on it now that my acne is coming back.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 7, 2012

Pros:

Cleared my skin!! I never thought I could obtain clear skin, many products failed and this one actually worked!

Cons:

Very expensive depending on insurance. Lots of side effects. Monthly blood tests.

I was on this for 7 months and finally got the clear skin I have been waiting for! It took a long time to clear me up, a little over 3 months actually. I got the common side effects. Very chapped lips ( like no joke chapped lips ) sore joints ( my knees and ankles ) and a sore lower back. Dry eyes.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 26, 2012

Pros:

Cleared my acne for almost ten years.

Cons:

For me, the only side effects were dryness and one bloody nose.

I took accutane in 2000 for moderate/mild acne after my acne wasn't responding to antibiotics and topicals. My skin was beautiful until about 2009, when the combination of law school and my grandmother's death made me start breaking out pretty badly. I took proactiv, which worked for a short while. Then I went back to a derm., and asked for yaz and spironolactone after reading reviews on here. That worked pretty well, my skin wasn't great (large pores), but it was tolerable. Then I switched from yaz to lo-estrin, and my skin just started getting worse and worse. Even after switching back to yaz and upping my spiro to 100mg/day, my skin still wasn't improving, so now I'm about to start my second course of accutane. I hope to have the same results, except this time instead of almost a decade of clear skin, I hope to not have any more skin issues. This drug has worked wonders for me in the past, and I highly recommend it. Our society has a tendency to litigate everything, hence the massive warnings in relation to this drug. But, it seems that severe side effects are rare and, if monitored by a doctor, you'll be taken off of this drug if it's not suitable for your body. It's worth the chance of having clear skin and peace of mind.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 71 72 73 74 75 … 212
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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