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 8, 2008

Pros:

Totally clean skin, less oily.

Cons:

Dry lips, slightly dry eyes, dry skin of course.

I do believe it's great, a few friends have taken, with the same effect. I don't know why everyone keeps writing about sore muscles?, didn't get any, could be because i work out all the time?, I don't know, but didn't experience any sore muscles at all.
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April 3, 2008

Pros:

clears skin forever

Cons:

dry lips, dry skin, temporary hair thinning,red face and ears,

this wus the best choice in my life it cleared my skin so well the side affects sucked but they go away soon after your done taking the pill you want to take it for 6 months because that gives you the highest chance of your acne not coming back the red face sucks but its only for 6 months and then you get the rest of your life with clear clear skin so definitely try it i did and i cant be happery. ps try ddf oil free morning dew to help with the redness it about 35 bucks
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March 30, 2008

Pros:

Clearer skin

Cons:

Gets worse before it got better

I had moderate acne on the verge of becoming severe. I am on my 4th month of accutane and it looks a lot better then it was. Its also much easier to manage. I still have 2 months to go. I have to say i went through Hell the second and third month. Im sure it is different for everybody but i honesly wouldnt leave the house. I still recommend it though b/c it does get better. I was wondering if anyone has been on a second round of it and could tell me if it was as bad as the first for them.??
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March 30, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up my moderate acne completely when no other medication or treatment could. Very low side effects. I loved it.

Cons:

Had to put on chapstick all the time and lotion after I showered. Had slightly pink face and dry skin.

I had slight to moderate acne that was just really annoying and was not fixed by any type of treatment, so I finally gave in and went on Accutane. After reading all the online horror stories I was scared out of my mind. However, I had a great experience on it. I took 80mg/day and weigh 200 lbs (90 kgs) so it was about 1 mg/day/kg, which is a moderate to high dose I was told. My lips were pretty dry and cracked if I didn't put on chapstick all the time. I also had really dry skin if I didn't put lotion on my shoulders, arms, back, and face after showering. Everything else was 100% fine though. These horror stories are overblown and rare, and tons of people have great results on it. My acne is gone 100% from all over my body and it is such a relief to not have to deal with it. On completion, my dermatologist told me he has prescribed it for 10 years and has never once had a case of depression and only 2 people have had bad blood tests. If you're tired of acne, give Accutane a shot.
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March 28, 2008

Pros:

Best acne pill out there

Cons:

chapped lips, blurred vision, very powerful, listed side effects can be bad (i didn't have any bad side effects)

This pill changed my life. I had somewhat bad acne but after taking this pill for a few months I stopped getting pimples all together. For the first month or so I felt "high" but after that it was smooth sailing. I had no side effects... If you have tried everything else and are willing to take the risk I would suggest this product.
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March 27, 2008

Pros:

no acne, soft skin, no breakouts

Cons:

dry lips

accutane is the best thing ever hapened to me. seriously. I've had some acne 2 years ago on the right side of my face. rest of my face was bad, but not as bad as the right side.I was on accutane 24 weeks. my skin looked perfect. it cleared completely in a month, and after that I didn't get a pimple. after I stopped taking the drugs my face has gotten even better. I didn't have to use covers or powders and that was definitely the biggest relief. my skin was perfect for about a year. however in the last few months I started breking out again. I don't have acne, thank god, but it's not as clear as it was, and some pimples started to appear on my face. so again I have to use cover just to hide scaring and redness. I was thinking on going to 2nd course of accutane but I'm not so sure my dermatologist would agree. hope it's just due to stress over college and stuff.anyway, I recomend accutane to everyone who has acne, because, believe me, other drugs and other products DON'T WORK!!!
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March 26, 2008

Pros:

IT WORKS!!!

Cons:

Dry Lips, skin, rash, headaches, and minor joint pain

This is my last month on Accutane, my skin is very smooth and clear, I still have some bumps here and there, but nothing like it used to be. This is the best product I have ever used and I will recommend it to anyone with acne.
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March 24, 2008

Pros:

Clear face, blackheads cleared up, skin looks great!

Cons:

Chapped lips, dry skin and eyes

Anyone who is battling acne i recommend this drug to! I didn't have any major side effects just dry skin, lips, and eyes. But as long as you drink tons of water with this medication the side effects aren't bad at all. there is a warning of depression or suicide on this drug.. i didnt experience any depression at all on this drug. I am glad my derm told me about it because it worked great for me! I just finished up my last month and my face looks the best it ever has, anyone who is starting this drug it is worth it!
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March 24, 2008

Pros:

Cured acne problem for good

Cons:

BAD side effects, annoying monthly blood tests and derm visits, took forever for results to kick in, bad muscle pains especially back pains, runny nose constantly, dry skin, chapped lips etc....

I had acne for 2 years, nothing worked, no antibiotics and no creams including proactive helped. I finally took accutane. the side effects kicked in right away, however the results didn't. My acne got so much worse for most of the course. I took it 5 months. After month1 my face was worse than ever. I got the worst nose bleeds from this stuff, they were so bad it looked like a murder scene. I had bad depression but not sure how much of that this drug was responsible because i was depressed b4 i srarted this medication. It wasn't working at first so my derm gave me erthromycn pills to take with it, and the combination of the 2 used to give me bad fatigue spells to the point where i was aboutta faint. It was an up and down battle. But finally at the very end my acne went away, only to leave red marks, which was dissapointing, however over time they went away. I finished this drug almost 2 yrs ago and i've been 100% clear since no breakouts at all, and no1 today can tell i ever ha
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March 20, 2008

Pros:

It works.

Cons:

chapped lips, dry skin.(Aquphor, Nivea Creme)

This stuff is the truth. My doctor told me he's seen more problems with people constantly taking advil for headaches. Be serious, acne sucks, if you're thinking about taking it, just do it.... im about 2 weeks in and its clearing up. (The nivea creme is thick but i helps with scarring and redness. Its gonna feel greasy and dont use it til your face starts getting really dried out.)
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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