Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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.

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Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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October 16, 2012

Pros:

Clears acne (permanently?)

Cons:

Dryness
Requires monthly doctor visits + testing
Possible mental health consequences

Took accutane for 5 months at age 27. Since I was 17, I've have moderate but persistent acne, generally large slow-developing pustules that form on the area between my chin and my mouth. It would respond to BP, but that kind of treatment is just onerous. Having to do that twice or even once a day seemed to get my skin into this cycle that was hard to get out of. It was very constraining on my lifestyle and made it hard to travel, go camping etc. And it wasn't 100%; I would still get some pimples. I figured (and was told) that I would likely grow out of it, but that just didn't happen. I took accutane for 5 months, between January and July of this year. It is now October, and I am pretty much totally clear. I get the odd pimple now and then but they are much smaller and much less of a problem. It could be that my acne comes back after remission, but right now I'm very pleased. A few thoughts about acne and accutane. Dryness. At the end of my accutane treatment, I was still getting some pimples, more than I am now and I probably would have given accutane a 4/5 rating. Once I stopped taking the pills and the dryness went away, the number of pimples dropped dramatically. During the treatment, I was using a variety of products to moisturize: aquaphor for my hands; carmex for my lips; jojoba oil for my face. I highly recommend all three (plus sunscreen). The fact that my pimples became much fewer when the accutane-related dryness stopped made me think about the relationship between acne and skin dryness. Other people have said this same thing, but I'm really thinking now that acne is often a product of dryness much than it is a product of oiliness. If your skin is dry (from washing or whatever), your body products oil and I think that causes pimples as it gets blocked up. Putting pure jojoba oil on your face does not seem to cause pimples. If anything, it seems to obviate the need for your body to produce oil. Just a thought.
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September 7, 2012

Pros:

Clears under skin spots as well as spots on the surface
Makes skin radiant
Clears all acne, face & back!
Get drunk quicker (for me this was a pro as it meant cheaper nights out but it could also be classed as a con)
Less oily skin & hair
More confidence!

Cons:

Slight back & back of ankle pain
Tiredness
Increased perspiration (sweating)
Chapped lips ALL the time
Dry skin all over body
Eczema
Larger pores
Raised cholesterol
Some bowel discomfort & problems

This drug works! For all those who are scared to use it due to the side effects, don't be. As a hypochondriac I was very sceptical about using this drug but my dermatologist persuaded me to & I am so glad she did. Since I was 11 years old I've always had at least one spot on my face or back. It's been such a pain but I hoped it would pass when I was older. After being on tricylic drugs for two years & then spironalactone for 8 weeks nothing seemed to work..when I turned 18 my spots became considerably worse, mainly situated on my cheeks & jaw. Accutane was my last resort.. I weighed 90kg. So for the first two months I was put on 40mg, & then went on to 60mg for the next four months although there was one month where I was on 80mg but my derm said I didn't need that much so went back to 60mg. The first 3 months, I didn't really notice a change..but I did experience the side effects & bowel discomfort was one of them so I started taking a probiotic & eating more healthily. I would strongly recommend taking extra care of yourself while you're on this drug e.g. eating healthily, moderate excercise & sleeping more. This was especially important for me since it raised my cholesterol alot. It was only after the 4th month when I started to notice a big improvement & after going on holiday & having the sun dry out the remaining spots I was finally, after 7 years, totally SPOT FREE. I've been off the drug for 2 weeks now and my skin is just amazing. I still get the odd spot before my period but my skin is no where near as bad as it used to be. This drug was totally worth it, & to be honest the side effects are totally manageable but just really annoying. Buy carmex for your lips, use a good moisturiser on your face & body & just look after yourself. Also try not to drink excessively, it does not feel good & puts more strain on your liver. If you do get any bad side effects internally tell your derm STRAIGHT AWAY. Other than that, I would strongly recomme
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July 23, 2012

Pros:

clears acne in three months
no acne at the end of the course
nice smooth skin

Cons:

dry lips
dry eyes
mild dry skin
tired

ACCUTANE IS AMAZING! it changed my life:) if you have acne issues give this medication a chance. my skin has never been so clear. i've used every acne product in the market and they never worked. finally i went on accutane and my only regret is that i should have went on it years sooner! please don't wait just go on the medication! 5 stars :))))
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June 15, 2012

Pros:

.Acne is gone just a few marks still to go
.Wont have a spot again(i hope)
.Best thing for bad skin
.Confidence is back!

Cons:

.Dry lips-Really bad(on 40mg)
.Dry skin
.Bad moods
.Acne get MUCH worse before it gets better
>REALLY sensitive to the sun

I took accutane back in Febuary, as I was honestly running out of ideas with my skin, which would not clear after a massive breakout.I was put on 40 Mg at first, but recently been put down to 20( because the side effects were alot to bear). The first month was hell, my spots got much worse, and the side effects just made everyday life unbearable. I was really tired alot and had to constantly apply lip balm becaus emy lips were so chapped. But then I got to about month 3 and as if by magic by spots started to dissapear rapidly. I'm now got aorund a month to go and theyve completley gone, I have got abit of scarring but honestly it fades by the day. Now i'm more confident then ever and I feel really happy now. For those going on accutane, its a hard journey, youll go through some bad times, but I cant express how much this stuff is worth it if you have bad skin, The only things I'd say is that you are HYPER sensitive to the sun, so put a sun block on, I burnt in British weather its that bad! But i reccomend this to anyone!
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April 18, 2012

Pros:

completely clears acne
works fast

Cons:

none as long as you take care of yourself (make chapstick your friend and get some eye drops)

Great medication that works perfectly. it is stupid this drug has such a bad rap.changed my life
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April 2, 2012

Pros:

-Started working immediately: I noticed an effect on my sebum production on the second day.
- Porcelain skin only a few weeks into treatment: no shine, no bumps!

Cons:

- Severely chapped lips for the duration of my course.
- Dry eyes and nose and everything else.
- Achy joints.

It wasn't easy, but it's worked. If I need a second course I will do it without hesitation. I'm 35 and took accutane as a last resort against my mild yet persistent adult-onset acne. Differin and Doxycline alone were not sufficient, and while it was rarely more than mild, it was persistent and spread also to my chest. I took 40mg of Accutane a day for 7 months, a low-ish dose and a long-ish course on account of my very slight build (45kg). Although my derm told me to stop using Differin, I had been through one nasty IB with Differin and wasn't keen to experience another when I resumed Differin after Accutane, so I continued to apply it every second night. I felt that I could gauge my skin's reaction and stop if I really needed to, but I didn't. My skin tolerated Differin while on Accutane just fine. I'm not recommending that others do this, it's just what I did. As for why I wanted to continue Differin if the Accutane worked: hooray for anti-ageing. My Accutane side effects were all 'normal' and while uncomfortable, never bad enough to make me want to give it up. I experienced overall dryness, even in places I didn't think it was possible to get dry. Vaseline on delicate lady areas became part of my daily routine, and even now, 6 weeks after my last dose, I have a funny dry patch around my tail bone of all places, and need to apply a cortisone cream to my elbow. Oh, and it also affected my periods. Accutane really does dry you from the inside out. I'm not much of a drinker so didn't mind no alcohol, and used the time to take extra care with diet and getting enough rest. I did miss lipstick and the ability to wear heels without ankle pain, but got more into eye makeup and cute ballerina flats, so no big deal there. It's 6 weeks since my last dose, and I still have the beautiful skin I remember from before adult acne. I really hope it lasts. If it doesn't I will definitely do a second course.
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March 17, 2012

Pros:

Clears up acne

Cons:

Dry lips
Occasional new, quite inflamed spots
Must have a pregnancy test every month, and a blood test before, halfway through and 5 weeks after the course

I have tried several different prescriptions, all from a dermatologist, and all unavailable unless with a prescription, and this is the best of them all! However, it is also a last resort. Ive been on this for nearly 2 months, and in less than a month, my forehead had completely cleared up, and is now completely smooth. The rest of my acne has also "died down" a bit, although you can get the occasional new spot, which is an effect of the medicine working. I am currently on Dianette (a contraceptive pill) and my Isotretinoin course will last only four months, and it is extremely unlikely that my acne will be coming back. However, in the UK it is extremely hard to get this course of treatment, as it is considered to be very risky. But overall, it has given me amazing results, and I'm not even halfway through!
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March 7, 2012

Pros:

-Cleared up skin completely
-Hair didn't get as oily

Cons:

-Dry skin and eyes
-Extra sensitive to the sun

I would definitely recommend Accutane to any one with moderate-severe acne. It's a wonder drug for me! It cleared my acne up completely in about 4 months; even after a week I noticed improvements. My hair didn't need to be washed as often as it used to and my face didn't grease up within a few hours of washing. Some of the downsides were that my skin became really dry. I had dry a face and lips, and even my eyes and hands felt really dry, though this was easily overcome by diligent use of moisturisers and lip balms, and really it was a welcome change after having had a greasy face for so many years! You also have to been super careful in the sun on this medication! My brother was on it as well and he got some of the worst sunburn I've ever seen on a 23 degree day in 15 minutes! After finishing the course, my skin remained crystal clear for another 6-8 months, then my acne started to return. I was pretty disappointed, but my dermatologist recommended another course of it. My skin reacted to the medication much faster, and the side effects weren't as bad - I hardly noticed them at all. After a month or two my skin was back to it's best. After finishing the second course, my acne started to return (after about 9 months) but it was pretty manageable (maybe 1 or 2 tiny pimples a week and a few blackheads on my nose). It's been 1 1/2 years since I was last on Accutane and my skin's back to being pimply, though it's no where near as bad as it used to be.
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March 1, 2012

Pros:

Cleared 100% Acne.
Blackheads 100% Clear
Whiteheads 100% Clear

Cons:

Doesn't work on Acne Scars.
Doesn't work on Red Scar Layer.
Severe dry Skin during the course.
Nose Bleeding.

One of the KILLER medicines ever had. Proactiv, Tactuo, Neutrogena, Skin ID everything was a piece of sh*t! Doctor prescribed me for 6 months for 80 mg, but it worked for me in just 3 months. I was told to stop.
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February 27, 2012

Pros:

This stuff DOES work!!
Cleared my face in 3 weeks

Cons:

Dont underestimate the side effects especially the serious ones!!
Dry lips
Small flares up of ezema on hands and feet
dry skin
Extremely dry eyes (i do wear contact lenses)
gastro-problems
always thirsty (which isnt a bad thing)
nose bleed (only on 2 occasions)
joint pain (which did come and go and wasnt constant)

Was prescribed ro-accutane jan 2012........side effects dnt take long to kick, by the end of the week i noticed everything drying up. So by week 3 my face which at this point i was still getting spots just cleared right up....i mean like literally over night my existing spots popped and never had a spot since. So when i say it works...it really does and 3 weeks is a really quick time to clear the skin up, my face was lovely and dry . Unfortunetly in the same week my spots cleared up was the same time my eyes dryed up to the point they were red, sore, irritated and vision was blurry with my lenses in. i went to the opticans and he suggested to only wear glasses. my gut instincts told me to stop the medicine in which i did. Went to a nurse she said very rarely it affects vision but is more of an intolerance to contact lenses...she gave me the option of trying accutane on a really low dose so from 40mg to 10mg or try antibiotics(which i have tried in my teens) i went away from there and thought if the oil comes back in my skin it would come back in my eyes and maybe then i would consider re-taking at a low dose so here i am i havnt taken it for 17 days havnt had a spot since but i still dnt have any intentions on taking it, because my vision is more important than anything and it really isnt worth risking any damage to eyes. i cant wear contacts atm because they irrtiate my eyes so am wearing my glasses.. that is the only side effect left, the rest have gone. Please remember it is a serious drug....listen to your body because you will do it a favour in the long run. Some people have had permanent side effects...there is a drug for us all you just have to experiment until you find it....you have to keep strong and keep fighting!! Im happy for those who have have had really postive reactions...but for me ive tried it and wont be going down that route again, there are safer medicines and i dnt want to live regretting anything that compensates my hea
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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