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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5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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March 16, 2011

Pros:

Cleared skin up quickly when nothing else worked!
Made the texture of my skin improve and look brighter and more even.
Skin becomes less oily.

Cons:

Very dry lips and cracks in the corners of the mouth.
Eczema on the hands and lower arm.
Constant nose bleeds and dry cracked nostrils.
Depression.
Back aches.
General sorness.
Blood tests.
Acne came back after first treatment, however not so severe.

I am on it for the sxecond time and so far so good again. The bottom line is it is the only thing that worked for me so, to be honest, although some people may disagree with me, I was in such a bad way, that all of the side effects were worth it, just to get clear skin and my confidence and ultimatly my life back! Hope this helps you. If you are as desparate as I was then it really is the only option. I had tried absolutly everything else on the planet for my skin and nothing else worked!!
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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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March 9, 2011

Pros:

-None yet

Cons:

-Dry Lips
-Mild lower back pain (rare, but occurs)
-Mood swings
-Worsens before it gets better

These reviews all sound very repetitive but that is solely because this drug has similar effects on people. I have been on it (40mg, i am 17yo female)) for about a month now, and my skin is getting worse, but this is merely b/c all the dirt from way under your skin is being pushed to the surface, all at once, it is then dried and taken care of. W/out accutane, you would get the same breakouts, it would just take longer (this is what my doctor told me).Usually, starting the second or third month is when the healing starts. I am also experiencing dry lips that are easily maneagable with lip balm (i bought a pack of smackers)
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March 8, 2011

Pros:

Clears any and all pimples and blackheads FOR GOOD!
Glowy skin
Works Fast
No initial breakout
Cheap with the right insurance - paid 20 dollar co pay per month dosage.

Cons:

None

This stuff works... Some people get bad dry skin and lips while on it but I really only noticed my skin flushing easily, like if I went in the sun or if it was warm. All in all...anyone with moderate to severe acne simply needs Accutane. It will change your life.
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March 7, 2011

Pros:

No initial breakout
Oil free skin and hair
No more acne and no blackheads

Cons:

Lower back pain
Dry lips/eyes
Elevated cholesterol
Monthly bloodwork and derm visits

I have had acne my whole life but after college, age 23, I had a horrible breakout and VERY oily skin. I am not a typical candidate for this med but I tried everything and nothing worked. This drug is a last resort b/c there are so many potential side effects. Do your research before you start. Luckily I only experienced very minor side effects. No initial breakout, dry lips(no cracking), and back pain that was manageable. I did have to stop going to the gym b/c of the back pain but looking back it was worth. All negative side effects resolved after I completed the 5 month course. I weigh about 68kg. My first month of treatment was 40mg. I did not see many improvements at this point and my skin was still oily. At this time my cholesterol shot up to 240 (before treatment 198). Month two I went up to 80mg and this is when I really started to see results although this is also when the back pain started. The final 3 months I stayed on 60mg and the back pain lessened but was still there. My lips were dry all through treatment and it was unbearable to not have Aquaphor on my lips even though they never cracked or flaky. My cholesterol is now back to normal. I have been off of Claravis for over a month now. My skin is finally normal, no excess oil. I do get pimples occasionally but no painful cysts like I used to. When you are on the treatment make sure you use SFP on your WHOLE body, gentle cleanser like Cetaphil, and Aquaphor is your friend. All of the cons are worth it in the end! It is a short term treatment, hopefully for a lifetime of acne free skin. If my acne comes back I will definitely take another course of the medication because of the amazing results.
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March 3, 2011

Pros:

Clears acne fast WHILE ON IT
helps when nothing else will

Cons:

acne comes back
sore muscles
made me very intolerant to all types of foods
dizziness
tiredness

I have struggles with acne for years. At 16 I went on it and had to go off of it, but it cleared my acne for the 2 months I used it. Then tried it again at 17 and it cleared my acne, but once again had to stop taking it. At 19, I finally decided to take it for the 6 month course and push myself through all the harsh side effects. My skin was absolutely radiant and beautiful!! I loved it so much that I could deal with the fact that I only ate 1 or maybe 2 times a day because anything I ate KILLED my stomach. I had to have an endoscopy because they thought I had IBS or something. But everything was fine because I only had a few months left. I was on 40 MGS, and cut it down to 20 the last month. I tapered off of it and literally a month later after stopping I had all of my acne come back with a vengence. I have gotten it in places I had never had before and I have 3 months before my wedding. Accutane has ruined my life and made my skin unbearable...I cry almost everyday and not to mention I can barely eat different types of food still. I am so intolerant to gluten and I had never had any problems before. It may work wonders for some people, but from what I do know it does come back for a lot of others. Unfortunately, mine came back a lot worse. Good luck if you're going to take it and be strong because it is a HARSH medicine.
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March 2, 2011

Pros:

Wonderful skin

Cons:

Acne (dependent on your situation) can come back
SEVERE dryness
Cracked lips
Gets worse before it gets better

I had beautiful skin whilst taking the contraceptive pill, but I after 10 years of taking it I wanted to give my body a break. As soon as I stopped it my acne returned, so I started Isotretinoin. My skin got really bad before it got better, so awful that I could hardly open my mouth because of the spots around my mouth. My skin started to get very very dry and some days I'd look like my face was flaking off. My lips would crack, especially at the corners and I found keeping a small tin of vaseline in my pocket saved the day, I'd freak out if I didn't have it with me. I had facials each month and got my beautician to use the most gentle but moisturing Dermalogica and techniques she could. I used Dermalogica Intensive Moisture which helped a lot. Its a very natural moisturiser that won't create spots but was good for my skin. I got very miserable and moody on Isotretinoin so make sure you get your friends and family to support you. I found I put on a bit of weight whilst on it, not much though. Always wear hats if it summer and I used Dermalogica Super Sensitive Sunblock daily, it is 30spf, is really really light but works well for day to day protection. I hope I don't sound like a Dermalogica advert (but it is good though)!! Sometimes my eyes were sensitive to the sun when driving, but nothing major. Bit of a major hassle having blood tests and pregnancy tests and you have to be on the pill as it can case major deformations in babies. Having been off isotretinoin for 2 years my acne has returned but a lot better than before. I can live with it as it is but I'm going to try Isotrex and some antibiotics as my acne is more moderate than before. It is definitely the best thing if you have acne, you won't get anything better.
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February 26, 2011

Pros:

-erases all active acne from skin
-for a time keeps skin looking insanely perfect after use

Cons:

-take many months of patience
-it will get worse before it gets better
-monthly blood drawing
-an array of often mild side effects
-acne can come back after use

When all else fails this is the ultimate sure thing for obliterating acne. it will make your skin beautiful and baby soft in time and will honestly change your outlook on life, not to mention boost your confidence 100%. However the catch is that it takes time to fully clear your skin and many people suffer mild to sever side effects on the medication. Also, for people like me, its possible for your acne to come raging back some time after youre done. Bottom line: although my acne came back (likely because im 17 and still hormonal) i loved my results so much that im considering going on it another time
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February 21, 2011

Pros:

cleared my severe acne, both face and back when absolutely nothing else worked.

Cons:

the obvious, severly dry lips, dry eyes, dry spots on hands

I had severe acne for a few years and it started to get realllly bad just over a year ago, i tried every prescription out there seriously, i started on a low dose of isotretinoin 30mg and only went up to 40mg. The first two months were hell as my face broke out soooo bad but my derm put me on a steroid to calm the swelling and then the isotretinoin started to work its magic, 4 months later i was completely clear. I get a few blemishes now and then but they arent the huge pustules i used to get. SO happy i used this medicine definitely a life changer.
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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