Acne.org Products
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
March 1, 2012
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.
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
February 1, 2012
Pros:
Gave me a 6 month window of clear skin.
Made my hair less oily so I could wash it less.
Cons:
My acne came back within 6 months of finishing my course.
I have permanent side effects: sensitive skin, more migraines, joint pain (often severe).
While taking the drug I was exhausted, made my skin painfully dry, lips were bleeding/cracking.
I regret taking accutane. I seriously wanted this to be the "miracle cure" that so many people made it out to be. Originally after taking accutane I was all for it, but then all my acne has come back, PLUS I've got some bad side effects that I'll likely be stuck with forever. Research this drug extensively before you think about taking it!
January 30, 2012
Pros:
Clear skin. Hurray!
Cons:
Dry skin (face/body, lips, eyes)
Pain in the joints (mild)
Irritation
Extensive visits to the dr
Advise: DO NOT PICK AT ACNE
I am a 28 yo female and am doing 60mg/day treatment of Claravis. My story: When I was a preteen or teen never had any acne before except an occasional pimple here and there. No acne history in my family either. Since I moved to Florida, a few years ago, my skin had been getting duller and duller. I always had oily skin but no problems. Then finally I started get real acne. Gasp! So fast I went to the dermatologist and tried it all over the counter washes, tonners, facials, peels, clinique, neutrogena all the acne products prescription and non prescription available. Nothing worked. Here I was spending so much $$ and no results. It drove me nuts till one day I just decided.. de hell with it lets try accutane. I reviewed and reviewed all the information online and I gotta say it scared the crap outta me. Should I do it or not? - was the question. So, here I am on day 10 while on claravis and yes the skin is dry, yes the eyes get dry, chapstick works well. I found palmers cocoa butter really helps at night to get me fully moisturized. I dont have any depression symptoms but get irritated easily. I think its the stress knowing of all the side effects and wondering if all the discomfort will be worth it in the end. I do see the face peeling slightly and it does stink as it feels like a sunburn around my nose and mouth. I do see that the bumps are no longer there though ...they have flattened already. I had a mild initial breakout on my body but it was gone within a couple of days. Have to say that while on it you need to make sure you have some money aside to do all the drs office visits and blood tests. Its time away from work and out of pocket money that costs ya. I will keep you posted at the end of my journey. So far nothing major other than the regular discomforts.
January 6, 2012
Pros:
Helped facial acne
Completely cleared non-facial areas
Cons:
Completely stopped production of lubricating oils in my eyes, causing such severe dryness I could not attend class
Acne began slowly returning, has returned almost to pre-Accutane state
Expensive
Pregnancy tests are a hassle
I tried more perscription and OTC topical creams, pills, masks, and ointments from dermatologists than I can remember for several years before trying Accutane. My doctor used the C word (cure) when he suggested it and I got very excited.
It's certainly worth a try if you can afford it. I was on it two times for several months each time. The first time I was very excited and saw a great improvement. Then my acne started coming back, so I went back on it. I had to stop it suddenly when my already somewhat dry eyes reached the breaking point and stopped producing the needed oils from my bottom lids. Be careful, pay attention to your body. Get a heavy-duty moisturizer and you're skin won't dry out. I recommend Eucerin Cream for the body and Aquaphor (NOT the one sold as a lip balm, the one sold in larger containers) for the lips.
If you are going to try it, I recommend starting some kind of topical cleansing regimen when you go off it to continue the effects. I tried handling things myself for a while, using three Neutrogena products containing Salcylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide. My acne still kept coming back, so now I'm trying Proactiv. We shall see.
Accutane did wonders for my skin while I was on it, but the side effects were too much for me to handle. The good effects wore off over time while the side-effects have remained a problem.
January 5, 2012
Pros:
Clears up skin
Reduces oiliness of skin and hair
Cons:
Headaches
Nausea
Moderate depression
Dry lips
Backaches
Really expensive
Even though this drug gave a lot of side effects, I felt like it was worth it. My skin and hair is normally EXTREMELY oily, and while I was on this it wasn't at all, which was a REALLY nice change. My acne was severe and after trying pretty much everything else I tried this. I noticed a difference almost immediately. My skin stayed clear about a year after taking it; some breakouts have come back but it is definitely not as bad. After trying a few other things, I might possibly start a second dose of this in the future.
December 26, 2011
Pros:
no pimples
redness fades
I have my life back
I feel like a normal 35 year old male now
Cons:
DURING TREATMENT:
9 months of treatment
sore back/neck
red sunglass face
no energy
moody
Accutane offers hope of clear skin when you have no other options!! It's not a drug to play around with...very serious!!..but it can work wonders. Trust your doctor but verify your treatment plan. I had obsorption issues and had to lobby my doctor to increase my dosage... I finished on 160mg/day... the highest dosage prescribed for my weight (2.0mg/kg). In the end though it worked. Currently Post accutane 4 weeks and I wash my face 1x/day with water only and sometimes I still need a slight amount of moisturizer on my forehead and cheeks. Using soap dries my face out really, really bad and turns it irritation red. But, No pimples currently and I hope it continues!! Good luck in your journey.
November 21, 2011
Pros:
Don't have to wash face every 2 hours
Gets rid of acne
Cons:
Have to moisturize all the time
Very dry lips
Monthly blood tests
I have had bad acne for 3 years. After trying all other products and fighting with my doctor to finally write me the prescription I started accutane. Started at 40mg a day for 1 month. Then 60mg a day for another month. Then 80mg a day. It took about 3 months to see any results. The initial break out came in the second month and lasted about 30 days. it was BAD! I've now been on accutane for about 6 months and am 98% clear, however I do have a lot of scaring which will have to be dealt with. I have decided to stay on the medication for 1 more month even though my doctor has told me to get off of it. "He is probably the worst doctor I have had" I don't believe anything he says. Bottom line I would recommend this product hands down. I had minimal side effects aside from dryness and its nice to look into a mirror and not be horrified with the person looking back. I will never get those 3 years of my life back but at least I can be confident going forward. If you have really oily skin go an accutane its the only thing that works. Don't let the doctor waste your time with creams and all the other crap none of it works believe me.
November 20, 2011
Pros:
Cleared Acne
Got rid of face oil
Cons:
Joint Pain in Knees
Stomach Aches
Adds more digestive risks to my Hirschsprungs
Dries skin
Dries lips
Causes Dandruff
It cleared my acne. The side effects that I had weren't that bad. I am used to stomach aches due to being born with Hirschsprung's disease. The dry skin went away with the humid St. Louis summer. The dry lips could be fixed by Aquaphor. I got used to the joint pain. I just couldn't run the mile at my school. However, my ensurance company decided to only pay for five months when my dermatologist recommended six... Thus, my acne returned. Not as bad as it was, but it's back... I took 80mg a day.
September 12, 2011
Pros:
It works
Does not require use of topicals/creams/gels. etc
Cons:
The course of treatment must be completed for it to be effective.
Dry eyes
Chapped lips
Blood tests thoughout the process
Can relapse / Flare ups
Roaccutane works; It cleared off my acne permanently. I have subsquently relapsed after 5 years due to an arising hormonal issue. It may be pricey and the duration(I took 5 months) may seem long but it is so worth it if you are looking for a permanent solution.
Pros:
Cleared 100% Acne.
Blackheads 100% Clear
Whiteheads 100% Clear