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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Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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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February 21, 2011

Pros:

Acne disappeared within a month
Only needed to take medication for one cycle and haven't had more than a zit here or there since

Cons:

Dry lips
Have to get a Blood test periodically (i think monthly)

I found this site somewhere around 4 years ago. After reading through all the reviews on acne products i found there was only one that really stood out and that was of course Accutane. So I tried it and although it was a hassle to get my hands on it simply worked! I owe my self esteem almost entirely to this site for showing me the way. One word of advice for those who try it out: Put a disgusting amount of vaseline on your lips before bed. And keep vaseline on you all the time and you shouldn't have any problems with the side effects.
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February 21, 2011

Pros:

fast acting, supposedly very effective. didn't have any initial breakout.

Cons:

only side effect i'm having now is pretty dry lips. if i forget my chapstick they can get pretty damn dry and start cracking, but that's about it. maybe a little drier shoulders too. no head aches, falling out hair, joint pain, mood swings or anything.

taking 80mg/d now. started of with 40 the first week, 60 the next, and 80 the third. after the first day i started to notice a difference. everything was drying up and healing nicely. my cheeks and jawline and pretty much smooth now, and the forehead is healing as well. still got lots of spots and red marks though. probably gonna have scars. hopefully they will fade. Bottom line for me? i absolutely recommend this. it is definitely doing its job and i'm not having any severe side effets
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February 20, 2011

Pros:

it's been nearly three weeks and already i feel a major difference. my doc goes by a low-dose, long-term treatment, so it's 20mg/day for 8-10 months. i've had acne for as long as i remember, and in the last few years, it's been pretty much huge cysts on my chin and jawline with painful pimples alongside my nose and lipline.
even though i had an initial breakout (still probably in that phase, but it's not as severe as it was last week), the overall texture of my skin has improved like wh

Cons:

monthly blood tests and dermo visits
face can be a little itchy due to pimples drying up and flaking off
initial breakout, dry lips, dry eyes (must carry chapstick and eye-drops all the time)... but pros>>>>>cons. this is all nothing compared to the pain and shame of having massive cysts and always wondering whether your makeup is covering it all up

improved skin texture - smooth, soft-looking, feels great! major oil control! no longer look like i have an oil slick on my face by 12pm, with make-up sliding off my face. everything is so much easier to attain! also, my hair is so soft and silky. used to have oily hair, not the case anymore pimples come and go at lightning speed am so pumped by the improvement seen after only 2.5 weeks on 20 mg a day... i'm far from the finish line, but full of positivity.
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February 18, 2011

Pros:

Clears skin completely
Gives confidence

Cons:

Can come back - just done a second course
side effects - dry lips, lethargy and some mood swings but nothing serious for me
Very expensive if not on insurance/NHS provided

I recommend this product completely for someone who has seen little progress with over tha counter and antibiotic routes. It is a tough course and not to be undertaken lightly. Also, it can clear your skin completely but as in my case my spots returned and I have taken a second course...currently I am clear and just hoping to stay that way. For me it is worth it. However, if my spots come back again I may try a different route (?) as to me it would signal that accutane isn't truly working.
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February 15, 2011

Pros:

Oil free skin (hair and face)
Clears acne and the redness
Boosts Confidence (Trust me)

Cons:

Dry lips, skin, eyes
Lower back pain (Just a little)

I started taking Accutane just 15 days ago and right now my face is clearer than ever. I literally have only ONE acne left on my face :D. I was scared before taking it but nothing else was working for me. It does have side effects but in my case it wasn't that much of a problem. Just ask your derm for a good cream for your lips and our face and it's all good. You should try taking it. Did wonders for me.
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February 13, 2011

Pros:

Clearer skin.
No red spots
Smoother skin

Cons:

Sensitive skin
Chapped lips
Dry hands (with dry spots)

Great!!! It solved THE problem.
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February 7, 2011

Pros:

Size of spots/cysts reduces -
However, no real improvement with first or second course

Cons:

Dry and cracked lips
Ladies be very careful - use adequate contraception

Didn't really work for me - even after starting a second course. It could work for you though - worth a try! Ladies - Even whilst using two methods of contraception I managed to get pregnant - make sure your consultant takes you blood to rule out pregnancy beforehand - mine didn't!!
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February 7, 2011

Pros:

cleared skin

Cons:

suffered very bad side affects, severe headache, sight problems, joint ache etc.

worked but not worth the side affects, i was literally bed bound from the second day of use. it took three days from stopping the treatment to return back to normal.
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February 4, 2011

Pros:

Completely cleared my skin. I feel like a normal human being again. I don't feel ashamed to look people in the eye for fear they will only see acne.

Cons:

Dry lips, dry eyes, some digestive upset. All improved after treatment finished.

While Accutane has some potential for severe side effects, it is important to gauge whether the risk is worth it. To me, it was. And the results are wonderful. If you are afraid of the potential side effects while on treatment, be sure to discuss any changes in your body with your doctor (like digestive upset) and stop taking it immediately if you find you are passing even a small amount of blood.
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February 3, 2011

Pros:

Cleared acne up.
Made hair less oily.

Cons:

Dry skin (face and arms).
Dry/cracked lips.
Rash on back of hands.
Mood swings.

I had been on OTC medicines for a few years before my girlfriend finally convinced me to go to a doctor about it. I got started on tetracycline for around three months, but it wasn't doing much. I went back in, and my doctor asked me if I wanted to try isotretinoin. One of my good friends had gone on it and he now has perfect skin, so I decided to try it. When I first started it, my acne got much, much worse. After about a month, it started to get better little by little, until month three when I realized that I had no acne whatsoever. When I went in to see my doctor for the month four checkup, he decided to have me stop. I was on 30mg twice a day for four months, which worked out to be just about the minimum mg/kg/day. My biggest complaint about it is the chapped lips. I play trumpet in college, and I'm also in the pep band for the basketball team and a ska band on the side. Playing a brass instrument with chapped lips for a long period of time is one of the hardest things ever, but I just put some aquaphor on them after I was done and that helped very large amounts. Tomorrow will mark week one of me being off it. My face has gotten significantly less dry, and the rash on my hands has almost gone away, but unfortunately my lips are still really cracked and dry. Also, if you can, try not to take it in the winter. I started in October, and the drying effects of accutane were amplified by a lot because of the dry air in the winter. Bottom line is that I would recommend accutane, as it did wonders for my skin.
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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