Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Results
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.

 [more]
3.9
2449
Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
December 4, 2010

Pros:

-CLEARS your skin
-you are oil-free!
-you can be self confident and worry free!

Cons:

-dry skin
-few rashes every now and then
-nosebleeds
-sensitivity

To me, this has been a huge life changing AMAZING experience! I would highly reccomend it! Everyone will react differntly to it. Just be careful, keep a journal, have a doctor or family member be careful and check your thoughts. As far as mentally, nothing has happened to me. Im the same as before! Physically, my skin has changed so much! I had a horrible oil problem, but now its gone! Im actually quite dry, but carry around a miniture bottle of lotion and your good! I won't say the journey through accutane is easy, but its do-able! It will be hard to keep your face moisturized and lips not chapped, but I have sooo many tricks! * USE "JACK BLACK- lemon & honey" on your lips!! They will stay fine the whole time! * use Cerave lotion or ive heard acne.org has awesome moisturizers. :) I strongly suggest this!!
This Was Helpful

28 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 4, 2010

Pros:

skin starting to clear

Cons:

back ache!

I have only been on accutane for a few days (40mg per day), already my skin is starting to improve but my lower back is very sore.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
December 3, 2010

Pros:

+ Clears up acne!
+ Side effects are far more manageable than others make out
+ Affordable if on NHS

Cons:

- Dryness (skin, lips, eyes)
- Derm/doctor should have prescribed it sooner!

I've used accutane for 9 months; I'm currently on my last week. My skin hasn't been this clear in years- after around 3 months my skin was around 90% clear. Since then It's completely cleared up- no other medication or topical comes close to this in terms of effectiveness! The worst side effect for me was a rash on my right hand- after using a combination of moisturisers and a steroid cream, these have gone. Really can't recommend this drug enough! I'll add another review in a few months, hopefully reiterating what I've already said post accutane!
This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 30, 2010

Pros:

smoother skin

Cons:

nose bleeds
suicidal thoughts
dry lips
rash on my skin
dry scalp
bad back pain
cry alot (which i NEVER did(
headaches
blood tests

second month into it and i feel like i want to kill myself :/ dont really see any improvement apart from my skin isnt as oily as it was. Dont get any bright red spots anymore, but it hasent got rid of any of my black/white heads. Fortunetly i can cover these up with makeup but that completely defeats the object of taking it right?
This Was Helpful

Report
November 29, 2010

Pros:

Worked while I was taking it

Cons:

Suicidal thoughts and instability
Other mental distress
Profuse nose (any anywhere) bleeds
Monthly blood tests
Side effects - just read the booklet
Acne came back 1 week after finishing it

I have mixed feelings because it did save me from terrible scarring at my most vulnerable time - but at what cost? I had acute cystic scarring acne starting at age 12. I started Accutane about 13 and had to sign a contract, that my parent also had to sign, saying that I would not get pregnant because of the terrible birth defects. They said normally a girl would be required to be on birth control, but I was so young - that was just the beginning of mental stress. I could only take it for 6 months at a time with a 6 month break in between, but they said that I should be able to take it once and be cured for life. I had terrible internal feelings that I didn't really understand, but the first round wasn't THAT bad. It dried out my sinuses, so I would have nose bleeds in the middle of the night. I started acting out too. My acne was perfectly clear while I was on it though. One week after I stopped, the acne came right back so I had to spent the next 6 months dealing with the acne again. I was really wary about trying it for a second time ("just one more time"), but I was young and my parent and doctor said I should so I did. Big mistake. Sure, the acne was clear, but I was as unstable as ever. I felt like "I love my life, my friends, and my pets, everything is great" but then have this uncontrollable urge to stab myself or down a bottle of pills. It was like I didn't WANT to kill myself, but there was something inside of me saying "do it, do it." The nose bleeds got so bad that once in the shower I just saw blood streaming down my body and when I turned to the side it splattered across the shower wall. Then there was the time that blood just started oozing out of my ear in Biology class. I had a friend who took it and told me he had liver damage from it. Again, a week after I stopped a second time the acne came back. I refused to take it a third time and instead used 3 separate prescriptions to avoid 1 tiny Accutane pill a day.
This Was Helpful

Report
November 29, 2010

Pros:

-CLEARS SKIN!

Cons:

-Still have red marks left over, scarring
-Dry,dry skin, lips and eyes
-Blood tests (needle phobe)

I was terrified to try this at first, but obviously when you reach the point where you're considering accutane, you're probably desperate like I was. The infamous "initial breakout" and the blood tests scares me at first, which my doctor informed me are the two top reasons people choose not to go on it. If you're having doubts because of this PLEASE DON'T, I didn't even have an initial breakout and now my skin is smooth and I even had a lady at Sephora tell me that I have pretty good skin, which is a huuuge thing after what I went through. Now I actually have some confidence and love talkin to more guys :) Please give it a chance it could change your life!
This Was Helpful

9 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 22, 2010

Pros:

*clears up active acne
* dries up oil
* hair doesn't get oily EVER

Cons:

*eyelashes/eyebrows falling out
* the usual stuff: VERY dry skin, & lips
* makes me jittery; hard for me to sit still
* very dry eyes - irritated, and inflammed

i broke out in acne eight months ago when i was on some sort of antibotics. It flared into a hellish nightmare and i took many sorts of things to get rid off it = antibotics, tretinion, differin, clendymicine, tazorac and alas nothing worked. Two and half months ago my dermo told me that the only thing that would work for me is accutane. As of now, i've been on it for 75 days, and i don't have one pimple on my face. However i still have scars, and red marks left over. About a couple of weeks ago i've noticed that a lot of my eyelashes are falling out - 9 per day! and my eyes are itchy and inflammed due to the accutane. i aslo have a hard time concentrating on certain things: i could sit and read for hours at a time but now it's near impossible for me to do that! bottom line = if you tried everything to help clear up your acne, definitely use accutane, since it does the job. Yeah there are side affects, but there's side affects to every drug and if your face really puts you down emotionally and physcologically then seriously give the 'tane a try.
This Was Helpful

23 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 14, 2010

Pros:

only been on it for a month dramatic improvement
* back acne all clear and it was really bad spots all over for years now all gone :)
*face looks clear and glowing a few scars but fading away slowly :D
* all cystic acne has gone in the first 2 weeks

Cons:

* get a little spot now and then but only been on it for a month
* dry lips and nose but it is not a problem if you moisturise ( i recomend vitamin e oil because it helps with fading scars and its anti ageing )

THE BEST DRUG EVER ! never been happier my skin is so smooth and its only the first month
This Was Helpful

20 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 13, 2010

Pros:

*clears up acne - have near perfect skin
*boosts confidence because skin clears up
*results are permanent (apparantly) :)

Cons:

*dries out the lips and they become sore
*dries inside the nose and have nosebleeds
*affects moods (or it did for me)

i have just finished and i am very happy with my skin. i feel good enough to go out with no make-up on! :) however - please think very carefully about going on. i would say it's worth it, but it affected my moods soooo bad :( i'm going through a rough patch in my life anyway - so whether or not that influences whether the medication affects your moods - i dont know. just be carefull :)
This Was Helpful

13 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 12, 2010

Pros:

-(personally) REDUCED acne and scarring
-incredibly potent and highly effective (for most)

Cons:

-dry EVERYTHING (contact users, wear glasses)
-initial breakout 2-3 months
-can cause hormonal imbalance
-suicidal thoughts
-monthly blood drawn (and ept for girls)
-flaky skin
-decreased night vision

I thought that even though it was the most powerful stuff on the market for acne, it didn't do what it needed to. However, for roughly 5-10% it has been much less effective (that was where I was.) it did help though, and I only get 5-8 red bumps perpetually. this is the medicine for those who have tried everything else. personal note: I was on it for 10 months rather then 6, this is because the acne was still there. my acne was all over and now the only areas of concern is the face and once in a while the shoulders.
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 78 79 80 81 82 … 202
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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