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 24, 2008
Cons:
BAD side effects, annoying monthly blood tests and derm visits, took forever for results to kick in, bad muscle pains especially back pains, runny nose constantly, dry skin, chapped lips etc....
I had acne for 2 years, nothing worked, no antibiotics and no creams including proactive helped. I finally took accutane. the side effects kicked in right away, however the results didn't. My acne got so much worse for most of the course. I took it 5 months. After month1 my face was worse than ever. I got the worst nose bleeds from this stuff, they were so bad it looked like a murder scene. I had bad depression but not sure how much of that this drug was responsible because i was depressed b4 i srarted this medication. It wasn't working at first so my derm gave me erthromycn pills to take with it, and the combination of the 2 used to give me bad fatigue spells to the point where i was aboutta faint. It was an up and down battle. But finally at the very end my acne went away, only to leave red marks, which was dissapointing, however over time they went away. I finished this drug almost 2 yrs ago and i've been 100% clear since no breakouts at all, and no1 today can tell i ever ha
February 1, 2008
Pros:
Amazing. Only pill that cleared ALL face/chest/back acne. Also, it kept my hair mysteriously clean and shiny while I was on it.
Cons:
Dry lips? Also a year later I had a few months of bad hair loss. But it wasn't like I had chunks of bad spots-- it was more like I had hair balls on the ground (which I have NEVER had) so I knew I was losing hair. It stopped after 5 months.
I had tried every pill that my dermatologist knows of over the span of 6 years. I responded to nothing until Accutane-- it kept me clear for abut 1.5 years (which, to an acne sufferer, is a LONG LONG time to not be ashamed of your skin). However, I now break out on my face again, and a tiny bit on my chest, but my back has stayed clear. I recommend it to ANYONE who has tried everything with no satisfaction. The only regret I have about it is that I didn't try it sooner. It was the best 1.5 years, especially since I was in high school and overly self conscious about going to dances, pool parties, etc. where I had to show a lot of skin.
February 1, 2008
Pros:
No more serious acne, skin is the clearest it has been in more than 5 years.
Cons:
Dry lips and flakey skin,which are easy enough to deal with. Developed something like a coldsore after lips got dry, crackad and an infection developed. also some mild depression and am burnt easily by the sun.
All the side effects are worth it and the whole getting sunburnt easily thing is also doing wonders for my skin because Im extra careful with sunscreen when outdoors. Has literally changed my life and now I can start working on the scars.
January 17, 2008
Pros:
PERFECTLY CLEAR BACK AND FACE
Cons:
Horrible IB which made me depressed, No drinking, dry lips, rashes on my hands, arms and legs. In the last month i got a nose bleed everyday. my nose constantly had harden blood.
I had moderate-bad acne solely on my forehead. These pimples were all over, yet they were small. then i started to get some on my cheeks and decided to go on acctuane before it got worse. the IB started a month later and was HORRIBLE. i had huge pimple on my forhead (which did clear up quickly) and MASSIVE sore ones all over my cheeks. the IB started one day and was full blown within a week. I was so moody and sad because of this. However, as quickly as the IB started, it quickly went away. I remember being embarressed one day in class and on the way home from class i could feel it getting clearer.. each day from then (month 4) it got clearer and clearer. by the end of the 4 months, it was all GONE and CLEAR! i am now 5 months post tane and have had maybe 6 SMALL pimples since then. even when i do get a pimple i had popped it and its gone the next morning. PLEASE TRY ACCUTANE! the side effects suck, but it is SO WORTH IT!!! i now wake up everyday knowing i WILL HAVE CLEAR SKIN!
January 11, 2008
Pros:
cleared up my skin.
looks way better and feels super soft.
Cons:
chapped lips. but nothing too bad. I make sure i have carmex with me ALL the time.
Its a great product.
i was scared to try it at first. I read all of the negative reviews and got myself all worked up but its the best medication i've taken. totally worth it, and with insurance very affordable.
December 24, 2007
Pros:
Cleared my acne, but only temporarily. The side effects of using accutane are not worth it. You might have clear skin for up to a year, but the rest of your body will suffer so much you won't even care.
Cons:
My skin was so dry it was painful. My lips were constantly chapped and even bled. My eyes were always red as well as my skin. The worst part was my hair! The lack of oil made my hair SO dry and thin, it seemed to just stop growing. Still not normal..
I do not recommend accutane to ANYONE unless your skin is just so bad you can deal with the horrible side effects. I also felt such a lack of energy while on accutane that I gained weight from not being able to exercise. I would have to leave the gym because I would get short or breath and my whole body would hurt. I am a very healthy person and had never experienced anything like that before. It was scary and awful. I just felt kind of "blah" the whole time I was taking the drug. Two and a half years later, my acne is back. But my hair is just now starting to return to normal. I went through so much stress as a result of accutane: noticeable thinning of my hair, no energy, weight gain, and a general worsening in my appearance. Awful, especially since I went on accutane to look better! Bottom line: NOT worth it. Bad experience. I will never ever take it again. My derm advised I try it again since my acne came back, but I would much rather just deal with it than take accutane again.
December 23, 2007
Pros:
It will clear my skin and give me confidence!
Cons:
I have noticed that my skin is starting to dry up a bit, not so oily anymore, and I love that. Lips can get a bit chapped. I started from the beginning with chap stick and lotion, so really I haven't had any problems...yet. :p
On December 28th I will have been on Accutane for 1 month. I am 23, and I was put on 40mg a day. So far I haven't had any results, but I have noticed a change in the type of ance I am now getting. It hurts pretty bad, but as we all know, it has to get worse before it gets better. I have Blue Cross PPO and therefore the generic Accutane (Isotretinion) is covered and only costs me $10. Without insurance it is around $265. And that is only for 40mg once a day. I am sure at my next office visit my Doctor will increase my dosage. I know it will work, I just want results overnight..haha. =]
Oh, I have tried Minocycline, Doxycycline, Bactrim (those are all oral), as for topicals, I have tried Differin gel, Benzaclin gel, Proactiv, all the over the counter treatments. For the oral antibiotics, It did clear up my skin for a bit, but it stopped working after a few months. So here I am, and I hope Accutane can once and for all put an end to my ance!
December 8, 2007
Pros:
My skin is completely clear. I have not had a pimple for over a month now although I do still have the acne scars.
Cons:
My lips and eyes were very dry, but it was not that bad. Definitely worth it to have clear skin.
I just got off of sotret today and my skin is finally clear after 10 years of trying every other acne medication in existence. I still have scars where I had acne before (face, chest, and back) but hopefully those will go away after time. I am hoping that it will not come back. It is the only thing that has worked for me and I LOVE having clear skin finally after so long.
November 15, 2007
Pros:
Completely clear skin for up to a year.
Cons:
Very dry lips, mouth, nose. It Was not a long term panacea as I expected.
I did my first session in 01' and was not as diligent as I should have been in the dosing. It still cleared my skin completely for a year. My second session 18 months later kept my skin quite clear for about 3 years. Now at 27 I am looking for alternatives to doing another session as my respawn acne is far more superficial and definitely not the deep cystic socially debilitating mess I faced before.
September 15, 2007
Pros:
gets ride of acne
Cons:
damaged liver, not to mention all the listed side effects not worth it..
DO NOT! use accutane yes there is no doubt it will clear up you acne but it will come back worse in a few years. It suppresses the oil glands and damages them so bad they can't do their job correctly... think about that how good can that really be for you. Not the mention the years taken off you life from liver damage and your liver is a key part in having a acne free life. I feel your pain of having acne and being ready to do ANYTHING to get rid of it no one likes it and it can be embarrassing. But they have no clue what is in store for the people that take it now you could have liver cancer or some other disease 20 years down the road they don't know, all they know is that they are making millions off people and doctors get a percentage. NOT WORTH IT AT ALL but who am i to tell you what to do.
Pros:
Cured acne problem for good