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:
October 9, 2010

Pros:

Gets rid of your acne and even when you do get an occasional pimple all i have to do is put a little cream on it and its gone the next day.

Cons:

Will dry out your skin, and make your face red even after the treatment is done. Will dry out your face so much you could get cracks in your face and get staff infection.

If you have been struggling with acne for months even years, i would recommend this product. This product is a life saver and a confidence booster! I love being able to touch my face without touching a zit! I would recommend, after the treatment, that you wash your face twice a day, put moisturizer on at LEAST once a day, and where minimal make up.
This Was Helpful

19 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 8, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up facial acne in ten days flat.

100% clear now after 3 weeks

Cons:

Bacne is taking a little longer

Low dose = No side effects whatsoever!

Low dose at 20mg cleared me up in 10 days flat! Miracle drug I had tried everything! The only thing I could contemplate calling a side effect is occasionally I have dry lips. If you are on the fence like I was for 4 years - do it at low dose! I regret not taking it years ago. Forget self-diagnosis and reading on this forum, the derm will prescribe it if you need it and it will work. This forum persuaded me out of using it for 4 years. I decided to just take it and see how it went. 10 days was all it took for me to realise what a fool I had been researching papers & studies - leave that to the docs and derms.
This Was Helpful

36 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 6, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up my acne on face, chest and back.

Cons:

Dry skin.
Dry lips.
Dry scalp.
Loss of focus.

I had acne since the start of 7th grade up until about this summer. I am now a Junior in college, so it is a long time. I tried just about everything! Tazorac worked well for me in getting rid of some acne but it just kept coming back. After the first month on Accutane my skin looked great. I have one month left and hope it stays clear. I do have some red marks and scaring but hopefully that will go away too. The dry skin, scalp and lips didn't bother me that much. I used cetaphil face wash and lotion, A LOT of chapstick and head and shoulders. Also, am a swim lesson instructor and in chlorinated water at least 5 days a week for about 3-4 hours at a time, which made my skin more dry. The lack of focus sucked...since I am a Junior in College but it was worth it if my skin stays like this. I recieve tons of comments from people about how clear and soft my skin looks. It is amazing. The monthly blood tests and derm. visits are a drag. Overall a great product.
This Was Helpful

29 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 6, 2010

Pros:

none. it didn't work for clearing acne

Cons:

very dry lips, excema patches throughout body, and a little bit of the "hazy brain"
Though, I could have just seen that symptom because I had heard about it.

My Accutane treatment was 6 months, 20mg, to 40mg, to 60 mg, to 80 mg, to 90 mg for the last two months. Accutane did not work - my acne was entirely due to hormone fluctuations, and taking birth control has now cured me of my acne. The doctor I obtained the accutane from did very little to review my medical history, beyond finding out what acne drugs I had taken up until the moment of my considering Accutane. Very much like a one-trick pony, she immediately recommended Accutane, saying that she does it all the time. While I can't entirely blame her, as I came to her with ten past years of failed acne treatments, all on the traditional "route" of increasingly potent anti-biotics and topicals, it amazes me that no medical professional looked at the whole picture of my health to try and see what could be causing my acne. Accutane was a huge hassle, and it took my own initiative of asking my general practitioner to prescribe Yaz for my acne to go away. Now I have a dermatologist who is completely against Accutane, and I agree. While I see that it has been beneficial for many people, I view it as a very dangerous drug, and I am disappointed that I decided to take it, albeit my exasperation in the ten years of failed acne drugs led me to that decision. My advice is to consider all external factors, both your environment and physical problems that may not seem like they relate to your acne, before resorting to Accutane. Get multiple opinions from different doctors, and consider that there may be future ramifications, even once you are off the drug. (although I have not experienced any) Now I am left with greater scarring from the acne I had while on Accutane, and I also have to wait a year before taking steps against the residual scars.
This Was Helpful

11 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 1, 2010

Pros:

I took 40mg per day for 5 months
GOT RID OF MY ACNE!!!!!!!
Something that worked for once in my life!
Worked in about 3 months of taking it, which is alot quicker than anything else!

After 3 months of taking it I have had NOT one single pimple!!! Its been nealry 4 months since I have had not had one single spot!

Cons:

I really can't say anything bad about accutane because I did not suffer any severse side effects, but did have dry lips, dry arms, there was a intial breakout but it really wasn't that bad.

The best decision for my life I wish I had tried it years ago, i could have saved my getting some nasty acne scars :( If you are suffering from acne, I would say talk to a dermatlogist and consider trying accutane. Goodluck!!
This Was Helpful

29 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 28, 2010

Pros:

it DOES work - my skin is smoother, pimples have gone and I feel so much better, plus my skin has never felt so good (you could literally go a week without washing it!!!)

Cons:

dryness - eyes, nose and lips, but nothing that cannot be handled with chapstick and vaseline!

It really is amazing stuff and to think I very nearly didn't start treatment - I cried after I left my appointment as I was terrified about side effects and I was probably also in denial about how bad my skin was! However, I am now on my last week of treatment (after 6 months) and it was genuinely one of the best decisions I have ever made. My skin isn't completely perfect - still slightly red, but can be 100% covered up with make up and is most importantly, very smooth (and will continue to improve apparently..even after treatment.) After trying all the antibiotics and creams under the sun, I can honestly say that this is the only thing that will clear stubborn acne. Sure, the side effects are a worry and maybe I have been lucky, but apart from a little bit of achyness and tiredness (which may not have even been the drug, as I play a fair bit of sport) I have felt totally myself throughout the treatment and the dryness is absolutely nothing in comparison to regaining confidence!! Just a note however, that it did take an age to kick in, I got very disheartened 3 months into treatment and so if you're reading this thinking the same, please persevere! The feeling of waking up with no new spots is incredible after suffering for the past 4 years and I am now about to start university with lovely skin! So don't get put off by the negative reviews - I know everyone reacts differently to it, but the best thing you can do is give it a try!
This Was Helpful

25 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 22, 2010

Pros:

EVERYTHING
clears acne up. its amazing!! highly recommended!

Cons:

dry skin all over body
got eczema on arms for 1st time ever
got very dry scalp
dry lips
but these are all easy things to treat!

do it!! i put of taking roaccutane for years as family said it was too strong for my acne. my skin wasn't that bad but it effected me and my confidence and it was constant. i always had stubborn spots that wouldn't go. true a few things worked liked laser treatment, proactiv, pills and potions form the doctor but the spots always came back or it wouldn't clear completely. so after 12 years of spots, turning 26 years old and seeing my friends skin clear up amazingly on roaccutane i decided to go for it and im soooo glad i did. sure dry skin, eczema and dandruff is annoying but not as annoying as feeling so self conscious about ur face and worrying about ur make-up all the time. the side effects are easy to treat. use a good moisturiser like 3 times a day. i also used jojoba oil at night. look after yourself. i cut out drinking for the 4 months and started a diet and exercising. use a anti dandruff shampoo, moisturiser ur whole body every morning and have a lip balm on you at all times. it took like 3 months to see any difference but i have now finished my 4 months and my skin is clear. this really is a miracle drug. sure some people get worse side effects but thats the gamble with any drug u take and 99% of people will be fine. so take it, get clear skin and get your life back! im so happy i took it!
This Was Helpful

18 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 20, 2010

Pros:

No pros to report.

Cons:

Massive Side Effects.
Didn't change my acne.

NEVER TRY THIS! I got this on prescription about 20 years ago (without any warning about the side effects from my doctor). After a few weeks it killed ALL my joints. Every joint in my whole body was hurting and making strange noises. I then stopped Accutane but I still have severe problems with my joints. Now, I soon will have to get knee implants.. So, my advice is clear: never try Accutane, it's not worth it.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 19, 2010

Pros:

None to speak of as yet apart from my psoriasis clearing up.

Cons:

very dry nose, very fragile skin, very dry lips, bad aches in my olwer legs and back, extreme sweating, bad mood swings. no holiday to egypt this year and no alchohol. the alchohol thing is just my choice.

im 38 now and have suffered from cystic achne since i was 19 and have taken this medication twice since. i am into my 15th week now and im not convinced yet. the aching joints are getting worse and the fatigue is no better. my hands are in a bad state from the construction work i do because my skin is so fragile. i also train with the boxers 3 times a week and this is becoming almost impossible due to the constant aches, pains and tiredness. also when im in the gym i must sweat at least a gallon and dont know weather its just my nose but the sweat does have resembling smell of urine. the 1 good thing is that i had psoriasis before i started the course but its gone now. im on 80mg per day and i will stick it for another 6 weeks max then if its no better ill live with it. ill keep posted.
This Was Helpful

Report
September 18, 2010

Pros:

It works! Oil free, clear skin without the need to cover it up with make up!

Cons:

Aside from the typical dry skin/lips...
-Rash/Eczema on hands, arms and now legs
-Nausea and other digestive disturbances
-Pain in low back, hips and elbows
-Losing more hair than usual
-Really irritable mood!
Recently my eyes have become more red and dry. They look and feel really irritated. My liver enzymes/Cholesterol are high.

My skin looks fantastic but I am giving up after 3 months due to all the side effects. Some people feel that you can't put a price on clear skin, but I feel that you can't put a price on your health!
This Was Helpful

21 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 80 81 82 83 84 … 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