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
October 17, 2010
Cons:
I have scars, not necessarily the medication's fault. When Isotretinoin works correctly you should clear up completely by the third month. My derm was unaware of this and refused to switch my brand as he thought this was fine. I kept breaking out into my 6th month and because of the extreme sensitivity of my skin, all my new breakouts left scars. I don't pick! It was the sensitivity of being on the meds for months with no change that caused my skin to scar.
I had a different kind of acne that I never see anyone posting about so hopefully this will help someone else out. I had nodular acne but it was sparse. I would have 2 or 3 pencil eraser-sized pimples at a time. They were painful and took 2-3 weeks to go away. By reading my "Cons" section you can see the only reason I had scars is because I needed to switch brands since Claravis didn't work so well for me. My boyfriend started on Claravis but his derm switched him to another brand after 1 month. He has no scars but after finishing his treatment he still breaks out with one or two large pimples on his face and his back breaks out severely. I believe he may need a second treatment as this is common. I have been off Isotretinoin for 2 months now and as I mentioned in my "Pros", I only breakout in pore-sized pimples if that and it is ALWAYS because I fell asleep with my make-up on. I use the AHA lotion from this site and it prevents anything else from popping up and I use Everyday Minerals make-up which covers my scars amazingly yet is inexpensive and doesn't clog my pores (as long as I wash my face at night haha). I would say the AHA lotion has also been helping the redness of my most recent scars to fade faster than they were on their own. I love it, been getting my younger brother on it. But back to the purpose of this review. I would recommend Isotretinoin. If you do not clear up within the first two months talk to your doctor about switching to another brand so you don't get scars. If you need a second treatment, I would say it's worth it too. I never had any bad side effects mentally or such and I would be an at-risk candidate. I weigh 103 and my derm had me on 2x40 a day which was WAY over my weight limit.
October 14, 2010
Pros:
Cleared my skin after 2 weeks, I am 18 and have been breaking out with moderate severe acne since I was 14 (plenty of white heads, zits, a few cysts here and there). I went through tons of different OTC treatments, retin a, antibiotics and this is the only thing that worked at all.
Cons:
SUPER dry skin, hair, eyes, nostrils
Decreased night vision
Some aches after running or working out
Monthly blood tests
can't drink alcohol
red marks heal really slowly
Acne was literally crushing me, I was anti social and deathly insecure, I avoided any socializing with anyone besides my closest friends, I mostly just spent my time playing wow or getting stoned by myself (I blame this destructive behavior solely on my insecurities rooted in my acne symptoms.) Accutane, despite its negative side effects gave me a life, I am slowly gaining much more confidence in myself when it comes to meeting new people, talking to girls etc. I am now proud to go and hang out with friends at the football game, go to parties and flirt with the opposite sex. I should have taken this back when I was 14
October 10, 2010
Pros:
My skin was perfect!
Cons:
The price is high if not covered by insurance.
Dry nostrils and irritable mood was the only side effects I suffered
Took this when I was 25. At the time my skin was very bad. After the regime my skin was perfect for a few years. The acne came back after about five years but came back very mild and still is15yrs later. My Dr. was very responsible. Gave me a blood pregnancy and cholesterol test every month. Made me give up fatty foods and alcohol before starting Accutane.
October 10, 2010
Pros:
None!
Cons:
It's a poison, literally! Could cause depression, liver damage, permanent thinning of the skin, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, hair loss, blood problems, basically every side affect known to man and these could develop months, even years after you stop treatment.
You have to be either stupid or extremely vain to take Accutane. This drug is a poison, and what a lot of people don't know is, Accutane was developed in the early 80s as a cancer medicine because it kills cells. Its purpose is too stop the sebaceous glands from producing oil, which is not even natural. When my doctor gave me the pamphlet explaining Accutane, I couldn't help but notice that the patient's skin in the after photos ten years later looked horrible! My doctor treated me like I was crazy because I did not want to take Accutane. The truth is, they just want an easy way to treat acne and don't take into account the potential harm it can inflict on the human body. Just look at the PSAs on TV and notice how the drug companies who make Accutane are being sewed by hundreds of people who took it. In the long run, you have to ask yourself a really crucial question. Would you rather have dry, chapped, crappy looking skin without acne, or would you rather be a human being and bear the zits?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!
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!
Pros:
I almost never break out anymore, not like I used to. I feel like now I am one of those people who complains about a zit the size of mechanical pencil lead (because that's how tiny they are), and they go away in a day if that.