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:
September 17, 2010

Pros:

cleared my skin for the most part but i still have pimples from time to time but nothing like before my skin is mostly clear

Cons:

the initial breakout for me was the worst acne i have ever had and it started about a month in and lasted for about 4 months and it made my back hurt but that went away after treatment and dry lips of course

i have had acne for about 10 years and i knew i had to try this but i almost stopped the treatment because i was breaking out so bad i did not want to go out in public it was very hard but im glad i stuck with it because it worked i have clear skin and it is great i love it
This Was Helpful

28 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 16, 2010

Pros:

Can clear your skin temporarily, sometimes permanently.

Cons:

Side effects are horrible and can kill you or severely impact your life.

TAKING THIS DRUG WAS THE WORST DECISION IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. Five years after taking the drug I still suffer from many debilitating side effects. Sjogren's syndrome, severe headaches, fatigue, neurological problems, muscle problems. I have not been the same since taking the drug and I probably never will be. Most people do not know that Accutane is a CHEMOTHERAPY drug that was originally designed to indiscriminately kill cells in your body with the hope of killing cancer. Simply put, it is poisonous. Even if you do not experience side effects immediately, long term problems can occur years later due to the heinous damage this drug can do to your body. I cried tears of joy when I got the Accutane prescription from my doctor, but now I feel like crying tears of anguish daily at the mistake I made in taking this garbage. I am in my mid twenties and I feel like my life is over. Seriously, just look up the long term side effects on google. Most people will probably not listen to me, but do not say that I did not warn you.
This Was Helpful

25 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 15, 2010

Pros:

works like magic
been clear for 20+ years

Cons:

dry eyes, dry nose, dry scalp, chapped lips, very miserable for the first couple of months.

Went from looking like i had been in a fire because my face was so covered with cystic acne that only got worse as was prescribed one antibiotic after another till my doctor finally reluctantly put me on accutane. I am left with scars some 25 years later but I didn't get pregnant while on the medication and I have 3 beautiful perfect girls that unfortunately have their mother's skin. I am taking them both in tomorrow to get on it! Keep in mind I was paying $100 a month 25 years ago! And it was worth every penny!
This Was Helpful

14 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 12, 2010

Pros:

Cystic acne gone
Blackheads gone
No more oilyness/greasyness
Confidence

Cons:

Got MUCH worse before better
dry skin
cracked lips
some achyness

This medicine took me through hell and back, but the ride was worth it. My acne got severely worse before I saw improvement. I broke out on about every square inch of my face. Luckily, I began my accutane (I was on the brand "claravis" right before school ended, so I had a lot of time before school started. After 3 months, my face stopped breaking out and all my acne began to go away. I am left with redness, but I am told that it will heal faster once I am off accutane. I havent had a breakout since. If nothing has worked for you in the past to clear your skin, accutane is a good last effort.
This Was Helpful

10 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 11, 2010

Pros:

Gets rid of acne when nothing else does. Changes your life (for the better in most cases).
Restores confidence.

Cons:

Side effects can be a bit creepy.
Blood and pregnancy testing (if applicable) are a pain.
Can be expensive if you don't have insurance.
Can potentially lead to long term health problems for some people (debated).

My side effects were -Dry skin, lips, and eyeballs. -Very brittle skin- scratches that would have normally been nothing would bleed and take a while to heal. -My liver enzymes went up so I had to reduce my dose. -Bizarre pain in the heels and achilles (which was reported by others on the accutane logs) -freckled very easily in the sun ALL OF THIS WAS 100000000% worth it. I am so much happier having taken this drug. I used to think about my skin constantly and now I get to think about other things. I look better and feel better and really feel like I can put the years of acne and failed treatments behind my (forever hopefully). If you have problems consider lowering your dose. Odds are you will still have a good outcome and lessen the side effects. Don't be too scared to try this. I wish I had taken it two years sooner at least. I ended up loading my body up with all that crap, AND THEN ALSO accutane. I should have just cut to the chase. If a doc tells you your acne isn't bad enough and you have nodular or cystic acne, or chronic moderate acne or worse, find someone else. Get this drug guys, I can't emphasize that enough.
This Was Helpful

9 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 8, 2010

Pros:

It was a huge confidence booster, it completely smoothes out your skin, and eliminates all of your acne!

Cons:

Dry lips, you're going to need LOTS of chapstick.

I have suffered with acne for as long as I can remember. I've always been the girl that wears too much make up to cover it up and it was humiliating. I decided to make a change and went on this site to see what were good options for me. This drug completely changed my life. I used to avoid taking pictures and participating in many of my school activities because I felt so self-concious about my face. I'm a completely different person now. I still have light scarring but all of my acne has cleared and I would highly highly recommend it. This drug will change your life.
This Was Helpful

17 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 8, 2010

Pros:

Hair & face less greasy
rarely any new zits

Cons:

Increased Sweating
Icreased hair shedding after completion
very dry lips and skin

I have gotten maybe 5 Zits in the past 6 months i have been off accutane. I used to constantly have actleast 10 large Painful zits and 15 others. My skin has gotten alot clearer and has continued to be alot less oily even 6 months later. Moistrouize your holy body especially your lips prior to starting accutane. The pros far out way the cons!
This Was Helpful

7 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 7, 2010

Pros:

Cystic acne gone
Blackheads gone
New hope for clear skin

Cons:

Peeling lips - facial skin
Potential side effects kinda scary
MAJOR sensitivity to sun
Took a long time - 4 months to see results
Lots of redness

My daughter was on 40 mg 2x daily for 5 months - our hope was that she would be clear for the start of freshman year in high school. She had cystic acne bumps before that would last up to two months at at time and tried other antibiotics, creams, high dose retin A was quite severely burning her skin. She also had alot of redness from the various creams and lotions prescribed. Since I was the driving force behind all the work - encouraging her to take meds, getting her to appt., and nagging her to do ipledge - wanted to post our experience. I judge that unless you have moderately severe to severe cystic acne - this product is not for you. I see that people say their skin clears up in the first few weeks? I have been reading posts for the full time my daughter has taken this medicine and I wonder if doctors are prescribing this too easily. Her major cysts became extremely worse in the first three months - as we were told - she even had grown ups commenting that they had acne and that it would all go away soon - so embarrassing for a 14 yr old girl! Obviously they had no idea she was taking such an extreme medicine to clear her up. If I can offer any advice it would be WEAR SUNSCREEN! I would nag my daughter to put sunscreen on all thru the summer, she got blisters on her shoulder one time and then still didn't learn. She got a BAD sunburn on her face and the doctor asked about the redness - two weeks later - and just kind of shrugged her shoulders. It would have helped immensely if her doctor would have stressed profusely the need to wear sunscreen all the time instead of me nagging her. ANother sunburn on the face - blisters and all - from being at a soccer game in the afternoon - about two weeks before her final dose. Now she is horribly red and peeling, using an aveeno ultra calming moisturizer to get her back to normal. Not the end result she wanted to start high school. She is doubting whether it was worth it. I think it was.
This Was Helpful

2 user(s) found this helpful

Report
September 7, 2010

Pros:

IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS GOT RID OF MY ACNE I HAVE HAD FOR LIKE 9 YEARS!
I HAD NONE OF THE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS!

I took 40mg for 5 months and in the FIRST WEEK it totally got rid of my oily skin!!!!
My skin is now completely oil free AND acne free!!!!!

Cons:

I would not really say these were cons but the general...
-dry skin
-dry bleeding lips
-have to wait a few months for it to work

its a miracled drug!!! goodluck with anyone going ahead with this! :)
This Was Helpful

14 user(s) found this helpful

Report
August 26, 2010

Pros:

Im acne free!!! the only medication who really worked for me!!!

Cons:

I had a really bad allergic reaction to it and had to go to the hospital. Big itchy red plaque all over my body. Huge red ears and lips.

Buy it if you want to try but there is still a risk of allergic reaction and others bad things
This Was Helpful

3 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 81 82 83 84 85 … 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