Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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.

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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.
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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! :)
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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
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August 23, 2010

Pros:

Will get rid of acne
likely not to have acne return for atleast a few years
HAPPY life when acne is gone

Cons:

RED face
Dry skin
chapped lips
aches

If you have sensitive skin then dont go on this. I went on it for three months at a medium dose and I got told atleast three times a day i need to wear sunscreen cause i was burned so bad but it wasnt from the sun it was accutane! my face was so red the whole time i was on it, it was hell. I got off and still four minths later i still have a red tint so if your thinking of going on it with sensitive skin be careful. I was willing to do anything to get rid of my acne but being tomato red all day was worse. if you dont have super sensitive skin then take it, you will not regret it
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August 19, 2010

Pros:

Helps spots.

Cons:

Ruins your body permanently.

Do not use this. It's handed out willy nilly. I don't think its even suitable for people with SEVERE acne. I'm faced with many problems due to this.
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August 18, 2010

Pros:

-My scars are beginning to subside. I am very impressed because I scar easily and they take a long time to go away

-I had a slight breakout but it went away in 2 days

-My skin feels smooth and nice

Cons:

-I've been getting small whiteheads but that's not a big deal

-My lips are a little dry but again no big deal

-My head hurts but I am not sure if its due to accutane or my stress

-This is a weird but I burp more?...LOL yeah I don't know

I've been on it for 6 days and my acne has started to go away. There are side effects but I think it all depends on what dosage the doctor put you on. I take 20mg everyday because the doctor wanted me to ease into a higher dosage without me breaking out severely. So don't be afraid of what other people said because it could be due to the dosage that they started with. But I am not really sure because the dosage is relied on weight too...who knows...anyways get it because I know my acne is going to get better from this day on
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August 18, 2010

Pros:

Skin is 98% perfect, amazing!
I get the odd blocked pore but nothing serious.
I am me again.
Confidence 200%

Cons:

Dry
Made it worse before it got better
It only looked like it started to work in the last month and I was on it for 12 months! I thought there was no hope.
Thirsty
Sun sensitivity
Can't wax AT ALL! Skin will rip off. No joke. And if you don't heal well, it can scar.

Amazing product! Love it! Pros outweigh a year of bad skin. Now I can go out of the house without any make-up complexion is almost 100%, its even, no redness. Heaven!
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August 17, 2010

Pros:

-Temporary clearance of acne
-Confidence even 6 months later
-Temporary clearance of blackheads on nose
-Skin much easier to manage
-Overall great improvement in skin

Cons:

While on Accutane:
-Red face all the time
-Peeling lips
-Low confidence from the above 2 side effects.


Six months after Accutane:
-Starting getting pimples just a week after stopping medication.
-amount of weekly pimples increased significantly over six months
-Blackheads are back on nose
-Must use Epiduo to keep skin decently clear
-Red marks after every pimple I get now
-Stress building up again about this disease

-Possibly more I just can't think

I was on it for 9 months, and I was speechless. It cleared all my acne. I was so confident. A week after I begun getting it back, and I was mortified. I had to go on Epiduo which I don't think anyone else had to go on afterwards. Red marks show up after every single pimple I get. I can't control my acne now, and I am VERY educated on skin. I don't know what to do, school starts next week. This is just my experience, everybody has a different experience. I'm probably going to have to go back on Tane. I recommend it, even though I lay in the 25% percent of people who relapse. You may be different.
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August 13, 2010

Pros:

Acne completely cleared during the 2nd month (no initial breakout) Face was smooth, pores shrunk, skin was glowing and oil-free!

Cons:

*Bad ezema on arms and hands.
*Dry, bloody cracked lips (painful to smile)
*Dry eyes.
*HAIR LOSS!!!! I finished my treatment 3 months ago and my hair is now falling out A LOT!. I did not experience this during treatment, my hair was fine.
*Headaches the first couple of days.

My face was completely clear during the 2nd month and stood completely clear throughout my treatment. After stopping my treatment I notice that I started getting small and very mild breakouts (maybe once a month) but most importantly MY HAIR!!!! It's thinning BAD and I'm terrified. I read that it's temporary and the hair will grow back but can takes months even years. I can deal with thin hair (I guess) I just don't want to go bald! :(
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August 12, 2010

Pros:

-First Clear Skin in 2 Years
-Confidence
-Happiness

Cons:

-Quite emotionally draining
-Dry Lips
-Eczema
-Scared about other side effects
-Initial breakout

After suffering with bad acne for over 2 years of antibiotics, creams and home remedies, the emotional effects of acne began to take their toll. At first I was very afraid of the side effects (especially hairloss), but after 6 months of Accutane I experienced none of these "scare stories". The hair loss is extremely scary for those who suffer it- but honestly you would be shocked how many hairs you lose daily anyway- and sadly i think many people stop despite purely normal hair shedding. I very nearly did, and 6 months down the line am SO glad I carried on. You cannot put a price on clear skin- i say if your acne is bothering you- don't let anyone stop you from sorting it out. There are side-effects, but all of these are nothing compared to the side effects of acne.
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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