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
May 17, 2012
Cons:
initial breakout
dry skin/lips/eyes
I had been struggling with acne since the 7th grade. I literally probably tried every dermotologist prescribed medication on the market. Finally, my derm prescribed me accutane in 11th grade. My skin at this point was BAD. cystic acne all over my chin mostly. I was so insecure I would leave at the bell and go straight home. I was too embarassed to have much of a social life. I'm not going to lie, the initial breakout was horendous and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. My skin got about 10X worse before it started clearing up. But it was worth it. By the 2nd month my skin was mostly clear. My lips however were suuuuper chapped and cracked. At the end of my 5 months of accutane my skin was completely clear and I was amazed!!!! My acne stayed away for most of 12th grade and I was back to my confident self. However, when I approached 2nd semester of college my skin started to break out agaiun. I am on accutane again and hope to see the same results. The initial breakout was, once again, horendous.but lucky for me I went on a trip and had 2 weeks off of work :) I really hope this is the last time I have to go on accutane but it did change my life for the better. You just gotta keep at it and be educated and prepared! good luck!
May 1, 2012
Pros:
- Completely clear
- Only thing that's ever worked for me
Cons:
- Chapped, red lips
- Impossibly dry scalp (spent 6 months not wearing black)
- Overall unhappiness while on the medication
I've had cystic acne my whole life. Tried every Rx available (yes, I always used them properly and for the recommended duration of treatment), every OTC topical, four rounds of IPL with ALA, and as a bonus point for the "homeopathic/holistic health" crowd...yes I tried eating organic, wholesome, low GI foods, changing my exercise and sleep patterns, yoga, meditation, etc. Nothing worked. Accutane did. I found the side effects (mostly dryness) manageable using Dan's jojoba oil and moisturizer. And Aquaphor--lots of it. It also wore me out and made me pretty unhappy by the end of the regimen, but that might be attributable to its coinciding with finals week and semester's end. Hard to tell. Nonetheless, it was a miracle drug for me, and I recommend it.
April 30, 2012
Pros:
-Clear skin on face and body
-Reduces oil on skin and hair
-Confidence
Cons:
-Initial Breakout
-Dry skin and lips
-Initial Depression
I've been on Accutane the full 6 months and it's been a crazy journey! The initial breakout was horrible and it took a few months to clear up but it was completely worth it. It took much longer for the acne on my shoulders to clear up but now in the 6th month, I'm acne free. I completely recommend Accutane! Especially before you or your children develop acne scars which are irreparable. It's a tough journey but I have battled acne all throughout my adolescent years and 6 months on Accutane is much better than years of struggling with acne. I'm 20 now and I have acne scars that won't ever go away and I only wish that I would have done Accutane when I was younger. I went through a few days of depression during the initial breakout but it lasted no more than a few days and wasn't detrimental. I just didn't feel like going out or being with people due to the initial breakout. For those of you who are going through the initial breakout, stick with it! It hasn't been until just recently that I've seen consistent results so don't give up after month 4 and 5. Also, my doctor told me that the majority of Accutane users see more results after they get off of the Accutane. 6 months goes by faster than you think so hold on, you'll see clear, beautiful skin soon!
April 4, 2012
I finally have my skin back after years of misery. The image obsessive media and shallow people in the world made me feel like a freak, now i no longer have to worry about people judging me which is all i wanted from this drug. Thanyou accutane!
December 24, 2011
Pros:
Completely eliminated acne
No redness
No cysts
No spots/yellows
No blackheads
Cons:
Really dry lips
Came back within 2 months!!!
minor joint pain
Isotretinoin was one of the best things I ever did. It got rid of my acne completely and boosted my confidence sky high. Didn't really suffer that
many side-effects, but I was on the lowest dose for my bodyweight. The really bad thing was though; it came back!!! Within a month or so, it my acne came back with a bite, but at least I no longer get cysts and is now only moderate, I am back on it now, hoping to rid of it again soon!
December 15, 2011
Pros:
some improvement in skin texture
Cons:
dry cracked lips
body aches
worse break outs than before
I've been on Amnesteem for almost 4 months, I'm just now finishing month 3. I'm getting really nervous that its not working for me because my skin is not clearing. In fact, once month 2 hit my skin broke out and flared in places it never has before, with big painful cysts. After being put on a steroid, my skin calmed down, but I'm still waking up every morning with new cysts... THEY HURT! My back acne especially...Does anyone have any advice? Please tell me it's going to get better and I'm going to get the "perfect" skin everyone else brags about after going on this stuff. I'm really losing hope and my self esteem is really being affected. So frustrating.
December 6, 2011
Pros:
Temporary clear skin
Cons:
Everything..... Results are only temporary
Causes so many problems and at the end of it your acne comes back
The more people I can stop from taking this medication the better. Acne started at around 16, took all the antibiotics, oxytetracycline, 2 types of minocycline, erythromycin, amoxicillin and lymecycline. Took these for years, nothing worked. At same time had benzoyl peroxide, zineryt, clindamycin, retin a, differin, duac. The effect of these topicals was very minor, and they caused irritation and redness. Finally referred to a derm, and was prescribed accutane 30mg for first 2 months, 60 for next 2, and the last 2 dose dependant on how well it was working. Cut a long story short, nearly all my hair fell out, the redness and flushing was unbearable, sever gastro problems, nose constantly pissing with blood, severe joint, muscle and tendon pain, lips so dry they bleed. I looked and felt this way for 6 damn months, acne didnt start clearing until month 4, acne came back after about 6 months. Not worth it. This medication damages your body beyond belief. The flushing and facial redness is much worse than spots, believe me. People, there is no cure for acne, all this crap we take either doesnt work or it makes us red and masks the spots and we think its working. I was one of the people who was on the internet every night, researching accutane, deciding whether or not to take it. I wish I had never put this poison into my body, because now i'm so messed up its unreal, all for a few spots. Spots will go away in time, just be nice to your skin and if they bother you, buy a quality concealer. Please dont take this poison; I will never be the same a
October 16, 2011
Pros:
dried up oil
cleared skin pretty quickly
Cons:
dry eyes
dry lips
dandruff
rash
severe joint pain
Can't drink alcohol
loss of appetite
I wished I had a better experience on Accutane. At first I really liked it. But after a month all of the skin peeled off of my arms and I got a rash, so my dosage was reduced. I was initially on 40mg a day but went to 40mg every other day. After another month, I had to stop taking accutane because of severe joint pain and loss of appetite. I've been off of Accutane for about 2 weeks and although the oil is still gone, my face has completely gone haywire. I am more broken out than ever before. I'm not sure if it's the accutane leaving my system. I have an appt to see my derm in 3 days so hopefully some light can be shed.
March 23, 2011
Pros:
-Made my face completely clear for 1 year
-Was the only thing that worked
-Made me lose water weight- I 'felt' skinnier
-Miracle Drug!!
Cons:
-my acne came back after 1 year after treatment
- my Dr. is making me try every other treatment again before going on a 2nd regimen of accutane(it is hard to get it prescribed)
-had slightly dry lips and skin
I was awesome!! It made my skin beautiful!! It is truly a miracle drug! It has been a year now and my acne is back :( My doctor is now having me use retin-A with cephalexin. Has anyone has success treatment with this post- accutane??
February 7, 2011
Pros:
cleared skin
Cons:
suffered very bad side affects, severe headache, sight problems, joint ache etc.
worked but not worth the side affects, i was literally bed bound from the second day of use. it took three days from stopping the treatment to return back to normal.
Pros:
clear skin
confidence
non greasy hair & skin