Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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.

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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:

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May 22, 2010

Pros:

*Pimples go away!!!
*Blackheads go away!!!
*Skin becomes oil free!!!

Cons:

*Bloody Nose
*Dry lips
*Back Aches

I told myself I would write a review if this worked and it did! I started clavaris (a brand of isotretinoin pill) in Novemeber. Within two months my blackheads started to get pushed out until I had no blackheads left. My skin, which was origionally really oily, stays oil free all day now. When I started clavaris I had about four to fve really painful pimples all over my face each day. After four months on maximum dosage, my skin was still not clearing I was convinced it wouldn't happen. By month five it finally kicked in and I havent had a pimple in a month! So be patient if your skin is taking a while to clear! Some cons about isotretinoin medication is the dry lips. Aquaphor vaseline is a miracleworker for this. I got some back aches but they weren't severe. I also got a couple nosebleeds while on clavaris which was embarassing but worth the final product. Aquaphor can be put in your nose too which moustrizes and helps prevent nosebleeds. BOTTOM LINE: This product is great and you should defineatly ask your dermatologist about it!
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May 21, 2010

Pros:

Clears skin fast! Smooths out the bumbs! Acne is dissapearing!

Cons:

Dryness everywhere! *to be expected*

I have pretty bad acne, like SEVERE. And I never leave my house because of it, or rarely do, I hate having to look like a clown with pounds of makeup and just hated life because of how BAD my acne was. It affected my life in the worst ways! So I had enough and decided to go through the long process of getting accutane. I got it, it has been one week! ONLY ONE WEEK! And I feel more confident, because I know this stuff works, my acne is going down, before it was all flared and gross, now it is subsiding and looking better than I have seen it in a long time! My skin used to be very oily and like 3 days into it, the oil goes away, and even my hair feels dryer. :) Totally worth it. So far so good, I can't wait to have PERFECT skin!
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May 20, 2010

Pros:

Clears severe acne
Leaves skin flawless
Fades scarring and red marks
gets rid of excess oil

Cons:

minor dry skin (chapped lips)
increased my liver enzymes
sunburn easily

Nothing has ever worked on my acne as well as accutane. I used to have severe nodular inflammatory acne and was finally put on accutane when it got really bad my junior year of high school. I started at 10mg first month then 20mg second month, 30mg the third and topped off at 40mg the remaining months. It took about 4-5 months before my acne was noticeably better. I didn't noticed a IB probably because my acne was already pretty bad to begin with. By 6 months there was only a few red marks left. After 9 months my skin was completely flawless and my confidence was never so high. This was the time I got my senior picture and my skin looks absolutely amazing in that picture. However around this time my monthly blood test showed very high liver enzymes out of the blue and my doctor immediately took me off without hesitation. It may have been because I started drinking around this time. DON'T drink while on accutane, it can only do you harm. About 2-3 months later my acne came back, though not nearly as severe. Now 2 years later, it has slowly gotten worse and could be considered moderate acne now. Currently I am trying tretinoin to see if it can replicate accutane's results. If you have severe acne like I did I'd give it a 5, however if your acne is only mild to moderate I'd recommend trying retin-A or another topical retinoid.
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May 17, 2010

Pros:

-No more Oily skin.
-Skin feels a lot better
-Some what feel more motivated

Cons:

-Dry eyes, skin everything
-Hair thinning, hair loss
-tired all the time
- Feel like sh*t a lot
- Make you feel angry and depressed some times
- The big one is joint pain and that sucks so much.

If you have acne that wont go away then i say take this, but bottom line, the cons are worse than the pros in my mind. If you want to clear your acne without these side effects i say follow dan's regiman and you won't experience this gay sh*t. My suggestion is its all up to you, but if i could go back, i would've not of taken it.
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May 14, 2010

Pros:

if you have horrible acne like i did in sophmore year of highschool, u need to take this drug. dont screw around with other crap like deoxycycline or differin or duac or other stuff that doesnt work. Accutane is the best period.

Cons:

If your fam has a history of hairloss, you will get it from taking this drug. Im not talking about balding, but u will get some minimal thinning in the front. however, this didnt happen until 3 years after i took it. But trust me you can always wear a hat if u want for ur hair. BUT U CAN NEVER WEAR A HAT TO COVER UR FACE!!!!!

take this drug, your acne will be destroyed. For those of you who have had instences of depression/over aggression its not because of the pill. Its because you are that way. 45 students in my highschool took this pill at 40 mg 2x a day for 6 months and not one of us had depression or over aggression. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT YOU DO NOT PICK AT THE ACNE ON UR CHEEKS WHILE ON THIS DRUG! YOU WILL GET SCARS! if you do have scars get affirm co2 laser treatments i have had two and all my deep pitted scars are completely gone.
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May 14, 2010

Pros:

Clears SKIN

Cons:

Chapped Lips
Sore Muscles - Aches & Pains
Dry Nose
Dry Skin

If your on the fence about accutane, get it! The side effects are really not that bad but waking up everyday without a new pimple is amazing. Total self confidence booster. Going the whole day working two jobs, in the heat and humidity, without being greasy is awesome. I am in my fifth (and final) month and have not had a pimple in almost two months. Get it. Get IT. Get. It.
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May 13, 2010

Pros:

Clears up skin usually after three to six months. Gives you confidence back if you were lacking any. Shrinks pores.

Cons:

Accutane is like russian roulette. By going on this drug, you should be aware of the side effects and review them very carefully. In all honesty, if I experienced a majority of the side effects, I would still go on accutane.

I'd feel like I'm betraying this drug to give it anything less than a five. While there are several side effects, accutane is the best product out there if you want to get rid of your acne.
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May 13, 2010

Pros:

Skin began clearing up within two days, felt much more confident,

Cons:

Dry lips, little back pain

I wish I had done it sooner. I've had moderate to severe acne since my freshman year of high school, and I am now about to graduate. I was going to start treatment last year but I chickened out because of some online reviews...But this year (my senior year) it got so bad that I just got fed up and took the plunge. I've been on it for about a month and the results have been awesome! Yes, the dry lips are a pain, but vaseline twice a day is all I need! The acne on my forehead, chest, and back has entirely cleared, and my cheeks are slowly becoming less red and dot-covered.
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May 10, 2010

Pros:

clearer and smoother skin, confidence

Cons:

dry lips, nose, scalp, etc. back pains, peeling skin on arms

I've had severe acne since the 7th grade. I'm now a sophomore in highschool and i've been fed up with my acne. I finally went to my derm a month ago and got on accutane starting at 80mg a day. i didn't experience anything until the end of my first week. My lips slowly got really dry but my face also started getting smoother and slightly clearer. I was slightly depressed at times but my girlfriend helped out with that. My skin looks a lot better now and i'm looking forward for more good results in the months ahead
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May 9, 2010

Pros:

Beautiful skin. Lost a little weight.

Cons:

Major depression (I wanted to kill myself), Made me crazy, overaggerate, and angry..I lost a couple friends because of it. Dry eyes..but I had contacts and it made my eyes water all the time. Dry scalp and skin. Very tired all the time. Couldnt concentrate. Bad anxiety. Bags under my eyes. My cons outweighed the pros..Unfortunately :(

I took accutane twice..the first time my acne started to come back after three months and then I took it again with the same side effects and stopped through my 2nd course because I couldnt deal with them all over again. and I was only on 10-20mg the whole time. I love how it made my skin look but I dont think I would ever take it again. Its not for everyone. Please look more into it before taking it.
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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