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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July 29, 2011

Pros:

Takes care of oil problem and cleared some acne.

Cons:

Did not clear the majority of acne even after 6 almost 7 months.
Very dry lips
nose bleads (not really a big deal)
soar joints

Works great for oil but did not clear my acne. I know my case would be considered rare but even though I am not clear I would do it again because my oil problem was fixed. Before accutane my face would be oily 10 min. after I washed my face but now I don't have any oil at all. The nose bleads only came about once a week so nbd but the dry lips were challanging to deal with. I am constantly reapplying lip balm. My skin never became too dry only a few flakes and a rash once which can be taken care of with some lotion. I do reccomend this as a last resort. Also don't get your hopes up early I will soon be in my seventh month and still have breakouts. Oh and I'm 105 pounds and on 40 mg.
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July 5, 2011

Pros:

Made acne slightly better.
Stopped major acne break outs

Cons:

I have been on Accutane for 6 months and expected MUCH better results. I've stopped taking the drug, as my doctor says my skin will continue to improve after the treatment.
Sensitive, itchy skin all over body.
Cut/scratch very easily.
Nose bleeds, dry/cracked skin on and inside nose.
Anxiety.
Crying spells/feeling down.
Achy joints.

After stopping my course of Roaccutane after 6 months, I feel like it was not worth it. I'm hoping that my skin will continue to improve (as the doctor said) and that the redness of my face will start to go away. Alot of people are really positive about their Roaccutane treatment, and I wish I could say the same. I thought it would be alot more effective that it was. However, I was relieved when the doctor said he wanted to take me off the drug, as I was really starting to get fed up of the side effects! From my experience, I wouldn't recommend it, but after reading so many other reviews by other Accutane users, I'd suggest you gave it a try, as it may work for you.
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June 29, 2011

Pros:

clear acne completely (for a period of time)
even the black head was so much lesser...

Cons:

horrible acne on face during first few months and I would not want to leave house..
too dry that i cannot do anything with it....
skin rash..
I was on accutane for 2 times....first times clear skin completely then acne came back after 8 months. 2nd time was also the same...acne came back after a year

it only works for me for a short period of time.. and i felt so confident about my skin and i was able to go out WITHOUT ANY MAKE UP. i always had to put on make up to cover my pimples.... but I think i will not go on accutane again because everytime pimples do come back....and i do not think its worth for my body to undergo all the side effects again....all i do now is drink more water and eat healthy... it really depends on different person....but it just did not work for me....too bad.. if i have to go through all these side effects again (ie bad pimples first few months and dryness then pimples back), i'd honestly rather drink more water and eat healthy even thou sometimes i do feel like a chore...
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June 26, 2011

Pros:

Helps clear skin

Cons:

Drys out eyes
Drys lips and rest of the body
Depression!!!
Reactions to water and other products
Super sensitivity.

I used all the acne medication there is and was referred to a dermatologist who prescribed me Accutane. At first it didnt really work but I've been on it for 7 months and seen minimal changes in my skin. I havent had a breakout since I've been on it which is a positive sign!
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5 user(s) found this helpful

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June 24, 2011

Pros:

It works (for a while at least)

Cons:

dry skin, dry eyes
nausea
headaches
nasty side effects AFTER quitting

I started taking it after trying antibiotics but they didn't work, so the Dr. suggested Accutane. I was 20 years old and had had acne only for a few months, but it was severe. After taking it what looked like open wounds on my cheeks cleared with almost no scarring. While taking it I could tolerate the side effects (headaches, dry eyes, nausea and even vomit) but when i came off of it , it was horrible. I had severe depression, lost weight, hairloss and my bloodtests showed that it messed my system. AND my acne came back (about 3 years later) so, i think it's not worth to put your body through it, consider other alternatives before taking it
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May 24, 2011

Pros:

HIGLY EFFECTIVE (only if it's used under strictly dermatologist advices).

Cons:

Very annoying and aggresive symptoms caused by Isotrerinoin.
Very high price (at least in my country).
Use only in severe acne.
Needs at least a combination of other 4 products.
Need a supervision of a doctor and in some cases blood tests during the treatment.

Im 17 years old, the treatment was for 6 months after that i enjoy a pefect face 0% acne, that was just for the 2 months after i finished with the Isotretinoin. One day i discovered a black point in my face, i think i would be normal because of my past several acne but by the time pass my acne became much more severe and in few weeks just after my 2 months of glorius skin, my face was worse than ever. I heard about so many people that the treatment was 100% effective for them and the effectivness was for a long time but for some reason it wasn't effective for me. If you choose Isotretinoin you have to be sure to handle first the annoying symptoms caused by the medicine (in some cases the symptoms of the medicine are worst than a light or moderate acne, i recommend to choose alternative products) and second you'll have to maintain (for the rest of your life) very clean your face, if you don't want acne come back and repeat the treatment again like me. Now seriously im thinking of taking the treatment again because the effects of the medicine, i don't know how but i have learned to accept and to be more confident in myself and i think its the most powerfull remedy for the acne.
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May 23, 2011

Pros:

90% of People taking this treatment will never get symptoms of acne again.
The most effective medicine for acne i've tried.

Cons:

Dry Lips, Dry Skin.
Got some muscle aches at the start but not so much now.
Had to curb alcohol intake.

Very effective results. I have much clearer skin and see this continuing to be the case. I can see that some people complained about this stuff a lot but If you have a bombsite of a back like mine did due to acne then this medicine is a godsend. Feel much more confident and there isn't as much pain.
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May 6, 2011

Pros:

- Clears up skin while on drug/ short time after
- Nice skin glow during treatment
-Got rid of cystic acne
-Boosts self esteem

Cons:

- Dry lips
-Sensitive skin
-increased redness
-possible long term consequences
-NOT a cure
-Acne comes back

I went on accutane (amnesteem) after my acne of 4 years developed into awful cystic acne. no other topical or oral medication seemed to work. I started my course last January and ended it last July (total of 6 months). During the treatment, it took time for my skin to clear up and red marks to heal, but my cystic acne cleared and my skin was no longer oily. However, my red marks were bad and still remained. A couple months after the end of the treatment, my skin started to increase in oily-ness, and I started to break out again. No cystic acne, but leading up to now, my acne has gotten pretty bad again, and my skin is MORE oily than before. My skin has also increased in redness due to new acne, and I'm considering a second course, as no topicals or meds are working (shocker). Understand that everyones skin is different, however, people should not be posting reviews to this drug a week or month after/during the treatment. You need to wait a couple months to see long term results, or whether your acne comes back. Because mine came back pretty badly.
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April 17, 2011

Pros:

Cleared up my skin

Cons:

Harsh on my body

I had tried most everything and this was the last thing my doctor had for me to try. My initial blood test came back great, the one after the first month did also, but after the second month my liver enzymes had gone out the roof! Fortunately, though, they have gone down since I quit taking it. I know it works great for some people, but it is not for everyone.
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April 10, 2011

Pros:

-TEMPORARILY cleared up acne
-confidence level completely boosted up
-less oil production
-not embarrassed to leave the house

Cons:

-started coming back slowly after a month or so
-in the beginning of taking it, acne got much worse and then better
-red face all the time, even after being off of it for about 5 months now
-depression
-almost lost hearing
-chapped lips & skin
-high triglycerides
-joint pain
-did not help my back at all
-could not go out in the sun

These pills have boosted my confidence level significantly after finishing it. However, after five months of being off of it, i am starting to see plenty of pimples. not as bad as before, i would say i am moderate right now (not including the bright red face). also, these pills initially increased my depression (when i was on them) because in the beginning they got so much worse than before. also, my hearing almost disappeared. right now, from the medicine, i am facing hair loss and high triglycerides. i dont know if any problem will occur in the long-term because of accutane. For all of you reading this and wondering on whether to take it or not, i would say yes ONLY IF your acne level is really severe (which means cystic acne covers every inch of your face) and if everything else youve tried has not worked. there are many problems related to these pills so talk to your doctor and family first. You dont want to risk internal problems for better looks. I thought it was effective but i still have a really red face and pimples are coming back.
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Bunnybombom
January 26, 2025
Used accutane. I would add that because every body -in the literal sense- is unique, people should consider if taking Accutane is the right choice for them based on myriad factors and not only if their acne is severe. Plus the psychological impacts of acne affect people differently, even if their acne isn’t diagnosed as severe. Accutane is a vital tool in the kit. That said, some people can’t tolerate the side effects, or the med just isn’t as effective as hoped. Staying hopeful.
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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