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
January 17, 2009
Cons:
my scalp is dry. which makes my hair kind of dry.
and my lips and skin are really dry and peely. i'm not really sure if i'm supposed to be exfoliating or not, but i am and it seems to be working. I'm worried that my dry skin will not look nice aft
it works, but your skin and lips and hair/scalp gets dry.
January 11, 2009
Pros:
Cleared my skin up right away. It's a life saver.
Cons:
Expensive!
Best decision ever made.
December 16, 2008
Pros:
Had acne since I was 12, was on acne long time ago, but my parents couldn’t afford it so I didn’t take it enough or long enough. Now I’m 25 and I asked my doctor to put me on it. I’m on a killer dosage of 120mg per day, but it is totally wort
Cons:
Very, very dry lips! Keep ChapStick handy. I have them in every pocket, every corner and every drawer of the house work and car!
Try it!
Might be pricey without insurance. I pay $75 per month for brand (3 pills x 40 mg x 30 days), but my insurance picks up $1800, so I'm no complainingïŠ + monthly visits to the doctor and lab - worth every penny!
November 29, 2008
Pros:
skin less oily, could go with washing my hair only once a week
Cons:
made my acne 20 times worse than to begin with, huge cysts, nodules, severe dry lips and severe chelitis (cracked corners of lips bleeding) SCARS everywhere, had to hide my face for 3 months (Still am)
i had MILD acne to begin, but insisted on accutane cus i was sick of anito biotics. accutane made my skin a MESS. im still paying for it now. i decided after 3 months to stop along w/my derm. it kept getting worse and worse. i would say people with mild acne as i had myself should not use accutane. its not worth it. now 3 weeks off accutane im still breaking out, and trying doxycyline along with zinc.
November 21, 2008
Pros:
gets rid of acne and drys out over oily skin
Cons:
dry lips and nose
The first few weeks my skin started to dry out and clear up. Not soon after that, it was the worst it has ever been. After the second month, I began to have flare-ups and thought that it would not work at all. I asked the doctor to up the dose. He would not because I already take 80mg a day. Now that I am in my third month, I am starting to clear up. Because my acne is so severe, I think I will request to take the medication for an additional month. The results are great. For the first time in a long time, I am giving people eye contact. It is doing wonders for my self esteem. For those of you who are having trouble with dry hair and hair loss, start taking vitamin E. This helps to keep you moisterized from the inside out. Also, regular hot oil treatments work. The point is to put back the moisture that the accutane is taking away. This keeps the hair on your head. I recommend this drug to anyone with skin as horrible as mine. I did not pay anything due to insurance.
October 28, 2008
Pros:
very effective, clear face, better complexion
Cons:
No cons. Just a little expensive
I have been taking accutane for four months. I am on 20mg per day. I really had a very very bad skin. My skin is now a lot better than before, although its not totally clear. I dont have single acne on my face now. Its true its a miracle drug. Just try it you will not regret.
October 25, 2008
Pros:
Its cleared my skin, with only 6 days left on this treatment after almost 7 months. my complexion has cleared dramatically.
Cons:
biggest con, my lips wont stop chapping, but nothing that cant be handled. i do get a little tired at times, not sure if its from the medication. my skin is sensitive and i dont go into the sun without sunscreen.
my hair and skin are no longer oily, i have been on 20mg for 7 months and am 6 days away from finishing the treatment, im hoping this change is permanent and my acne does not come back. my acne was only moderate and i am suprised by how much it has improved. the key is patience, it does take a while to see chnages but in my opinion it is worth it, the first few weeks my skin was red and very sensitive to the changes in climate. my dry lips drive me crazy because they're constantly peeling, its important to find a good chapstick. with daily maintenance i think these moderate side effects can be kept under control.
September 29, 2008
Pros:
Accutane has been nothing but good news for me. After my third week, I was about 99% clear. I've had a zit here and there, but it's wonderful having such great skin. I haven't had skin like this in four or five years.
Cons:
Dry skin (particularly the lips) and strict blood work and dermatologist visits. The dry skin is nothing compared to other products I've used though. All topical products I have ever used have dried my skin out much more than this.
This product has been wonderful for me. I'm almost done with month four, so I have about two months left. I hope the results are permanent, like some. I know many people hear a lot of horror stories about Accutane, but I've had no problems with it. The best thing to do is to talk to your dermatologist right away and if s/he thinks it's right for you, start right away. I really regret not starting Accutane earlier.
September 22, 2008
Pros:
I've been taking this drug for a month now and my skin feels sooo much better. Yes it's a little dry but I haven't got raised pimples anymore which I was very self-conscious of. I'm not thinking of my skin all the time, which i was before.
Cons:
Dry lips, mood swings, slight joint aches, dry eyes, dry skin (hands, face). But nothing too awful yet!
I'm 25 and after suffering from frequent bouts of mild acne from early on in my teens, I then developed severe acne during my teacher training course last year. Probably linked to stress, it was just awful. I put up with it for a year just persauding myself it might get better and I tried everything to clear my acne. Eventually I went and got a referral to a specialist and was prescribed Roaccutane. I'm on 30mg/day and although I've felt better, I'm not wanting to wear a plastic bag over my head everytime I walk outside. I'm starting to get a bit of confidence back at last and I would say to anyone who has sufffered through their teens and now twenties, just go for it, otherwise acne rules your life. I've still got a long way to go by all that I've read about the drug but I am pleased I sort help and am now taking Roaccutane. Costs a bit if you go private but we may do it differently here in the UK. Good luck to you all!!
August 13, 2008
Pros:
It does as promised, clear skin and no oil!
Cons:
Dry lips (chap stick easily remedies this)
and... not everyone experiences depression, but i did (having zero history of psychological issues) and that was really unpleasant. So just beware. I still don't regret it.
If you want to finally, clear your skin, no gimmicks, no false promises...... Accutane will do it. Be patient and hang in there!
Pros:
MY SKIN HAS CLEARED UP SO MUCH.
I get compliments all the time on it.