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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4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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February 19, 2010

Pros:

It has saved my life! Taking low doses (20mg or even 10mg) during several months has done wonders for me! How I missed having soft baby skin! Damn I´m twenty and I can only remember feeling like this when I was 13/14. Since then..Acne has took over my life.

Cons:

Dry lips? Well..to be honest...what is this compared to waking up every morning...touching my face and feel new bumps?

Low doses are the key! Experiment starting with 40mg..and then slowly bring it down to 10mg(p/day)
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February 19, 2010

Pros:

*Clear skin
*Helped with my severe acne
*Healthier looking skin
*Helped with oily skin
*Confidence

<3

Cons:

*Dry Skin
*Dry Lips
*Slight muscle aches
*Slight back pain
*Blurry vision
*Expensive without insurance!
*Other minor annoyances that can be solved with lots of water, chap stick, etc.

Before I went on Accutane my skin was a mess. During my senior year in high school I begin to break out SEVERELY with pimples that would erupt and leave unsightly purple marks when they healed. And the scarring begin. Ugh. The worse days of my life. Thankfully Accutane was readily available. Sure in the beginning I experience what my dermatologist said, "It gets worse before it gets better." and I sure did. My skin got worse than before and I nearly lose hope. And then, it happened. I noticed that my acne was SLOWLY going away and my outbreaks were less and less severe! Sure there was scarring left over but it's better than walking around with *shudder* purple bruises/marks on my fact. It was nice to wake up without my acne oozing on my pillow. I highly recommend Accutane but I suggest trying another course of treatment before you settle on Accutane. It's powerful and potent and it can be unsettling for some people.
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February 19, 2010

Pros:

clears skin up completely

Cons:

dry lips, blurred vision

i've only been on this for a week now but my skin is looking better than it had been for YEARS. my lips are dry already and on the first day i had blurred vision, but i had just had a drink of alcohol and they do recommend you reduce this. but seriously, for ages i haven't had even an inch of skin on my face that is spot free, and now i have about 8 spots which is an incredible change. my scars actually look reduced aswell - i look ok without makeup. and this is after A WEEK.
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February 17, 2010

Pros:

Dries out existing lesions, resolves serious cystic & inflamed acne, permanently reduces oiliness of the skin and the best bit is- these results last, usually permanently.

Cons:

Yes, there are side effects. The dryness is to be expected, but is very manageable if you take good care of yourself and moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.

Dry eyes and mouth were also other ones I noticed, very easily managed with eyes drops and lots of water.

Other than that, I didn't experience many of the other side effects listed- so PLEASE don't let the potential side effects put you off if you're considering this treatment.

If your acne is cystic and it has been an ongoing problem for you then go on this medication!! I debated and put it off for years, but I wish I had done it sooner. I was so scared about the side effects but I soon discovered they're (mostly) very manageable (see above). I have never, since my teen years, had clear skin. It's now six months since finishing treatment and I have not had a single pimple. I feel so confident looking people in the face and am so happy I get to enjoy having beautiful clear skin. For the first time ever, I feel confident enough to leave the house without make up. All other acne products are not treatments, they surpress the acne and often return once you go off it. Accutane is a clinically trialled drug- so chances are it will work for you. If your acne is serious enough to affect how you feel on a day-to-day basis, this treatment is absolutely worth it.
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February 16, 2010

Pros:

IT WORKS!

Cons:

VERY chapped Lips

Accutane actually WORKS! i been on it for six months and my face is completely CLEARED. I use almost EVERYTHING that was on the store shelf and some did absolutely nothing or made it WORSE! Im so glad my Dermatologist finally recommended accutane for me! The cream in the tubes were NOT working and it BURNED!! I have to say i smile almost everyday now and everyone compliments my skin! So If you have severe acne like me and is tired of WASTING money on stuff that dont work, go try ACCUTANE! you wont regret it :) the only side effect i had was REALLY dry lips, but I just carried a bottle of vaseline everywhere i go.
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February 15, 2010

Pros:

ACNE GOES AWAY!!!

Cons:

Very dry skin (especially lips) and iPledge is annoying.

This stuff is amazing!!! I'm one of those people who has had acne since puberty and NOTHING has ever worked for me. Not even a little bit. And I have found that this is the only thing that actually will work. I was on it for six months the first time around and then three years later I was on it for four months, which it is normal to have to go on it again every few years but it is totally worth it. Unless you have a lot of money to blow, though, you absolutely HAVE to have insurance. If I didn't have insurance I would have had to pay substantially more than ten bucks a month. And like others have said iPledge blows. Hated it. Don't be surprised if your doctor doesn't really know how to use it. I had to end up waiting an extra month to get a prescription because my derm didn't enter it in the iPledge system, and you also have to answer some stupid questions every month before you pick up your prescription. I kept forgetting to answer mine before I went to the pharmacy and it would just tick me off to no end. But just about anything is worth getting rid of your acne, right? That's what I thought. Do yourself a favor. Go on accutane NOW. Please. You won't regret it.
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February 15, 2010

Pros:

Beautiful skin

Cons:

Cracked lips, expensive as heck, and possibly may have caused me to have IBS..not sure about that I may have developed that anyway but I did get it about a month after stopping accutane treatment.

After trying really and truly trying every type of med, supplement, and topical acne treatment out there, I can without a doubt say this was the only thing that really cleared my skin to the kind of skin I wanted. I went from have terrible severe acne to smooth glowing totally clear skin (for a year after treatment) Worth every penny. While I do still deal with some acne now 3 years after being on Accutane my acne will never be as bad as it was. I highly reccomend for anyone struggling with the kind of acne that deeply damages your self-esteem and just won't go away no matter what you do. I really do beleive it is a blessing that this drug is available. I just hope they never pull it!
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February 9, 2010

Pros:

Cleared my skin perfectly. Gave me my confidence back. Nothing else worked.

Cons:

Dry lips, mild joint pain.

If you are able to cope with very mild side effects of dryness and mild joint pain you need to try isotretinoin. It can sometimes take a while for it to take effect, but it will work.
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January 28, 2010

Pros:

%100 clear skin. Meaning no more oily skin, face is so smooth, no more pimples anywhere (face, chest, and back).

Cons:

Elevated liver enzymes - liver damage. Dry lips, skin, eyes while on it.

I used accutane for 4 months last 2009. It cured my acne right away in a little as a month with no flare-ups. I continued using it for more months but on the 4th month I was diagnosed with elevated liver enzymes - 4x than normal/average. I stopped taking it because I don't wanna sacrifice my health with clear skin. After I stopped it, my face was clear for more than 6 months and went back to worse again after that.
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January 28, 2010

Pros:

Clears ACNE fast.

Cons:

Dry skin and chapped lips. Just remember to have chapstick everywhere, car, home, pocket, gym bag and you'll be ok. Seriously that is the worst part, just buy chapstick in bulk.

Going on 9 months without any real big breakouts. Switched to Tazorac after I finished the six month Isotretinoin. Best decision I have made concerning my skin. I tried everything before this and had lost hope in ever having clear skin again. Now when I do breakout Tazorac clears up the spots here and there real fast. I was really scared when I read the side effects of Accutane and almost didn't take the pills. If you're suffering with acne take the leap of faith and get clear. I promise you won't be sorry.
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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