Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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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August 19, 2010

Pros:

Helps spots.

Cons:

Ruins your body permanently.

Do not use this. It's handed out willy nilly. I don't think its even suitable for people with SEVERE acne. I'm faced with many problems due to this.
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July 23, 2010

Pros:

-Clears acne for a long period of time

Cons:

*BEWARE* Left me with permanent medical problems including clinical depression, irritable bowel syndrome and, I believe although it has yet to be linked to interstitial cystitis (bladder disease that feels like having a urinary tract infection that never goes away)

This is a very dangerous drug! You are taking big risks with your health if you go on this medication. I strongly believe it is responsible for me developing severe depression, chronic digestive problems (IBS), and worst of all I think it caused my interstitial cystitis (IC). IC is a condition that makes you have constant bladder pain and you feel like you have to pee all the time. If they find a link to accutane and IC I am definitely going to try to sue. Accutane can cause these problems even years after you have taken it so I am still anxious about other ways in which it may have impacted my body. Oh and by the way my acne is back and in full swing, so I didn't even get the permanent elimination of acne that is always advertised with this drug. BOTTOM LINE: Read all the health warnings with this drug! They clearly show that accutane is toxic to many organs and systems in the body. Unless you have very, very, very, very bad acne that is extremely disfiguring this drug is not worth it. If you think acne is bad, try living with the multiple health problems this drug will probably leave you with.
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July 19, 2010

Pros:

Cleared up acne

Cons:

long term side effects are not worth it
acne returned once usage stopped

I'm still not entirely sure of all the ways this drug wreaked havoc on my body. Everything from dry lips, to depression, to digestive disorders. If I could do it over again, I would not have taken this drug. When you have bad acne, you might do anything to get rid of it, but trust me. This is not worth it.
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June 18, 2010

Pros:

I though it was dramatically meant to cure all forms of acne? However in my case this does not appear to be true. Therefore I do not see any positives with this medication.

Cons:

There seem to be far more negatives having used this medication for nearly 4 months with no apparent results. They consist of the following.
Head aches.
Change in pigments of the skin
Depression/Lack of motivation.
Nose bleeds.
Feeling weak and tired.
Achy joints.
Very dry and itchy skin.
Swollen itchy/red eyes as well as swollen lips and occasionally the nose.

I'm 19 years old and I have been suffering with moderate to serve acne since the age of 13. Having bad skin has really made and impact on my teenage year. Teenage years are suppose to be the best years of your life however when suffering with acne this appears to be far less true. Having acne just makes me feel so ugly especially when the majority of your friends and those around you have lovely clear skin and all appear to be confident this definitely creates an impact on your self esteem as well as your confidence. I think a number of people who do not surfer with acne fail to understands how emotionally distressing it can make an individual who is suffering from acne feel. Furthermore, in spite of this I decided that I would seek professional help by all means being referred to a dermatologist. The first dermatologist I met with decided to put me on a dosage of 35 mg for 4 month as she wanted to avoid any unpleasant side effect. Once I had been 2 weeks in to the course I immediately started to see dramatic result, my skin was clearing up, my scares appeared to be less evident and I was not breaking out. Everyone close to me began to see changes and had complemented me on how great my skin was improving. However worse was yet to come, in spite of this after 1 to 2 months my skin had broken out like it had never done before, I was really worried because I thought I was getting better but in fact I just started to get really worse which was not a nice experience, After 2 and a half month I thought it was time that I would consult my dermatologist as the break out had become even worse. This time I was referred to a different dermatologist and she explained to me that the initial dosage was not correct in correspondence to my body weight therefore she decided that I should go on the full dosage which is 70 mg in the UK. Having been on the full dose for over a month I still am not seeing any significant changes in fact I am still breaking out really
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May 24, 2010

Pros:

cleared up acne 100%

Cons:

extreme fatigue
sore joints
rash on arms
hair loss
decrease in memory and concentration
killed sex drive

I highly recommend not taking Accutane. I took it in 2000 while in high school and have regretted it ever since. It worked fine, but side effects started showing up a couple years later. I used to enjoy life before taking Accutane. I enjoyed hanging out with friends and playing sports. Now, I am tired all the time and have no interest in socializing. My neck, back, and knee joints are constantly sore. The worst part is that it absolutely killed my sex drive (link for non believers, [link removed] I'd rather have my acne back times 10 instead of taking Accutane. Also, you don't always get the side effects while taking the drug. I just had nose bleeds and dry skin while taking the drug, but the bad ones showed up a few years later.
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May 24, 2010

Pros:

Cleared my acne for seven months

Cons:

- Redness
- Flushing
- Dry lips
- Dry skin
- Nosebleed
- Problems with concentration

Well this is not what you want to hear. You are probably all going to mark this as not helpful because all you want is positive reviews. It is been seven moths since I stopped Accutane and its the worst decision in my life. My face is extremely red, and the flushing is ruining my life. I have stopped going to school, stopped partying, stopped meeting friends, literally stopped living, and its all because of accutane. Everything i do; eating, drinking, stressed, embarrased, exercising, and so on makes me flush. And I NEVER flushed prior going on accutane. I this doesnt fade my life is ruined. There are extremely few people that get so hard side effects, maybe one out of hundred. BUT IT MIGHT BE YOU, IS IT WORTH THE RISK OF POSSIBLY RUINING YOUR LIFE?
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May 2, 2010

Pros:

Works for a while...

Cons:

Expensive, and its not a final solution, when i stoped using the product (after 2 years) i lost all my work.

Nothing at all....
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May 1, 2010

Pros:

clears skin

Cons:

so brutal on the organs! gave me nausea, extremely dry skin, insomnia and more. and about 6 months after treatment the acne was back

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone! It does a lot of damage that you can't see. But I do understand why a lot o people do try and are very happy with it - it clears everything! fast.
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April 14, 2010

Pros:

Clearer skin, but just for a few weeks

Cons:

After a month all the pimples came back. Later my skin condition became even worse than before the treatment.
Adverse effects: severe burning scars on my hands, my lips completely dried, burning and scarry.

Fully disappointed. My doctor (said to be one of the best dermatologists of the country) promised me for sure that Accutane will cure my skin problem, and the pimples will never come back again. I took Accutane more than one year long (two months taking, two month pause etc.) without any significant effect (just for the first few weeks).
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April 11, 2010

Pros:

Supposedly somewhat clearer skin (Not worth it when looking at cons - find other methods)

Cons:

Possible, probable debilitating long-term side effects that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

[link removed] through these reviews and at this website along with many others if you use google you shall find warnings about how people have been effected negatively by this drug which supposedly was originally used on CANCER patients. Stories about stunted growth, back pain and surgery, the NUMEROUS side effects from taking this potent drug (Dan discusses them on his review - near top of this page) freaked me out. I was considering taking this drug but I now feel compelled to warn others. There are OTHER TREATMENTS out there that don't have the potential risk of crippling your body. Do you want to make a deal with the devil? A few years of good face (given through misinformation - there are other alternatives) for a potential lifetime of trouble? NO THANKS.
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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