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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March 23, 2011

Pros:

-Made my face completely clear for 1 year
-Was the only thing that worked
-Made me lose water weight- I 'felt' skinnier
-Miracle Drug!!

Cons:

-my acne came back after 1 year after treatment
- my Dr. is making me try every other treatment again before going on a 2nd regimen of accutane(it is hard to get it prescribed)
-had slightly dry lips and skin

I was awesome!! It made my skin beautiful!! It is truly a miracle drug! It has been a year now and my acne is back :( My doctor is now having me use retin-A with cephalexin. Has anyone has success treatment with this post- accutane??
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March 9, 2011

Pros:

-None yet

Cons:

-Dry Lips
-Mild lower back pain (rare, but occurs)
-Mood swings
-Worsens before it gets better

These reviews all sound very repetitive but that is solely because this drug has similar effects on people. I have been on it (40mg, i am 17yo female)) for about a month now, and my skin is getting worse, but this is merely b/c all the dirt from way under your skin is being pushed to the surface, all at once, it is then dried and taken care of. W/out accutane, you would get the same breakouts, it would just take longer (this is what my doctor told me).Usually, starting the second or third month is when the healing starts. I am also experiencing dry lips that are easily maneagable with lip balm (i bought a pack of smackers)
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December 31, 2010

Pros:

Cleared my moderately severe acne
My old acne scars actually had a chance to heal
Face and hair no longer oily
My skin looked perfect and it improved my self esteem
No side effects while taking Accutane

Cons:

Expensive
A few weeks after Accutane, my face and hair continued to be oily
A few months after Accutane, I experienced severe hair loss and vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels, that appear as many red, painful, raised dots) on my legs
The treatment was temporary for me, my acne returned in about a little over a year, but I would consider it to be "light" instead of "moderately severe"

It works well. My hair grew back, and my vasculitis went away after a few months. Despite the side effects, I'm glad to have taken Accutane.
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December 30, 2010

Pros:

-made my face less oily
-Acne starting to go away
-no oil

Cons:

-Made me broke out! a lot!
-big painful cysts in the beginning of the week
-But is part of the initial breakout that you get
-

This pills are really good, i apparently don't have more oil in my skin, yay because before i started this my skin was like a pot of oil that i would touch it and my whole finger would be cover it up with a lot of oil. These pills cost like $348 for the 30 pills but my insurance paid for it.It made me breakout horribly but now is starting to go away! Overall it takes like 3 months to see a difference and i am hoping to get clear skin !
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December 29, 2010

Pros:

Cleared acne, made skin less sensitive to irritants such as sunscreen, makeup, etc., less oil

Cons:

Dangerous, extreme (painful dry skin) at first, dry lips and eyes (embarassing), sun sensitivity, annoying pregnancy and blood tests monthly

Eliminated acne.. But in about half of all people who undergo a round of Accutane, the acne comes back in the next year. Is toxic and should not be taken lightly.
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December 23, 2010

Pros:

Inflammatory acne 95% clear by the end of a 5 month course.

Cons:

Joint pains
Permanent facial redness associated with broken and/or inflamed blood vessels

I have finally stop procrastinating and decided to write a review for Isotretinoin. I urge anyone who is considering Accutane to read this whole review: It has been two years since finishing my Accutane course. I was immensely pleased with my profound clearing of acne (seeing as antibiotics and over-the-counter products did not work for me), but was disappointed that I was left with redness, broken blood vessels, and joint pain. Presently, I am having Vbeam treatments to have the vessels shrunk. For months after finishing my course, I was very angry at my dermatologist and at Accutane for my predicament. I would rather have had the temporary severe acne and found an alternative treatment than have horridly permanent broken vessels that take (on average) thousands of dollars to remove. But as time went by, I realized it was completely unrealistic for me to be mad at Accutane or my dermatologist. We agreed on Accutane. I signed up for it. There can be no blame for him. And as for Accutane, it is truly a fantastic drug (and I say this without sarcasm). For those of you who are hesitant about going on Accutane, do not let me deter you from making that decision. The ratio of patients who experience severe side effects to patients who do not are not alarming in the least. If you believe you are developing any of the possible side effects, discontinue use. Blood tests are routinely taken, and your dermatologists checks for symptoms. I truly do recommend this drug (though, only as a last resort. I am currently as clear as I was when I got off Accutane by eating a strict diet, and living healthily). P.S. Keep this is mind: If everyone who ever used Accutane through the IPLEDGE system had written a review for it, the rating would be higher. Do you truly believe that 100% of happy users come back and are anxious to tell us about their experience? Nay, it's the users who have had less-than-satisfactory experiences who are anxious to dissuade
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November 30, 2010

Pros:

smoother skin

Cons:

nose bleeds
suicidal thoughts
dry lips
rash on my skin
dry scalp
bad back pain
cry alot (which i NEVER did(
headaches
blood tests

second month into it and i feel like i want to kill myself :/ dont really see any improvement apart from my skin isnt as oily as it was. Dont get any bright red spots anymore, but it hasent got rid of any of my black/white heads. Fortunetly i can cover these up with makeup but that completely defeats the object of taking it right?
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November 12, 2010

Pros:

-(personally) REDUCED acne and scarring
-incredibly potent and highly effective (for most)

Cons:

-dry EVERYTHING (contact users, wear glasses)
-initial breakout 2-3 months
-can cause hormonal imbalance
-suicidal thoughts
-monthly blood drawn (and ept for girls)
-flaky skin
-decreased night vision

I thought that even though it was the most powerful stuff on the market for acne, it didn't do what it needed to. However, for roughly 5-10% it has been much less effective (that was where I was.) it did help though, and I only get 5-8 red bumps perpetually. this is the medicine for those who have tried everything else. personal note: I was on it for 10 months rather then 6, this is because the acne was still there. my acne was all over and now the only areas of concern is the face and once in a while the shoulders.
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October 10, 2010

Pros:

My skin was perfect!

Cons:

The price is high if not covered by insurance.

Dry nostrils and irritable mood was the only side effects I suffered

Took this when I was 25. At the time my skin was very bad. After the regime my skin was perfect for a few years. The acne came back after about five years but came back very mild and still is15yrs later. My Dr. was very responsible. Gave me a blood pregnancy and cholesterol test every month. Made me give up fatty foods and alcohol before starting Accutane.
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August 17, 2010

Pros:

-Temporary clearance of acne
-Confidence even 6 months later
-Temporary clearance of blackheads on nose
-Skin much easier to manage
-Overall great improvement in skin

Cons:

While on Accutane:
-Red face all the time
-Peeling lips
-Low confidence from the above 2 side effects.


Six months after Accutane:
-Starting getting pimples just a week after stopping medication.
-amount of weekly pimples increased significantly over six months
-Blackheads are back on nose
-Must use Epiduo to keep skin decently clear
-Red marks after every pimple I get now
-Stress building up again about this disease

-Possibly more I just can't think

I was on it for 9 months, and I was speechless. It cleared all my acne. I was so confident. A week after I begun getting it back, and I was mortified. I had to go on Epiduo which I don't think anyone else had to go on afterwards. Red marks show up after every single pimple I get. I can't control my acne now, and I am VERY educated on skin. I don't know what to do, school starts next week. This is just my experience, everybody has a different experience. I'm probably going to have to go back on Tane. I recommend it, even though I lay in the 25% percent of people who relapse. You may be different.
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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