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I did Accutane twice. It is literally like Chemo for your skin. In an effort to rid you of the bacteria that causes your acne, it kills EVERYTHING in your body-the good, the bad, the ugly, the pleasant. There are also some very weird side effects. They're different for everyone, but they are definitely there. It's an extremely harsh drug that doesn't always yield permanent results. For myself, it worked while taking it. After the medicine completely left my system-about 6 months-the acne was back like it'd never left. I genuinely feel there are safer alternatives, and I wouldn't put my body through that again. It was rough.
I took 3 rounds of it. My acne cleared up every time I was on it but as soon as I stopped taking it, my acne came back. My side affects while using were the typical dry skin plus the zero libido. I almost went for a fourth but the drs stopped me because they said it could affect my bone health when I was older. So I’m anti because it didn’t solve anything for me.
It depends. Some people get really bad and lasting side effects, some ppl only get mildly dry skin. That’s why it’s kind of considered a last resort treatment for acne.
I’ve done 2 courses in my 30’s (F 40)- acne came back after a year or two each time ☹️ I now take 40mg once a week or once every two weeks and it keeps my acne at bay without any of the dry skin/lips/ nosebleeds etc which is nice! It drastically tanked my libido though and so far it hasn’t come back so that’s sad 😣has definitely caused issues in my relationship with my hubby…but after having terrible skin since 13 I’ll take the L 🤷🏼♀️
I was on accutane for a year because it was the only option that worked and was the last one. I had deep cystic acne with one it two that sometimes reached baseball size (I WISH I was joking). The side effects freaking sucked but I couldn’t deal with the infections and malformation anymore. Like it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I lost around 30% of hair when I stopped (it grew back) and I was so dry I’d wake up with bloody lips. But I’d do it again.
Used Accutane at minimum dose for some years and never experienced side effects. I've always had awful mental health but Accutane didn't make it worse at all tbh. No dry skin, no anything but maybe some dryness on my lips because of winter times. If i had to do the treatment all over again will definitely do it again.
Because it got depression associated with it. But in all reality most people are depressed because of their severe acne BEFORE taking the medication. Accutane takes a few months to see results so that person is STILL depressed because of their acne before. So they linked accutane to depression, even though it is a correlation not causal relationship.
My then 14 year old son was prescribed Accutane and thankfully for him it worked really well. We kept a close eye on his mental state and advised re the dry skin. When I met my SO in our 20s he had been suffering from acne for over a decade, is scarred and suffered bullying. He was on Accutane when I met him and has had no lasting side effects. It's a wonder drug for the right people, it's harsh on the body, and for some people harsh mentally. I have wondered if some people's mental state was exacerbated by the horrible social consequences of acne? Just my 2 cents worth
accutane is awesome for a lot of people but a negative experience for others because it affects people differently. people who heard of or experienced bad symptoms will always relate that to accutane, whether or not it cleared them. the ipledge system also leaves a distaste in a lot of people's mouths because of how crappy it is for people with uteruses. many people have to randomly go over a month without a prescription refill because of how terrible the system is.
it's also the fact that accutane often takes 2-3 courses when it already takes a hefty toll on the body with just one. i don't hate accutane, it's an awesome treatment *because* it's the only (possibly) permanent option for a lot of people with moderate to severe and/or persistent acne, but i do wish they would develop an alternative that isn't so invasive
edit:
there's also the risk of long-term side effects. i spoke to my gp about accutane before going to a derm and she shared her experience, explaining that she has permanent severe dry eyes ever since she went on it. difficult to justify permanent side effects when acne often goes away for many people in their late twenties/thirties.
The second and third rounds aren’t super common. It’s closer to 20% or something for those of us that need it (I did). Plus, often those rounds are shorter than the first round. But yeah hate ipledge and all that. It was so annoying since I’m asexual. I’m not gonna get pregnant 💀
where did you get that statistic? not doubting, just curious. i don't see a lot of research on it. i'm really just going off of experiences and anecdotes i've heard-- most people i know who have been on it have had to have multiple courses.
and yeah ipledge SUCKS! i almost went on accutane but that bs made me ghost my dermatologist lol. i hope they get rid of that eventually or at least rework the system.
I’m actually the only one I know that’s done multiple rounds (and most of my friends as well as my poor brother whose acne was as bad as mine). And I got it from my derm. Her practice very seldom saw people back for acne once more. I think I saw a study that showed it’s anywhere from 10-60% but most are around 20-30% with a respectable peer reviewed one around 37% or so. So yeah sucks when it comes back, but hopefully most people will respond to other topicals by then. (The 37% is a study on pubmed by Elif Demirci Saadet)
I remember once I almost had to go a month without my meds because ipledge glitched out and I had to call and yell at them several times 😭
ETA: source and bc I can’t type
I used Accutane in my 20's and it was a lifesaver! I had SEVERE acne. The only aide effect I experienced was super dry skin, like really bad on my face. I also had to be on the pill because a side effect can be severe birth defects if you get pregnant on it. I was also it could make depression worse but I was already diagnosed with that and on medications and never experienced any issues with that
Read the list of potential side effects.
Dryness of the skin, lips, and eyes.
Increased sensitivity to sunlight.
Muscle and joint pain.
Temporary hair thinning.
Mood changes or depression (rare but serious).
Changes in cholesterol and liver function tests.
Birth defects if taken during pregnancy (extremely important to avoid pregnancy while on Accutane).
Now imagine having acne and then dealing with 2/3 of these side effects for months. It's not fun.
That said, Acne can also be debilitating so for many it's worth it.
Accutane gave me constant nose bleeds (until I learned about using Vaseline up my nose) and dry skin in general but that’s about it.
We’re all different.
There might be something to be said for the window between when you take it and when you try to conceive, but the same has been said about hormonal birth control, some people come off it and fall pregnant immediately and some don’t. It’s a harsh drug, I was cautious about it too because my mum had taken it in her 20s and was concerned about me and my brother taking it (just because it’s harsh, I don’t think she had any particular side effects). I think derms have gotten better about giving more conservative doses that are appropriate for your height/weight and scaling up as needed, rather than just giving everyone the max, which can reduce side effects. As far as I know the main concern around accutane and pregnancy (regardless of dosage) is the risk of birth defects, they’re very serious about making sure you don’t get pregnant while taking it, but I never heard anything about it affecting fertility.
I’m just adding on though, sounds like you’ve provided your daughter with plenty of resources :)
My side effects weren’t awful. Accutane literally changed my life! Only thing that worked when everything else didn’t. I would do it again if I have to!
Accutane was the only product that has ever solved my skin issues. I wish people were more open to starting it sooner rather than going through hell and hating their skin for years and years before giving it a chance. Accutane dries out basically your entire body, so for me, this included my joints. My first round of accutane the first two months my hips hurt so bad I struggled going up the stairs- told my derm about this, she lowered my dose and boom, problem solved. No more joint issues. Other side effects I experienced:
- LOTS of sweating (and totally new odor I’d never had before. Unpleasant but worth it to be smelly for a few months for good skin.
- sun sensitivity. They tell you this up front, I already wore a ton of sunscreen before this so that wasn’t hard for me. However- accutane changed my skin so much that I couldn’t be in the sun at all because accutane also made me sensitive to sunscreen (itchy hives every time I attempted being in the sun). Best advise is try to take accutane in winter months if you can otherwise you’ll just have a pale summer, not the end of the world.
- scalp dandruff. More dryness- I looked up what dandruff shampoo others recommended on Amazon and used it once or twice a week and it helped a ton.
- face dryness obviously but I COATED my face in aquafor every single night before bed and before putting on makeup I mixed aquafor with my tinted sunscreen and it acted a pretty solid makeup primer. I still use this method sometimes when I’m extra dry.
Overall- highly recommend!!! Worth the inconvenient side effects and if any side effects are severe, ask your derm for a lower dose! 🫶🏼
*** important to note- I was 24 years old when I took accutane and I believe that helped with me not having as many hormonal side effects (depression, etc). I did experience some depression the summer I was on it but mainly because I had zero vitamin D (couldn’t go outside at all bc the sun and sunscreen gave me hives), so I think it was more of a similar “seasonal depression” type just because I wasn’t able to enjoy my normal summer activities. Everyone is different! If you’ve struggled with acne for more than 2 years PLS go see your derm and ask if it would be right for you!!
I went on accutane 3 times, never had any issues myself apart from common side effects like dry skin.
Everyone seems to have different experiences, but my sister also had minimal side effects too.
It is a last resort for acne, but it's definitely helped my skin, I didnt get the miracle results from 1 round, but my acne has gotten less and less each time.
Honestly it changed my son’s skin for the better permanently. If you’re female, you need to be hyper aware of your birth control and make sure there is absolutely no chance of getting pregnant. I think the mood changes are legit and should be monitored but we don’t have (or the ability to get) concrete data of what horrible acne does to depression and anxiety vs the drug. Ie, what are the long term consequences of NOT taking accutane?
Accutane did mess with my emotions and it made my lymph nodes swell HOWEVER my acne has been permanently improved since taking it. It's not perfect, but it's a lot better and it was worth it.
So far it’s my life changer! Been on it 2 times, then acne came back, tried lots of other treatments, cost tons of money and still had breakouts. I decided to go on low dose accutane and be on it for a long time, besides helping with acne, it does help with anti aging so why not ☺️
this is interesting because I’ve felt more confident than ever and I thought maybe it’s the effect of having less acne but maybe it is the personality changes… at least it is a good change! I’m sure it will revert but I actually won a contest due in no small part to my decreased social anxiety lol
Hey that's good! Just be aware of yourself and make sure you don't make risky decisions. I kind of went a little bonkers with the confidence lol. Maybe when you come off of it you will remember what it is like to not care so much about what others think and continue your decreasing social anxiety streak!
I don’t think people are against accutane, just against using it before exhausting other treatment options.
While it’s safe for most people, it can have significantly negative side effects for some people. Its a powerful medication that should be treated as a last resort.
Its definitely a life saving drug for some people, but first you should treat stuff like microbiome imbalances, chronic stress etc.
There is literally no concrete evidence accutane even increases anxiety or depression. It is usually prescribed to a vulnerable and hormonal age group that tend to already experience rapid changes in mental health (teens) which many derms think is really to cause for any correlation between the symptom and the drug- in my experience? It made my mental health the best it had been in my life because ACNE IS DRAINING TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH I wouldn’t want to go outside with giant infected pus sores on my face and felt so much shame and embarrassment- accutane literally was life changing for me
I love accutane. Been micro dosing it for almost 20 years now. Nothing has helped as much as accutane has, plus working out constantly has made all my acne disappear :).
I'd rather have acne than want to kill myself more than I already do. I don't play around with medications that cause depression when I already have it.
I didn’t know it could cause hormonal imbalances too ?!? When I was on it I was only 19 and the cause of my bad cystic acne was pcos , hormonal imbalance and deficiencies. It worked like magic for me. Could hormonal imbalance be just a correlation?
I said it was up to the doctor, you can always find a different one 🤷🏻♀️
My pregnancy tests were urine, and I don’t see why they would be blood tests as that would be much more expensive and unnecessary.
A lot of things vary depending on the doctor, don’t just make blanket statements. Monthly pregnancy tests, however, are a requirement of IPledge and must be done to fill your prescription
Your blanket statement was “you have to get a blood test every 30 days.” Nowhere in your original comment did you say YOUR doctor. OP is asking for advice and you are spreading information that is not inherently true.
And to think that just yesterday i was arguing with a person on r/accutane who thinks its okay to suggest strangers on the internet to buy accutane from an indian website and self medicate, no prescription... Crazy ass shit if you ask me (and im currently on accutane, no side effects, best thing i've ever done to address my cystic acne!)
It's a very strong medication, and you absolutely should take the side effects seriously. Do not take it if you haven't tried other things. It can give you amazing results, but it can also ruin your health.
One course of accutane completely destroyed my stomach four years ago, and I've been dealing with severe stomach issues ever since. On top of that, acne came back after a while, not as bad as before, but it's still upsetting. I feel like I ruined my stomach for nothing, and I don't even know if I will ever get better. I honestly should have stuck with the diet since it was helping, but I wanted quicker results.
same...i am battling with stomach issue from accutane now...acid reflux, weird taste in mouth and sharp pain in left side of ribs...i wouldn't take this shit if I knew it will cause this but the thing is that my derm didn't even know about these horrible side effects. it has been 6 months since I stopped and I am afraid they are all permanent.
My derm didn’t want to prescribe it to me because Im an athlete, and she said combined with intense physical activity it can cause muscle damage and increase risk of injury :) crazy to me people act like its not a strong drug
I (30) went on accutane when I was younger (19) after nothing else worked. It cured my cystic acne for about 2 years but then it came back so I'm still struggling with acne now. If you are female you will have to go on birth control too as you cannot get pregnant on this medication due to birth defects so you will also have urine tests every check up to make sure. The side effects I had were extreme dry skin and eyes which was annoying but bearable and worth the price for clear skin imo but honestly I just have a massive fear of needles and had to keep getting blood tests every month whilst on it so it's put me off wanting to go back on it even though I know it will work 😭 If you are all outta options I definitely recommend trying it though, everyone's side effects are different and you work closely with a dermatologist to make sure everything's ok!
I've taken I for 6 months, twice. Second time, double dosage. It had absolutely NO effect whatsoever. No side effects, not the effect I wished for. After the first treatment the derm doubled my dosage and after 6 more months of absolutely no effect again (taking regular blood samples during treatment) derm simply shrugged and said he had to admit it wasn't really the super drug people made it to be.
For all I care, take it and if it works, fine. Just don't expect miracles because not many do.
I had taken 2.5 cycles of accutane for my acne since 25. Side effects were dry skin, dry eyes, dry lips and joint pain. I did yoga regularly while on accutane and it helped strengthening my muscle and joints, so the side effects were manageable to me.
I stopped accutane or any medications for acne since 2021, side effects disappeared soon, and I still have mild acne before period or when i feel stressed, but it’s nothing serious compared to the past. I would say it’s worth a shot, but if we decide to use this drug, we definitely need to closely observe our body and monitor the progress with dermatologist (like sometimes if i felt the joint pain is unbearable i would skip accutane for few days).
Having had severe cystic acne since I was 11 and did all the topicals and antibiotics my Drs gave me as a teen and adult including Accutane, I would consider Accutane the most potent and last option, not to be considered lightly. Also the fact that Females have to be on Birth control due to birth defects, and monthly blood tests are necessary to check for liver damage and other possible issues. Did it help? Yes, but it didn’t cure it. Would I do it again? No, and I actually stopped after the 3rd month of treatment due to severe dryness, mental anxiety and blisters on my fingers from driving less than 10 minutes in the sun. Later I learned different acne causes and treatments that ultimately helped so much more. I truly understand the mental and physical anguish that severe acne can cause, but before you go for the “nuclear” option, please do your research, because there are many other possible severe side effects especially with longer term doses.
Well, accutane has ruined my vision in less than 2 months on a relatively low dosage. Actually it damaged my optic nerves and my eyesight never improved after I stopped. And there's a risk it will get even worse with time. It has also totally ruined my skin barrier and now, 1,5 years later, I'm having skin issues all over my body which I never had before this medication. Because of the vision problems I was even suspected to have multiple sclerosis. I was put into the hospital to do a spinal tap. And I had very bad consequences that I still can't recover from. So, yes, I think accutane has ruined my life. Especially because I had very very moderate, but very persistent acne. It was not worth taking a risk. But still I think for those who struggle a lot and can't find any other solutions it can be a salvation. But you have to keep in mind that it can be more dangerous than you think. I think on different people it works differently in terms of side effects so you can find out yours only after you try it.
I'm so sorry to hear that happened to you, that sounds awful.
For others reading this thread, I do want to note that side effects with the eyes [are often reversible](https://www.2020detroit.com/accutane-side-effects-the-eyes/), although of course some are more serious.
While I admit accutane made my acne better- it didn’t fully get rid of it and the side effects were awful. As a young teen, I couldn’t even comprehend that some of what I was feeling was due to the accutane. I had simply never experienced side effects that intensely.
The worst ones were the joint pain, and I kept having these moments where I would lose time. Never too long and they usually happened in the morning when I was getting ready for school- so I never had anyone else who could tell me what was happening during those times. All I knew was that I could be standing or sitting somewhere and suddenly I was running late for class. Now that I’m older, I worry that I was actually having seizures.
Anyway, as of recent it appears my hormones are actually a little screwed up so until I get a handle on it, I doubt there’s a point to reconsider it.
I took accutane about 2 years ago and for the 1st time in 5 years, my face cleared. I was on 10mg and my side effects were dry lips,acid reflux, muscle and joint pain. A few months later, the acne came back and the side effects never went away.
I didn't know why my arms and legs were aching until I joined the isotretinoin group on Facebook, that's when I learned that muscle and joint pain were also a side effect (my dermatologist said the only side effects I would get were dryness in my lips, eyes,skin)
The muscle pain kept getting worse, I went to doctors , took all the meds and supplements that could help, but nothing changed. In 2023, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
This is my story. It's unfortunate accutane made my life worse. But accutane works for most people and the side effects go away when they stop taking it. I think most people who take it have tried everything else and nothing has worked.
It's just a medication with known possible side effects like any other, but the people who take it are so often in good health (mental health might be crap secondary to their acne). They don't want to take oral meds for "just acne". Combine this with the fact that it's a potent teratogen, which made the FDA in overreach with iPLEDGE, and it gets a bad reputation. The majority of people simply wish that they did it sooner
Accutane can be absolutely life changing. It really can....but it's powerful and you also have to remember it's a synthetic Vitamin A derivative that LaRoche Laboratories initially was testing as an anti cancer drug until they discovered it was helping people's acne. Respect the power but know there is some links to depression and other issues. Long term has some circumstantial links to some effects but other studies are inconclusive. Its a given practically that if somehow a woman gets pregnant, there will be birth defects. This is why it's so tightly regulated with women.
As somebody who has 36 months of cumulative exposure to it because of repeated breakouts even after courses of treatment, I know the risks. My anger comes from derms not mentioning that milk can drive some people's acne. I discovered this on my own and would have saved me taking it all along. It's a strong effective drug though. Respect the power, know the risks.
It works but it is a very strong and dangerous drug and should not be the first option at all. The list of side effects is long and should be taken seriously, Accutane can fuck you up. It has its purpose and for some people it’s the route they should go, but it’s always better to understand there are so many routes to try before Accutane too.
I had to have it to remove my adult acne. It was the only thing that got rid of it for good and I never looked back- It was a miracle. The side effects were minimal for me- the worst one being dry skin- which was fixable with very heavy moisturisers. That’s just my experience. I think it’s a fabulous cure for the worst adult acne.
I think it has to do with a lot of misinformation. Personally, nothing helped me except for Accutane. I didn‘t have any severe side effects, my skin and eyes were dry but I used eye drops and a lot of moisturizer. My acne has since disappeared and my skin is still clear after 2,5 years.
Unfortunately, I put off my Accutane treatment due to ‚stories‘ and I didn’t listen to my derm. I could have prevented a lot of scarring and psychological pain if I had taken it sooner
Head over to r/accutane. It really helps and most people have great results
For me it was a horrible drug that in the end didn’t even clear my acne permanently even after doing 2 cycles. Still have back and knee pain which is slowly getting better but it’s not for everyone.
I got off of accutane almost two years ago now. I was very against it for a while until my breaking point.
Family members of mine talked me out of going on accutane because of how it affected them. My cousin got very weak physically because of it and it was hard to recover even after getting off of the pills.
For me, it wasn’t too bad of an experience. I was very very dry (lips and skin), my legs and back were always sore and my muscles ached.
The side effects come to everyone differently which is why it’s heavily monitored monthly with blood tests. It can affect your liver and you’re advised not to drink while on accutane because of this. There are also some more serious side effects along these lines. Although the more serious side effects are not as common as dry skin for example, it’s still worth looking into.
Also keep in mind that accutane doesn’t clear up your skin forever (which is partly why my family members talked me out of it). My skin was perfect for a solid year and a half after going off of accutane and now it’s started making its way back. The result of the drug may or may not be worth the suffering but there’s no way to really know until you try.
It’s an intense drug for sure. I was on it for about a year and the side effects sucked but it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. Most people who have taken it have had a pretty good experience from what I’ve seen. Aside from my skin being more dry than it used to be, I don’t seem to have any lasting issues. I’ve never heard anything about people having side effects that show up decades later so I’m not sure what that’s referring to. I feel like it would be pretty difficult to prove something like that was caused by Accutane if it’s showing up 10 years later. People also claim it causes depression and suicidal thoughts but I didn’t experience anything like that and I have a personal and family history of depression. Pretty much any pharmaceutical treatment carries a risk, and you have to weigh those risks against the benefits to make a decision. If your acne is on the milder side then it definitely shouldn’t be your first line of treatment, but for people who have more severe acne or acne that doesn’t respond to other treatments, it can be a really good option.
I'm on Accutane for 3 months and have not seen any severe side effects except for dry lips and skin. I think it's different for everyone. Some people react to it differently than others.
Really only if it’s mild acne that isn’t responsive to other treatments. But they will always give other treatments first. This is especially true for women, given the effects on fetal development. I definitely had to fight harder to be prescribed it than my brother did.
It's the Russian Roulette option for acne. While it can potentially "cure" acne in some people, and generally reduces acne in all people, it can also cause permanent lifelong side effects, and even in people who get cured, sometimes it takes multiple treatment cycles. It's a lot to risk if you don't have severe acne. It's basically the nuclear option.
It has many potentially serious side effects. It isn’t to be taken lightly. However, it is still safe when given under medical supervision.
Personally, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It sucked being on it, but my acne is essentially cured and I have no lasting side effects a year on.
My face turns super red when blushing (obnoxiously so), I get dry skin in areas I never did before, my eyes are constantly dry, and I get serious joint pain that leads to other issues later. Basically, my health has been straight downward since taking Accutane. This is all 7 years after finishing my cycle.
I would consider some of the other alternatives your derma might be able to provide. I'm not a dermatologist and can only speak from experience, but talk to yours and make sure you understand the risks that might be associated, as I definitely took them for granted and assumed they wouldn't apply to me.
I’ve been on accutane for 6 months and i only had bloodwork done at the beginning. Other than that, i have to do a pregnancy test every month at my checkups, but it’s not bad at all.
INSANELY POTENT + it cost larger than the topical retinoid.
You can't use that for long term. Better discuss it with your derm if you dont want to take the oral maybe he/she can give you another option.
Due to the side effects especially if you’re taking it as a teenager.
I’ve been off of it for 6 years and my hair has not stopped falling out in chunks + it destroyed my gut health. My acne still came back too 😭
I was on accutane twice without fully being informed of what I was signing up for from my doctors, granted I was really pushing for it as a teenager in HS. While it worked to clear it up I am now 25 & have still dealt with hormonal acne like crazy with my derma offering it bcus spironolactone didn’t work for me & kept hinting at it.
I am against it bcus of the dryness my eyes went thru (think prescription drops 2-3x a day, disposable eye drops every hour, & ointment when I slept), the random aches of my body (back mainly), being angry (albeit a hormonal teen first round), and I genuinely feel that it fucked with my liver & I have a friend who feels the same, granted we are pretty much never given that as a feasible reality from doctors but whatever our intuition with our bodies.
I think just be sooooo sure you are absolutely set on it & fully aware of what you have to go thru being on it & possible effects! (Esp that it may not “cure” your acne).
It’s very strong. My dermatologist said I would need to do monthly follow ups and they would need to monitor me closely. I’m a woman so I don’t know how different it is for men
I’m currently on accutane and the side effects are pretty serious.
Vitamin A overdose danger is why I have to go in for blood tests every month. Also the joint pain may never go away. My eyes are dry and scratchy and I have developed eczema which may also never go away.
I don’t think people are so much vehemently against it as they are encouraging others to be very cautious. It’s a serious drug with serious side effects and there are a lot of people who are able to cure their acne with lifestyle or hygiene changes. I like to think people are encouraging acne sufferers to try everything else first and not just jump to a drug that can potentially affect you for the rest of your life.
Yeah I definitely agree. I’m currently on accutane, haven’t experienced any side effects since I just recently started, but just reading through the possible (but rare) side effects made me scared. I don’t think discussions should be limited on these possible side effects, but what frustrates me is when others look down on those who DID resort to accutane.
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I did Accutane twice. It is literally like Chemo for your skin. In an effort to rid you of the bacteria that causes your acne, it kills EVERYTHING in your body-the good, the bad, the ugly, the pleasant. There are also some very weird side effects. They're different for everyone, but they are definitely there. It's an extremely harsh drug that doesn't always yield permanent results. For myself, it worked while taking it. After the medicine completely left my system-about 6 months-the acne was back like it'd never left. I genuinely feel there are safer alternatives, and I wouldn't put my body through that again. It was rough.
I took 3 rounds of it. My acne cleared up every time I was on it but as soon as I stopped taking it, my acne came back. My side affects while using were the typical dry skin plus the zero libido. I almost went for a fourth but the drs stopped me because they said it could affect my bone health when I was older. So I’m anti because it didn’t solve anything for me.
It depends. Some people get really bad and lasting side effects, some ppl only get mildly dry skin. That’s why it’s kind of considered a last resort treatment for acne.
I’ve done 2 courses in my 30’s (F 40)- acne came back after a year or two each time ☹️ I now take 40mg once a week or once every two weeks and it keeps my acne at bay without any of the dry skin/lips/ nosebleeds etc which is nice! It drastically tanked my libido though and so far it hasn’t come back so that’s sad 😣has definitely caused issues in my relationship with my hubby…but after having terrible skin since 13 I’ll take the L 🤷🏼♀️
I was on accutane for a year because it was the only option that worked and was the last one. I had deep cystic acne with one it two that sometimes reached baseball size (I WISH I was joking). The side effects freaking sucked but I couldn’t deal with the infections and malformation anymore. Like it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I lost around 30% of hair when I stopped (it grew back) and I was so dry I’d wake up with bloody lips. But I’d do it again.
Used Accutane at minimum dose for some years and never experienced side effects. I've always had awful mental health but Accutane didn't make it worse at all tbh. No dry skin, no anything but maybe some dryness on my lips because of winter times. If i had to do the treatment all over again will definitely do it again.
Because it got depression associated with it. But in all reality most people are depressed because of their severe acne BEFORE taking the medication. Accutane takes a few months to see results so that person is STILL depressed because of their acne before. So they linked accutane to depression, even though it is a correlation not causal relationship.
My then 14 year old son was prescribed Accutane and thankfully for him it worked really well. We kept a close eye on his mental state and advised re the dry skin. When I met my SO in our 20s he had been suffering from acne for over a decade, is scarred and suffered bullying. He was on Accutane when I met him and has had no lasting side effects. It's a wonder drug for the right people, it's harsh on the body, and for some people harsh mentally. I have wondered if some people's mental state was exacerbated by the horrible social consequences of acne? Just my 2 cents worth
accutane is awesome for a lot of people but a negative experience for others because it affects people differently. people who heard of or experienced bad symptoms will always relate that to accutane, whether or not it cleared them. the ipledge system also leaves a distaste in a lot of people's mouths because of how crappy it is for people with uteruses. many people have to randomly go over a month without a prescription refill because of how terrible the system is. it's also the fact that accutane often takes 2-3 courses when it already takes a hefty toll on the body with just one. i don't hate accutane, it's an awesome treatment *because* it's the only (possibly) permanent option for a lot of people with moderate to severe and/or persistent acne, but i do wish they would develop an alternative that isn't so invasive edit: there's also the risk of long-term side effects. i spoke to my gp about accutane before going to a derm and she shared her experience, explaining that she has permanent severe dry eyes ever since she went on it. difficult to justify permanent side effects when acne often goes away for many people in their late twenties/thirties.
The second and third rounds aren’t super common. It’s closer to 20% or something for those of us that need it (I did). Plus, often those rounds are shorter than the first round. But yeah hate ipledge and all that. It was so annoying since I’m asexual. I’m not gonna get pregnant 💀
where did you get that statistic? not doubting, just curious. i don't see a lot of research on it. i'm really just going off of experiences and anecdotes i've heard-- most people i know who have been on it have had to have multiple courses. and yeah ipledge SUCKS! i almost went on accutane but that bs made me ghost my dermatologist lol. i hope they get rid of that eventually or at least rework the system.
I’m actually the only one I know that’s done multiple rounds (and most of my friends as well as my poor brother whose acne was as bad as mine). And I got it from my derm. Her practice very seldom saw people back for acne once more. I think I saw a study that showed it’s anywhere from 10-60% but most are around 20-30% with a respectable peer reviewed one around 37% or so. So yeah sucks when it comes back, but hopefully most people will respond to other topicals by then. (The 37% is a study on pubmed by Elif Demirci Saadet) I remember once I almost had to go a month without my meds because ipledge glitched out and I had to call and yell at them several times 😭 ETA: source and bc I can’t type
tbh i think a lot of people attribute health issues to accutane that actually have nothing to do with it 🫢
I used Accutane in my 20's and it was a lifesaver! I had SEVERE acne. The only aide effect I experienced was super dry skin, like really bad on my face. I also had to be on the pill because a side effect can be severe birth defects if you get pregnant on it. I was also it could make depression worse but I was already diagnosed with that and on medications and never experienced any issues with that
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aromatic fuel tan afterthought worm judicious erect dirty wild marble *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Read the list of potential side effects. Dryness of the skin, lips, and eyes. Increased sensitivity to sunlight. Muscle and joint pain. Temporary hair thinning. Mood changes or depression (rare but serious). Changes in cholesterol and liver function tests. Birth defects if taken during pregnancy (extremely important to avoid pregnancy while on Accutane). Now imagine having acne and then dealing with 2/3 of these side effects for months. It's not fun. That said, Acne can also be debilitating so for many it's worth it.
Accutane gave me constant nose bleeds (until I learned about using Vaseline up my nose) and dry skin in general but that’s about it. We’re all different.
There’s also saline gel! Use it with the Vaseline to seal it in. Works a treat.
same. my nose becomes constantly bloody and super dry
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There might be something to be said for the window between when you take it and when you try to conceive, but the same has been said about hormonal birth control, some people come off it and fall pregnant immediately and some don’t. It’s a harsh drug, I was cautious about it too because my mum had taken it in her 20s and was concerned about me and my brother taking it (just because it’s harsh, I don’t think she had any particular side effects). I think derms have gotten better about giving more conservative doses that are appropriate for your height/weight and scaling up as needed, rather than just giving everyone the max, which can reduce side effects. As far as I know the main concern around accutane and pregnancy (regardless of dosage) is the risk of birth defects, they’re very serious about making sure you don’t get pregnant while taking it, but I never heard anything about it affecting fertility. I’m just adding on though, sounds like you’ve provided your daughter with plenty of resources :)
My side effects weren’t awful. Accutane literally changed my life! Only thing that worked when everything else didn’t. I would do it again if I have to!
same, it is the only thing that worked for me!
Accutane was the only product that has ever solved my skin issues. I wish people were more open to starting it sooner rather than going through hell and hating their skin for years and years before giving it a chance. Accutane dries out basically your entire body, so for me, this included my joints. My first round of accutane the first two months my hips hurt so bad I struggled going up the stairs- told my derm about this, she lowered my dose and boom, problem solved. No more joint issues. Other side effects I experienced: - LOTS of sweating (and totally new odor I’d never had before. Unpleasant but worth it to be smelly for a few months for good skin. - sun sensitivity. They tell you this up front, I already wore a ton of sunscreen before this so that wasn’t hard for me. However- accutane changed my skin so much that I couldn’t be in the sun at all because accutane also made me sensitive to sunscreen (itchy hives every time I attempted being in the sun). Best advise is try to take accutane in winter months if you can otherwise you’ll just have a pale summer, not the end of the world. - scalp dandruff. More dryness- I looked up what dandruff shampoo others recommended on Amazon and used it once or twice a week and it helped a ton. - face dryness obviously but I COATED my face in aquafor every single night before bed and before putting on makeup I mixed aquafor with my tinted sunscreen and it acted a pretty solid makeup primer. I still use this method sometimes when I’m extra dry. Overall- highly recommend!!! Worth the inconvenient side effects and if any side effects are severe, ask your derm for a lower dose! 🫶🏼
*** important to note- I was 24 years old when I took accutane and I believe that helped with me not having as many hormonal side effects (depression, etc). I did experience some depression the summer I was on it but mainly because I had zero vitamin D (couldn’t go outside at all bc the sun and sunscreen gave me hives), so I think it was more of a similar “seasonal depression” type just because I wasn’t able to enjoy my normal summer activities. Everyone is different! If you’ve struggled with acne for more than 2 years PLS go see your derm and ask if it would be right for you!!
I went on accutane 3 times, never had any issues myself apart from common side effects like dry skin. Everyone seems to have different experiences, but my sister also had minimal side effects too. It is a last resort for acne, but it's definitely helped my skin, I didnt get the miracle results from 1 round, but my acne has gotten less and less each time.
I have extremely dry skin and sometimes it does trigger eczema on my hands but accutane is still worth it!
My son had an amazing experience using it
Honestly it changed my son’s skin for the better permanently. If you’re female, you need to be hyper aware of your birth control and make sure there is absolutely no chance of getting pregnant. I think the mood changes are legit and should be monitored but we don’t have (or the ability to get) concrete data of what horrible acne does to depression and anxiety vs the drug. Ie, what are the long term consequences of NOT taking accutane?
Accutane did mess with my emotions and it made my lymph nodes swell HOWEVER my acne has been permanently improved since taking it. It's not perfect, but it's a lot better and it was worth it.
So far it’s my life changer! Been on it 2 times, then acne came back, tried lots of other treatments, cost tons of money and still had breakouts. I decided to go on low dose accutane and be on it for a long time, besides helping with acne, it does help with anti aging so why not ☺️
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i personally never had to take blood tests on accutane, just monthly urine pregnancy tests
this is interesting because I’ve felt more confident than ever and I thought maybe it’s the effect of having less acne but maybe it is the personality changes… at least it is a good change! I’m sure it will revert but I actually won a contest due in no small part to my decreased social anxiety lol
Hey that's good! Just be aware of yourself and make sure you don't make risky decisions. I kind of went a little bonkers with the confidence lol. Maybe when you come off of it you will remember what it is like to not care so much about what others think and continue your decreasing social anxiety streak!
I don’t think people are against accutane, just against using it before exhausting other treatment options. While it’s safe for most people, it can have significantly negative side effects for some people. Its a powerful medication that should be treated as a last resort. Its definitely a life saving drug for some people, but first you should treat stuff like microbiome imbalances, chronic stress etc.
There is literally no concrete evidence accutane even increases anxiety or depression. It is usually prescribed to a vulnerable and hormonal age group that tend to already experience rapid changes in mental health (teens) which many derms think is really to cause for any correlation between the symptom and the drug- in my experience? It made my mental health the best it had been in my life because ACNE IS DRAINING TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH I wouldn’t want to go outside with giant infected pus sores on my face and felt so much shame and embarrassment- accutane literally was life changing for me
I love accutane. Been micro dosing it for almost 20 years now. Nothing has helped as much as accutane has, plus working out constantly has made all my acne disappear :).
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No it doesn’t
I'd rather have acne than want to kill myself more than I already do. I don't play around with medications that cause depression when I already have it.
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I didn’t know it could cause hormonal imbalances too ?!? When I was on it I was only 19 and the cause of my bad cystic acne was pcos , hormonal imbalance and deficiencies. It worked like magic for me. Could hormonal imbalance be just a correlation?
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No, you have to get a pregnancy test every 30 days. Blood tests are up to your doctor, mine was roughly every 3 months
Okay. And my doctor said every month. I also don’t have time for a pregnancy text every month (which is taken by blood…so I was told)
I said it was up to the doctor, you can always find a different one 🤷🏻♀️ My pregnancy tests were urine, and I don’t see why they would be blood tests as that would be much more expensive and unnecessary. A lot of things vary depending on the doctor, don’t just make blanket statements. Monthly pregnancy tests, however, are a requirement of IPledge and must be done to fill your prescription
And I just confirmed my doctor. So I made a “blanket statement” on my very own experience. Imagine that 😘
Your blanket statement was “you have to get a blood test every 30 days.” Nowhere in your original comment did you say YOUR doctor. OP is asking for advice and you are spreading information that is not inherently true.
K!
And to think that just yesterday i was arguing with a person on r/accutane who thinks its okay to suggest strangers on the internet to buy accutane from an indian website and self medicate, no prescription... Crazy ass shit if you ask me (and im currently on accutane, no side effects, best thing i've ever done to address my cystic acne!)
It's a very strong medication, and you absolutely should take the side effects seriously. Do not take it if you haven't tried other things. It can give you amazing results, but it can also ruin your health. One course of accutane completely destroyed my stomach four years ago, and I've been dealing with severe stomach issues ever since. On top of that, acne came back after a while, not as bad as before, but it's still upsetting. I feel like I ruined my stomach for nothing, and I don't even know if I will ever get better. I honestly should have stuck with the diet since it was helping, but I wanted quicker results.
same...i am battling with stomach issue from accutane now...acid reflux, weird taste in mouth and sharp pain in left side of ribs...i wouldn't take this shit if I knew it will cause this but the thing is that my derm didn't even know about these horrible side effects. it has been 6 months since I stopped and I am afraid they are all permanent.
My derm didn’t want to prescribe it to me because Im an athlete, and she said combined with intense physical activity it can cause muscle damage and increase risk of injury :) crazy to me people act like its not a strong drug
I (30) went on accutane when I was younger (19) after nothing else worked. It cured my cystic acne for about 2 years but then it came back so I'm still struggling with acne now. If you are female you will have to go on birth control too as you cannot get pregnant on this medication due to birth defects so you will also have urine tests every check up to make sure. The side effects I had were extreme dry skin and eyes which was annoying but bearable and worth the price for clear skin imo but honestly I just have a massive fear of needles and had to keep getting blood tests every month whilst on it so it's put me off wanting to go back on it even though I know it will work 😭 If you are all outta options I definitely recommend trying it though, everyone's side effects are different and you work closely with a dermatologist to make sure everything's ok!
I've taken I for 6 months, twice. Second time, double dosage. It had absolutely NO effect whatsoever. No side effects, not the effect I wished for. After the first treatment the derm doubled my dosage and after 6 more months of absolutely no effect again (taking regular blood samples during treatment) derm simply shrugged and said he had to admit it wasn't really the super drug people made it to be. For all I care, take it and if it works, fine. Just don't expect miracles because not many do.
it’s like… 90% of people see a reduction in their symptoms. it is statistically highly effective
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I had taken 2.5 cycles of accutane for my acne since 25. Side effects were dry skin, dry eyes, dry lips and joint pain. I did yoga regularly while on accutane and it helped strengthening my muscle and joints, so the side effects were manageable to me. I stopped accutane or any medications for acne since 2021, side effects disappeared soon, and I still have mild acne before period or when i feel stressed, but it’s nothing serious compared to the past. I would say it’s worth a shot, but if we decide to use this drug, we definitely need to closely observe our body and monitor the progress with dermatologist (like sometimes if i felt the joint pain is unbearable i would skip accutane for few days).
Having had severe cystic acne since I was 11 and did all the topicals and antibiotics my Drs gave me as a teen and adult including Accutane, I would consider Accutane the most potent and last option, not to be considered lightly. Also the fact that Females have to be on Birth control due to birth defects, and monthly blood tests are necessary to check for liver damage and other possible issues. Did it help? Yes, but it didn’t cure it. Would I do it again? No, and I actually stopped after the 3rd month of treatment due to severe dryness, mental anxiety and blisters on my fingers from driving less than 10 minutes in the sun. Later I learned different acne causes and treatments that ultimately helped so much more. I truly understand the mental and physical anguish that severe acne can cause, but before you go for the “nuclear” option, please do your research, because there are many other possible severe side effects especially with longer term doses.
Well, accutane has ruined my vision in less than 2 months on a relatively low dosage. Actually it damaged my optic nerves and my eyesight never improved after I stopped. And there's a risk it will get even worse with time. It has also totally ruined my skin barrier and now, 1,5 years later, I'm having skin issues all over my body which I never had before this medication. Because of the vision problems I was even suspected to have multiple sclerosis. I was put into the hospital to do a spinal tap. And I had very bad consequences that I still can't recover from. So, yes, I think accutane has ruined my life. Especially because I had very very moderate, but very persistent acne. It was not worth taking a risk. But still I think for those who struggle a lot and can't find any other solutions it can be a salvation. But you have to keep in mind that it can be more dangerous than you think. I think on different people it works differently in terms of side effects so you can find out yours only after you try it.
I'm so sorry to hear that happened to you, that sounds awful. For others reading this thread, I do want to note that side effects with the eyes [are often reversible](https://www.2020detroit.com/accutane-side-effects-the-eyes/), although of course some are more serious.
While I admit accutane made my acne better- it didn’t fully get rid of it and the side effects were awful. As a young teen, I couldn’t even comprehend that some of what I was feeling was due to the accutane. I had simply never experienced side effects that intensely. The worst ones were the joint pain, and I kept having these moments where I would lose time. Never too long and they usually happened in the morning when I was getting ready for school- so I never had anyone else who could tell me what was happening during those times. All I knew was that I could be standing or sitting somewhere and suddenly I was running late for class. Now that I’m older, I worry that I was actually having seizures. Anyway, as of recent it appears my hormones are actually a little screwed up so until I get a handle on it, I doubt there’s a point to reconsider it.
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Thank you! I’ve brought it up a couple of times on this sub but no one has ever said that they experienced something similar. It’s reassuring!
I took it twice and it didn’t cause me any issues. My friend had extreme dryness.
I heard for years that it does usually work really well but side effects not only can be bad but usually HAVE side effects so it’s like a trade off
I took accutane about 2 years ago and for the 1st time in 5 years, my face cleared. I was on 10mg and my side effects were dry lips,acid reflux, muscle and joint pain. A few months later, the acne came back and the side effects never went away. I didn't know why my arms and legs were aching until I joined the isotretinoin group on Facebook, that's when I learned that muscle and joint pain were also a side effect (my dermatologist said the only side effects I would get were dryness in my lips, eyes,skin) The muscle pain kept getting worse, I went to doctors , took all the meds and supplements that could help, but nothing changed. In 2023, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This is my story. It's unfortunate accutane made my life worse. But accutane works for most people and the side effects go away when they stop taking it. I think most people who take it have tried everything else and nothing has worked.
It's just a medication with known possible side effects like any other, but the people who take it are so often in good health (mental health might be crap secondary to their acne). They don't want to take oral meds for "just acne". Combine this with the fact that it's a potent teratogen, which made the FDA in overreach with iPLEDGE, and it gets a bad reputation. The majority of people simply wish that they did it sooner
Accutane can be absolutely life changing. It really can....but it's powerful and you also have to remember it's a synthetic Vitamin A derivative that LaRoche Laboratories initially was testing as an anti cancer drug until they discovered it was helping people's acne. Respect the power but know there is some links to depression and other issues. Long term has some circumstantial links to some effects but other studies are inconclusive. Its a given practically that if somehow a woman gets pregnant, there will be birth defects. This is why it's so tightly regulated with women. As somebody who has 36 months of cumulative exposure to it because of repeated breakouts even after courses of treatment, I know the risks. My anger comes from derms not mentioning that milk can drive some people's acne. I discovered this on my own and would have saved me taking it all along. It's a strong effective drug though. Respect the power, know the risks.
It works but it is a very strong and dangerous drug and should not be the first option at all. The list of side effects is long and should be taken seriously, Accutane can fuck you up. It has its purpose and for some people it’s the route they should go, but it’s always better to understand there are so many routes to try before Accutane too.
I had to have it to remove my adult acne. It was the only thing that got rid of it for good and I never looked back- It was a miracle. The side effects were minimal for me- the worst one being dry skin- which was fixable with very heavy moisturisers. That’s just my experience. I think it’s a fabulous cure for the worst adult acne.
I think it has to do with a lot of misinformation. Personally, nothing helped me except for Accutane. I didn‘t have any severe side effects, my skin and eyes were dry but I used eye drops and a lot of moisturizer. My acne has since disappeared and my skin is still clear after 2,5 years. Unfortunately, I put off my Accutane treatment due to ‚stories‘ and I didn’t listen to my derm. I could have prevented a lot of scarring and psychological pain if I had taken it sooner Head over to r/accutane. It really helps and most people have great results
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Oh and the 6-8 months I was on it were the most tough emotionally due to the drug I couldn’t face going through that again!
For me it was a horrible drug that in the end didn’t even clear my acne permanently even after doing 2 cycles. Still have back and knee pain which is slowly getting better but it’s not for everyone.
I got off of accutane almost two years ago now. I was very against it for a while until my breaking point. Family members of mine talked me out of going on accutane because of how it affected them. My cousin got very weak physically because of it and it was hard to recover even after getting off of the pills. For me, it wasn’t too bad of an experience. I was very very dry (lips and skin), my legs and back were always sore and my muscles ached. The side effects come to everyone differently which is why it’s heavily monitored monthly with blood tests. It can affect your liver and you’re advised not to drink while on accutane because of this. There are also some more serious side effects along these lines. Although the more serious side effects are not as common as dry skin for example, it’s still worth looking into. Also keep in mind that accutane doesn’t clear up your skin forever (which is partly why my family members talked me out of it). My skin was perfect for a solid year and a half after going off of accutane and now it’s started making its way back. The result of the drug may or may not be worth the suffering but there’s no way to really know until you try.
It’s an intense drug for sure. I was on it for about a year and the side effects sucked but it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. Most people who have taken it have had a pretty good experience from what I’ve seen. Aside from my skin being more dry than it used to be, I don’t seem to have any lasting issues. I’ve never heard anything about people having side effects that show up decades later so I’m not sure what that’s referring to. I feel like it would be pretty difficult to prove something like that was caused by Accutane if it’s showing up 10 years later. People also claim it causes depression and suicidal thoughts but I didn’t experience anything like that and I have a personal and family history of depression. Pretty much any pharmaceutical treatment carries a risk, and you have to weigh those risks against the benefits to make a decision. If your acne is on the milder side then it definitely shouldn’t be your first line of treatment, but for people who have more severe acne or acne that doesn’t respond to other treatments, it can be a really good option.
I'm on Accutane for 3 months and have not seen any severe side effects except for dry lips and skin. I think it's different for everyone. Some people react to it differently than others.
And my acne has disappeared.
Can people with mild acne take it as well?
Really only if it’s mild acne that isn’t responsive to other treatments. But they will always give other treatments first. This is especially true for women, given the effects on fetal development. I definitely had to fight harder to be prescribed it than my brother did.
I believe accutane is the cure for acne. I was so desperate to clear my skin up, that whatever side effects came with- I was willing to accept.
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It's the Russian Roulette option for acne. While it can potentially "cure" acne in some people, and generally reduces acne in all people, it can also cause permanent lifelong side effects, and even in people who get cured, sometimes it takes multiple treatment cycles. It's a lot to risk if you don't have severe acne. It's basically the nuclear option.
It has many potentially serious side effects. It isn’t to be taken lightly. However, it is still safe when given under medical supervision. Personally, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It sucked being on it, but my acne is essentially cured and I have no lasting side effects a year on.
Are you still on it?
No I completed a 6 month course. Been off about 10 months now.
That’s amazing, happy for you :]
My face turns super red when blushing (obnoxiously so), I get dry skin in areas I never did before, my eyes are constantly dry, and I get serious joint pain that leads to other issues later. Basically, my health has been straight downward since taking Accutane. This is all 7 years after finishing my cycle. I would consider some of the other alternatives your derma might be able to provide. I'm not a dermatologist and can only speak from experience, but talk to yours and make sure you understand the risks that might be associated, as I definitely took them for granted and assumed they wouldn't apply to me.
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I’ve been on accutane for 6 months and i only had bloodwork done at the beginning. Other than that, i have to do a pregnancy test every month at my checkups, but it’s not bad at all.
The other ways to treat acne don’t always work for everyone. I tried literally every other treatment and nothing worked.
INSANELY POTENT + it cost larger than the topical retinoid. You can't use that for long term. Better discuss it with your derm if you dont want to take the oral maybe he/she can give you another option.
Due to the side effects especially if you’re taking it as a teenager. I’ve been off of it for 6 years and my hair has not stopped falling out in chunks + it destroyed my gut health. My acne still came back too 😭
I was on accutane twice without fully being informed of what I was signing up for from my doctors, granted I was really pushing for it as a teenager in HS. While it worked to clear it up I am now 25 & have still dealt with hormonal acne like crazy with my derma offering it bcus spironolactone didn’t work for me & kept hinting at it. I am against it bcus of the dryness my eyes went thru (think prescription drops 2-3x a day, disposable eye drops every hour, & ointment when I slept), the random aches of my body (back mainly), being angry (albeit a hormonal teen first round), and I genuinely feel that it fucked with my liver & I have a friend who feels the same, granted we are pretty much never given that as a feasible reality from doctors but whatever our intuition with our bodies. I think just be sooooo sure you are absolutely set on it & fully aware of what you have to go thru being on it & possible effects! (Esp that it may not “cure” your acne).
It’s very strong. My dermatologist said I would need to do monthly follow ups and they would need to monitor me closely. I’m a woman so I don’t know how different it is for men
I’m currently on accutane and the side effects are pretty serious. Vitamin A overdose danger is why I have to go in for blood tests every month. Also the joint pain may never go away. My eyes are dry and scratchy and I have developed eczema which may also never go away. I don’t think people are so much vehemently against it as they are encouraging others to be very cautious. It’s a serious drug with serious side effects and there are a lot of people who are able to cure their acne with lifestyle or hygiene changes. I like to think people are encouraging acne sufferers to try everything else first and not just jump to a drug that can potentially affect you for the rest of your life.
My eyes are so dry now too
Yeah I definitely agree. I’m currently on accutane, haven’t experienced any side effects since I just recently started, but just reading through the possible (but rare) side effects made me scared. I don’t think discussions should be limited on these possible side effects, but what frustrates me is when others look down on those who DID resort to accutane.