Accutane is prescribed by dermatologists to treat severe recalcitrant nodular acne(in other words severe acne) that has not responded to any other treatment such as topical gels, antibiotics, and other common treatments. Belonging to a class of treatments called retinoids, it works to slowly reduce the production of natural substances(i.e. sebum), that may cause pimples to form.

Dryness is common, and if you haven’t heard it already, most patients and doctors do their best to avoid the use of Accutane! The smart ones will literally exhaust every other plausible option before even considering Accutane. Some doctors insist on sticking to prescriptions. But most doctors now will also recommend that patients look into over the counter products at some time before they start taking Accutane.

How Should Patients Use Accutane?

Accutane is to be taken by mouth as directed by a professional. Dosages may vary from users to user. Doctors typically start patients on a lower dose of Accutane, assessing benefits as they go, and they may raise the dosage over time to increase tolerance.

Does Accutane Work?

Accutane…..well it does and doesn’t work. It is supposed to slow sebum production. But most past users would tell you that sebum production halts! Most blame excess sebum production for severe acne, and if that were true, Accutane would make acne simply disappear. It may cause similar symptoms such as redness, irritation, peeling, etc. But the bumps would disappear, right?

Wrong. There are many major causes of acne breakouts. Believe it or not, your skin needs a certain amount of sebum. When you remove all moisture and hydration from the skin, it fights back. Sometimes, acne breakouts get worse, and sometimes healthy skin cells will begin to break down. It is because of all of the risks and side effects that most will not prescribe it unless all other options have been exhausted.

Who Should Not Take Accutane

If you have any kind of chronic medical condition ranging from high blood pressure and heart disease to stomach upset, ulcers, diabetes, or asthma, it is important to consult your doctor. If you have a history of mental illness, they typically will not prescribe Accutane. In fact, if you are not perfectly healthy, most will not prescribe Accutane. It is also mandatory that women taking Accutane do not get pregnant, nor will they prescribe it to women who are breastfeeding.

Accutane Side Effects

Possible side effects and some would say common side effects of Accutane include red, cracked, and sore lips, dry skin, eyes, mouth, or nose, nosebleeds, changes in skin color, peeling skin, especially on the palms or soles, changes in the nails, slowed healing of cuts and sores, bleeding or swollen gums, hair loss or unwanted hair growth, sweating, flushing, voice changes, tiredness, cold symptoms, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, seizures, slow or difficult speech, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, stomach pain, chest pain, difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing, new or worsening heartburn, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark colored urine, back, bone, joint, or muscle pain, difficulty hearing, muscle weakness, ringing in the ears, vision problems, pain or constant dryness of the eyes, unusual thirst, frequent urination, trouble breathing, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat, fever, rash, red patches or bruising on the legs, or swelling of different areas of the body.

Conclusion

Accutane has been used by some of the biggest stars like Jessica Simpson. Yes, she promoted Proactiv for a time. But she came out previous to that saying that Accutane was the only thing that had “cured” her acne. We’ve seen reports of amazing acne fighting benefits. But we’ve seen more cases of serious side effects and even worsening acne. Accutane is an option, and if you are dealing with problems with Acne Conglobata, it’s your only option. But in most cases, you can find something else.