Isotretinoin and Acne: What Users Say

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2020

For Acne "I find that Accutane is one of the most life-changing experiences. Started to notice a huge difference in my skin on month 2. Treatment is very harsh with many side effects. Dry and thin skin, breakouts now and then, very dry eyes. I tried all types of Blistex lip balms, which did not help. Baseline Blue Seal works wonders on the lips and even on dry areas of the skin. I apply sunscreen every day with Nutraderm lotion to hydrate my skin. I also find that it really helps to have at least 3 liters of water every day. I'm currently in the middle of month 3 of treatment, and the past few weeks have been the hardest. Skin and lips are drier than ever, and there is a loss of hair. Some days depression kicks in, so it is important to keep your loved ones around you just to have some positivity. This treatment is quite costly, but it is all worth it in the end. A few months of side effects and paying the price for lifelong great skin and confidence."

• sca...
• February 22, 2015

For Acne "I've been using it for 8 weeks now, and my skin has cleared up tremendously. I still get a few cystic acne (my dermatologist says it's normal as Accutane is working to push out all hidden blackheads under the skin), but no new whiteheads or blackheads. Skin is also much less oily. I take about 40 mg a day."

• Kyr...
• November 23, 2019

For Acne "I am currently a week into my third month of treatment and have suffered from acne since the age of 19. I am now 24 and have finally decided to bite the bullet and go on Accutane. My derm initially prescribed me 40mg of Accutane once daily, she upped my dose to 60mg, and when I say my skin has become beyond dry and sensitive to the touch, I mean it. Not to mention the initial purge is something I am dealing with, breaking out on parts of my face that I normally don’t break out. There are red, inflamed bumps that take weeks to dissipate. At my last appointment, she lowered my dose back to 40mg. She stated that I am just one of her patients that she needs to ease into the process with. I was on prednisone during month two as well because my skin had flared up so bad. I am really hoping there is a light at the end of this nightmare of a tunnel. If anyone has gone through anything similar to this with their treatment, I would love to hear your experience because I’m losing hope and am trying to be patient."

• Ash...
• March 10, 2015

For Acne "It is incredible. It really makes a difference to your skin. Yes, it gets worse before it gets better, but once you get past the painful stage of breakouts, all you see week by week is improvement! I highly recommend it to those with severe acne. Before you know it, your skin will be perfect!"

• din...
• March 5, 2017

For Acne "I had my first zit before I even entered my teens. My dad has 'problem' skin and blessed me with the same. It was not unusual to see me constantly wiping the excess oil from my face and sporting a huge zit or two. As a young adult, I've tried a ton of those over-the-counter products like Noxzema, Clearasil, Proactiv, Neutrogena, etc. But I found that as I got older, my acne just got worse. So, I began seeing a dermatologist and we tried several things: doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, Epiduo, Differin, tretinoin, clindamycin, and birth control pills (for the benefit of clearer skin). And I must admit that some of these regimens helped, but the minute the doctor felt that it cleared up enough and stopped the medication, my skin would worsen. So, with my oily skin and now experiencing breakouts more frequently, especially around my mouth and jaw area, I had had enough and decided to try Accutane. Medication: I was prescribed MYORISAN 40mg for 6 months. Experience: In the first month, the breakout could be described as the worst I have ever had. I had developed larger, more painful, and a lot more acne than at any time that I could remember. I was so discouraged but had to keep believing in my dermatologist's promise of clear skin. After the first month, the breakout lessened and my skin began to dry out. Now I was required to moisturize my skin, which was something that I would not have dared to do prior to treatment. My lips began to chap and crack, but that was easily remedied with chapstick or any other type of lip gloss. My skin was a lot more sensitive than before. I used to be able to wash my face with warm water and a washcloth, but now the skin was so thin/dry that it would actually damage the skin and develop a scab the next day. I had to wear sunblock and a hat when I exercised in the park. If I didn't wear enough, I would suffer a mild sunburn. I didn't suffer any nosebleeds or depression. As the months went on, I became acne-free. And I was even told by someone that I had beautiful skin. Can you imagine my surprise?! I was in heaven. My dermatologist recommended that I apply Epiduo and tretinoin to my skin every two days after I took my last Accutane pill. This surprised me because I thought my days of acne medication were over. After I took my last pill, my skin remained clear and dry of excessive oil for a couple of months, but gradually I began to develop a few small zits and my skin was becoming oily again. This was not the promise that my dermatologist gave me. He said I'd be acne-free and at the very most, I would be a small bump around the time of my menstruation. I can without a doubt tell you that is not my reality. It has now been almost 6 months since I completed my Accutane treatment and I am once again carrying around napkins to wipe the excessive oil from my face throughout the day. And there are days when I have several zits on my face at any given time. I don't dare moisturize my already oily skin. But honestly speaking, my breakouts are not to the degree of what they used to be prior to Accutane because the pimples are smaller. But I'm unsure if it's too early to tell and that maybe with more time it may all go back to how it was originally. I guess time will tell."

• din...
• March 5, 2017

For Acne "I had my first zit before I even entered my teens. My dad has 'problem' skin and blessed me with the same. It was not unusual to see me constantly wiping the excess oil from my face and sporting a huge zit or two. As a young adult, I've tried a ton of those over-the-counter products like Noxzema, Clearasil, Proactiv, Neutrogena, etc. But I found that as I got older, my acne just got worse. So, I began seeing a dermatologist and we tried several things: doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, Epiduo, Differin, tretinoin, clindamycin, and birth control pills (for the benefit of clearer skin). And I must admit that some of these regimens helped, but the minute the doctor felt that it cleared up enough and stopped the medication, my skin would worsen. So, with my oily skin and now experiencing breakouts more frequently, especially around my mouth and jaw area, I had had enough and decided to try Accutane. Medication: I was prescribed MYORISAN 40mg for 6 months. Experience: In the first month, the breakout could be described as the worst I have ever had. I had developed larger, more painful, and a lot more acne than at any time that I could remember. I was so discouraged but had to keep believing in my dermatologist's promise of clear skin. After the first month, the breakout lessened and my skin began to dry out. Now I was required to moisturize my skin, which was something that I would not have dared to do prior to treatment. My lips began to chap and crack, but that was easily remedied with chapstick or any other type of lip gloss. My skin was a lot more sensitive than before. I used to be able to wash my face with warm water and a washcloth, but now the skin was so thin/dry that it would actually damage the skin and develop a scab the next day. I had to wear sunblock and a hat when I exercised in the park. If I didn't wear enough, I would suffer a mild sunburn. I didn't suffer any nosebleeds or depression. As the months went on, I became acne-free. And I was even told by someone that I had beautiful skin. Can you imagine my surprise?! I was in heaven. My dermatologist recommended that I apply Epiduo and tretinoin to my skin every two days after I took my last Accutane pill. This surprised me because I thought my days of acne medication were over. After I took my last pill, my skin remained clear and dry of excessive oil for a couple of months, but gradually I began to develop a few small zits and my skin was becoming oily again. This was not the promise that my dermatologist gave me. He said I'd be acne-free and at the very most, I would be a small bump around the time of my menstruation. I can without a doubt tell you that is not my reality. It has now been almost 6 months since I completed my Accutane treatment and I am once again carrying around napkins to wipe the excessive oil from my face throughout the day. And there are days when I have several zits on my face at any given time. I don't dare moisturize my already oily skin. But honestly speaking, my breakouts are not to the degree of what they used to be prior to Accutane because the pimples are smaller. But I'm unsure if it's too early to tell and that maybe with more time it may all go back to how it was originally. I guess time will tell."

• Joh...
• September 25, 2019

For Acne "Do NOT take this unless you have very severe cystic acne. I was heavily pressured into taking this 6 months ago with moderate acne, and I can't stress enough how much I regret it. I was urged by a dermatologist to start this before my acne might get really bad. Instead of stopping it, though, I had 6 months of unfixably chapped lips, dry skin, severe depression, and exponentially worse acne. My entire face and neck would break out far worse than ever before. My acne is now severe, and every single pimple has stuck around as a scar. My face and neck are covered with scars, and after what has easily been the worst half a year of my entire life, I look 100 times worse. If you only have moderate acne (i.e., you get some breakouts, but it disappears over a relatively short period), then please avoid this. Do NOT allow a doctor to pressure you into this. It took me from somewhat bad to severely bad acne. You will have all of the negative side effects with none of the positive ones."

• Gar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 4, 2018

For Acne "I suffered severe acne for more than 20 years before I tried Accutane. It basically cured my acne almost completely. I don't have many side effects, if any. I gained quite a bit of weight, but I think it has more to do with my age and lack of exercise. A lot of people mentioned terrible side effects. I personally didn't feel anything on Accutane, which is rare because I always feel something when I take most other medications. My advice is to start off with a low dose and work it up according to your weight. Side effects will be minimal with a low dose. You can always stop if you experience strong side effects. I was told to take Accutane with a fatty meal. This is the best advice that I can give to anyone who suffers from severe acne. Don't waste your time and money on antibiotics and any topical treatment. You will always have bacteria on your skin. The root of acne is overproduction of oil from the sebaceous gland."

• Joe...
• February 23, 2020

For Acne "About two years ago, I started my Accutane treatment. I was 15, on a low dose, with acne surrounding my mouth and my forehead, which is generally known as the T-zone. As I began the treatment, my skin inflamed and had an intense breakout that lasted about 2 months, which managed to get rid of all the acne, and all I was left with was dark hyperpigmentation spots. However, as the months continued in my treatment, I began to develop cystic acne around my shoulders and back, so bad in fact that they would burst and bleed, causing agonizing pain for the best part of 3 months. These cysts would later leave me keloid scars I still have to this day. However, after my course, it seemed to be too good to be true. For about a year and a half, I was clean, enjoying my life, until 6 months ago, when I began to develop acne again around my cheeks, jawline, and back of my neck. To me now, depressed and full of pain, I would have never taken it if I knew what would have happened to me now."

• acn...
• May 23, 2008

For Acne "Accutane is a great product, even if taken in low doses. The unfortunate thing is that the acne keeps coming back approximately 8-10 weeks after discontinuing treatment. Seven years ago, I went on my first course of treatment, suffering from moderate, sometimes painful acne. The treatment was 80 mg/day for 3 months and another course of 50 mg/day for 2 months. My acne cleared completely but returned after 2 years, again moderate but sometimes painful. I went on a low-dose treatment, taking 10 mg/day for 6 months, but my acne returned after only 10 weeks. I tried Villantae for 4 months with limited success. I am now back on Accutane 20 mg/day for 9 weeks. See how that goes. What helps me most is sunlight - but only moderate amounts - for a maximum of one hour per day. I do naturally have darker skin. What also helps on the low dose is loads of sleep and water. Also, you should consider changing your diet completely, loads of fruit and vegetables, no alcohol or chocolate or salty fatty food. But take your Accutane with food and a glass of milk."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2017

For Acne "I was so scared to take Accutane due to all of the experiences with initial breakouts and dry lips/skin. I've just begun my third month and could not be happier. After the first month, I had stopped getting active acne, and from then on, my skin has just been post-inflammatory acne scars that get less red day by day. My skin is nowhere near perfect, but the difference between what it is now and what it was pre-Accutane is EXTRAORDINARY. I thankfully experienced no initial breakout. In fact, after just a week, my skin had started clearing. My skin has not been dry at all- I've had no problems with dry lips or dry skin (I do apply Aquaphor generously throughout the day and moisturize twice a day). My treatment is Absorbica 40mg daily."

• 77a...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 10, 2019

For Acne "I was on Accutane for about 13 months. My skin had a horrible purging time, it is completely normal for your skin to get worse before it gets better. My skin did not clear up until the 11-12 months on it. My dermatologist was giving me the wrong doses and kept moving me up and down doses, which is not normal. After treatment, my skin was completely clear for about 6 months. I recently got horrible cystic acne back, it is so painful. I went to a different dermatologist, and I am on my second course of Accutane starting at 60 mg a day. It is supposed to be around a 6-month treatment, hopefully, it stays clear this time!"

• lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2016

For Acne "At the age of 25, I had severe hormonal acne appearing under my chin and on my jawline, deep blackheads, scarring, super oily face and hair before taking Accutane. This medication is totally worth it! I've tried so many OTC medications, prescribed so many creams and oral pills, chemical peels, dieting, Proactiv, etc. Nothing worked! I used to have horrible skin in high school as well, and it cleared up for a few years, then the acne came back. I went to my dermatologist, and she recommended Accutane for 5 months. The first two months, I had the initial breakout, and it sucked, but I knew it would get worse before it got better. My face was pretty clear by the third month. By the fourth month, I only had little scars, and now I'm acne-free!"

• Nbw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2015

For Acne "I had mild to severe acne at different times throughout the years, but then I finally decided to try Accutane. Initially, I did have an initial breakout, which worsened the skin condition (more acne), which lasted for approximately 1.5 months. But once the skin started getting better, everything started disappearing slowly, and now I'm 4.5 months in and only have the red/brown marks left, but all my acne is gone! The first few months will be harsh, and your self-esteem will probably get hit. But just go through the whole cycle - you won't regret it in the end."

• mis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 24, 2016

For Acne "Accutane saved my life. I struggled with acne since I was in grade 6. I was so hesitant to take this drug for many years, always scared because I struggle with bad depression. I took 20 mg (5'2/f/118 lbs), and that was good enough. It didn't affect my depression whatsoever. I also struggled with eating disorders, so I was paranoid about gaining weight. I lost weight and ran a half marathon on this drug. Don't let the forums trick you, although everyone is different. When I came off the Accutane, my skin broke out in awful oil. It went away after a month. Other than that, my skin is now pretty perfect, I miss being on it every day, to be honest. It makes your skin flawless."

• Kjb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2016

For Acne "OMG, I love Accutane. Best thing that ever happened to me. I have 2 months left of this medication, and I don't want it to end. Right now, my face looks so perfect and flawless, occasionally, a zit or two, nothing major at all! I'm so sad that I won't be on it and that my acne will come back! I didn't have awful acne before, 1-10, it was like a 4 or 5 (10 being the worst), but I suffered from awful blackheads. Not anymore, my nose looks perfect. I did get huge cystic acne as soon as I started the medication, and I had almost every side effect, from 20 nosebleeds a day to chapped lips to my hair literally coming out in huge chunks and extreme joint pain. But it was so, so, so worth it."

• wol...
• January 13, 2017

For Acne "I've always had breakouts on my chin every month for the last 3 years, so I tried this. I had a breakout in the 1st month of using this, and it was the worst, good thing I don't have any school that time. But it healed faster when I steamed it and let all the cysts pop up. Although it left me a reddish chin that is really annoying. I'm on my way to the 2nd month, and my face is 70% smooth. I can feel another breakout coming. How do I treat this redness on my face? Was it because of the steaming?"

• Sun...
• September 8, 2015

For Acne "I have suffered from acne for about 5 years (since the age of 15) and am now 20. I first started taking Accutane about a year ago, and let me tell you, it is 100% WORTH IT! My dermatologist prescribed me a 20 mg dose daily for a year. The first 2-3 months, there was really no change except that the first month I did break out a bit more (nothing too bad). By the third month, I did see improvement, and I was no longer producing new pimples. Each month, I noticed less and less acne as well as my scars fading away. Here I am a year later with flawless skin and almost no scars. :) I stopped treatment about a month ago and haven't"

• Kat...
• February 25, 2016

For Acne "I'm 23, and I never had acne in high school until I stopped taking my birth control due to health conditions. I started back on it, and acne came on with a vengeance. No matter what I did, if I was on or off BC, the acne never stopped flaring up. Some days were good, and my face and back were clear, but I was tired of battling, not looking in the mirror and being happy. I tried minocycline. I'm not going to say it didn't work because it helped. Acne was still horrible. First month, some dryness, second month, more dry, nosebleeds, and cystic acne popped up. I'm finishing my third month, and more of my friends say my face is looking amazing. Can't wait to finish treatment. Patience is key for this medication, for sure!!"

• Him...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2013

For Acne "I took this in my sophomore year in high school since I was suffering from severe acne all over my face, chest, and back. Astonishingly, it cleared it all up within the second month. I felt great but got a call from my doctor saying that I should immediately get off this medication because my liver function tests skyrocketed. It was very scary, but my liver eventually recovered. A year later, my acne came back and came back hard. It was hard to go to school, and I had bad cystic acne. I talked to my doctor and decided to go back on. I am now two months into the medication again and seem to be having a lot more side effects. I'm still experiencing bad acne with redness, but I know it will clear up sometime. As for the liver, everything's fine so far."

• The...
• October 15, 2014

For Acne "60 kg female. I had cystic acne on my face and jaw. I had acne from 13 years of age. I'm 31 now. I tried everything! Then I asked for Accutane. I was on 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg doses. For about 7 months, as I kept having pimples (small but pimples). I had regular blood and pregnancy tests each month. The steroids kicked the medicine in the butt, and at 60, it cleared my face completely. I was on 60 for 2 months, and I knew I had no acne at all. I wanted to give up after 5 months when I was on 50. I would have no pimples all month but when on my periods. I finished on 60. No acne then and no acne 3 months later."

• The...
• October 15, 2014

For Acne "60 kg female. I had cystic acne on my face and jaw. I had acne from 13 years of age. I'm 31 now. I tried everything! Then I asked for Accutane. I was on 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg doses. For about 7 months, as I kept having pimples (small but pimples). I had regular blood and pregnancy tests each month. The steroids kicked the medicine in the butt, and at 60, it cleared my face completely. I was on 60 for 2 months, and I knew I had no acne at all. I wanted to give up after 5 months when I was on 50. I would have no pimples all month but when on my periods. I finished on 60. No acne then and no acne 3 months later."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 25, 2013

For Acne "Yes, it did clear my acne once I was on it. I had cystic acne around my chin and forehead, and some acne on my cheeks. But I would say no less than a year later, it started coming back. Granted, it was not as bad as before, but I was extremely surprised to see acne come back so soon. Now, about 3 years later, it is TERRIBLE. I am getting cystic acne again, and a new pimple is popping up pretty much every day around my chin. I really don't want to have to go on another treatment of Accutane. I had already been on 2 six-month treatments in a row."

• Kat...
• March 8, 2016

For Acne "Horrible side effects (virtually all the ones listed) and did not cure my acne. In fact, it made my acne about 10 times worse than before. I find it strange that an 'initial breakout' could last well over a month and be continuing to get worse, leaving scars that I never would have otherwise had. This drug was a total disaster for me, and I stopped after a couple of months. My face is still not back to how it was (which would be comparatively awesome, and I had moderate-severe acne before), and to be perfectly honest, this was the worst decision I could have made for my health and emotional well-being."

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2011

For Acne "Loved Accutane! Had to jump through hoops to take it (blood tests every month, waiver, birth control), but it was worth it. I had severe cystic acne after my second child, and no other prescription medicines helped. Had dryness and increased acne, but after treatment, I have been acne-free for 10 years! My sister also took Accutane but had a recurrence years later. She did a 2nd round and has been acne-free for 5 years. Saved my face from years of scarring, even if I have a recurrence at this point."