Tatjana Zlatkovic/Stocksy
Is Accutane worth it?
As with most things, this depends on whom you ask.
For some, the retinol medication works powerfullyand fastto clear up stubborn acne.
Tatjana Zlatkovic/Stocksy
Note
This is about personal, anecdotal experience and should not substitute medical advice.
If you’re having health concerns of any kind, we urge you to speak to a healthcare professional.
What Is Accutane?
Odds are if you know acne, you know Accutane.
For severe recalcitrant acne, isotretinoin is an excellent option, King says.
Is Accutane the Best Long-Term Acne Solution?
But its another to hear from real women whove taken it.
But dont waste your time getting lost in a WebMD black hole.
Instead, read what the following Accutane users have to say.
It started around the sixth or seventh grade.
A magic pill that would finally give me clear skin?
I was all over that.
Dry skin and the other side effects seemed like a small price to pay.
Oh, small towns.
I did notice that my skin got chapped, which I battled with tubs of Aquaphor Healing Ointment.
And since I was/am so pale, wearing the highest SPF out there was something I already did.
“My skin started to clear uplike, really clear upand it stayed clear.
I know that Accutane isnt for everyone, but it was for me.
The first time I went on the medicine was nine years ago, when I was 15.
I hadhorrible cystic acnethat no amount of antibiotics or Retin-A topical treatments would help.
I had really bad physical side effects the first time I went on Accutane.
My eyes were also always bloodshot, and people thought I was high 24/7 (I never was).
The bloodshot eyes and vision problems would also cause me to get really bad headaches.
“Accutane helped my skin stay blemish-free and absolutely clear for about a year and a half.
But by the time I got to college, I started breaking out again and was prescribedSpironolactone.
This helped, and I was on this medicine for a few years.
Unfortunately, a year and a half ago, at 23, my skin started breaking out again.
Im currently at the end of my third month of Accutane, round two.
I see people stare at my lips and feel so embarrassed.
It also just hurtstheyre so chapped that they crack and bleed on a daily basis.
Now, not only am I self-conscious about my skin, but Im self-conscious about my body too.
I look at myself in the mirror and dont even recognize the person I see.
When I started it this time, I was told some people even have to do it three times.
I had heard good things from a friend who tried Accutane.
I blame most of what happened on the inexperienced dermatologist who consulted me.
I was concerned about the negative side effects like peeling skin because I work in face-to-face sales.
And it was with a vengeance this time.
Jessica, 27 (on Accutane at 22)
“I Loved Accutane”
I loved Accutane.
I tried everythingRetin-A, tetracyclineand nothing worked.
I dont have scarring.
Im happy with my complexion today.I have four kids and would have any of them try it if needed.
My acne had progressively gotten worse after I had my son at 18.
Now I was 21 and in cosmetology school and felt that having clear skin was a must.
The worst part wasgettingon Accutane.
Overall, Accutane was an amazing drug.
It cleared my skin up, and it did it fast.
It was such a confidence booster.
I remember looking in the mirror and thinking,Wow, my skin looksgood.It became addictive in a sense.
I wanted to be on Accutane forever when I started out.
With all the good, there are obviously side effects.
Accutane messed with my emotions.
It also ruined my stomach.
I became so sensitive to certain foods that I actually ended up in the emergency room one night.
At the time, nobody knew what was wrong with me.
I finally saw a gastroenterologist, and they said I developed a gluten sensitivity.
IBS can cause sensitivity to a number of different foods,depending on the individual).
Do I regret being on Accutane?
I honestly have no idea.
I go back and forth.
I cant say for certain if anything else could have cleared my painful cystic acne like that drug did.
Lets be honestit hasnt been smooth sailing since then.
I have since gone to maintain by sticking to dailyAczone geland prescription benzoyl peroxide for breakouts.
But it did the dirty work to get my skin to a great place.
For those who suffer from acne, I do think it is life-changing.
I just really wish I could eat a bagel.
Choung RS, Talley NJ.Food allergy and intolerance in ibs.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y).
