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Tretinoin is one of the most popularly used acne medications worldwide but if you aren’t aware of this reality and you suffer from recurring acne breakouts, you need to adopt a changed outlook. You need to learn more about this wonder drug medication in terms of what it is, how it’s used, the pros and cons. Avoiding acne is near impossible to do, so the next best thing is to prevent and cure it, which is a perfect task for tretinoin.

General information about tretinoin

Tretinoin is one of the most popular drug medications around for the treatment of acne breakouts so this is a timely signal if you suffer from acne.

Tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative which is one of many really effective treatments for acne that has been very successful in ridding stubborn acne and renewing the skin on your face and elsewhere.

The drug treatment is very easy to get because it’s available in the form of cream or gel which have different concentrations of tretinoin and therefor varying potency for dealing with different acne types.

It can be purchased as an over-the-counter product or in a prescribed form such as Retin-A which has a higher concentration of tretinoin and hence a higher potency.

If you’re looking for varying degrees of potency, the Retin – A prescribed medications are the best options for you as they contain different concentrations of tretinoin and therefore different strengths.

Retin – A is the most common and popular version of tretinoin and as already indicated, its popularity stems from the fact that it’s available in different levels of potency.

Tretinoin is also available at drugstores and online pharmaceutical stores if you want to avail yourself of the different varieties of Retin – A packed with different concentrations of tretinoin.

Is Tretinoin safe to take as a treatment?

There’s no need to beat around the bush here, Yes, tretinoin is safe to take as a treatment for acne for the reason that it has been thoroughly tested to be a safe medication.

It has earned FDA approval for treating acne since the 1960s. It has also gained FDA approval as a treatment for treating wrinkles and other skin aging signs.

Tretinoin gels and creams have been formulated to cater for the needs of people of 12 years of age and above but are not meant for young children below the age of 12.

Can Tretinoin really cure acne?

The correct answer is Yes, it does and this is not simply hearsay because its backed up by a study which was carried out in 2009.

In this particular study, two groups of participants were given two types of treatments. One group was given a gel containing tretinoin and the other was given non-therapeutic gel.

Over a period of 12 weeks (3 months), it was found that all those given the gel with tretinoin noticed a considerable reduction in acne when compared to those given non-therapeutic gel.

It was also found in a later study in 2015and other studies in subsequent years that tretinoin was actually very effective in the treatment of acne.

In this study, two drug treatments were used, tretinoin cream and clindamycin 1% which were mixed and given to participants who had facial acne over a period of 12 weeks.

At the end of 12 weeks it was found that participants had achieved a drop in their acne from 13.70 ± 4.80 to 1.30 ± 2.95, respectively.

Thousands of anecdotal reports or online testimonials from users have reported their success with tretinoin in improving their skin.

Other evidence from communal sources also feature hundreds of “before and after” cases of tretinoin users who have testified to the efficacy of tretinoin after 4, 6, or 12 months of treatment.

There is definitely a plethora of supporting evidence from different types of sources such as scientific studies, anecdotal reports and testimonials that attest to the efficacy of tretinoin as a treatment for acne. So yes, it really cures acne for both the short and long term scenarios.

If tretinoin does work how does it do it?

This is a logical follow up question that wants to find more about the curative powers of tretinoin in treating acne breakouts and how it does its curative work.

Because of its production as a gel and cream form the direct application of tretinoin directly on the affected area of the skin for eliminating acne is made easy and simple.

Tretinoin may also be taken as an oral treatment however this kind of medication is not usually used for treating acne.

One surprising thing about tretinoin however is that while it has been around for over fifty years, doctors still haven’t discovered the process that enables tretinoin to function control acne breakouts.

Some clues that point to how tretinoin works

One important feature about tretinoin is its ability in increasing the cell/skin turnover rate.

This simply means that the drug helps your body get rid of dead skin cells and to make new skin cells appear to replace the discarded dead skin cells.

It does this by having a role in improving the process of collagen synthesis which is a very important part of producing healthy skin.

Notable results of tretinoin treatment

The ultimate results of these tretinoin features after a few months of treatment include a considerable reduction in the amount of acne present on the face.

Another result is that there’s a very significant improvement in the general appearance and quality of your skin.

Even while tretinoin is known for its active treatment of acne, you should bear in mind that it usually takes some time before the results of the treatment are noticed.

In actual fact many of those treated with tretinoin have known that the status of the person’s acne may get worse before it gets better.

It has been found that users usually find that their acne actually increases during the first two to four weeks due to a process known as the “tretinoin purge.”

Bottom Line

The availability of a good guide for steering you towards a better knowledge and appreciation of one of the most efficacious treatments for acne breakouts is very important. It leads you to know and understand the nature of the drug medication you are taking for treating your acne. You become aware of how it works in defending your face and other vulnerable parts of your body from acne and you feel more confident in using its healing qualities.

When a physical condition prevails in most countries of the world and has annoyed young teenagers and adults alike over centuries, there’s a strong probability that many medications such as Tretinoin, have been found and used to combat its breakouts leading some to ask: How effective is Tretinoin (Retin –A) in treating Acne?. Read on and find out more about this effective drug medication.

Generic tretinoin for treating acne

Ever heard of Retin-A? If you have then you’ll understand this article. If not, suffice it to say that tretinoin is a retinoid and is a form of Vitamin A.

This is a drug medication that’s very easy to get because tretinoin can be bought online from a pharmacist, drugstore or over-the-counter in a gel or cream form.

You should note however that the concentration of tretinoin in these products is not the same as in Retin-A.

In some countries like the United States, if you want to buy topical tretinoin products with a higher concentration as Retin – A, a prescription must be prepared by a doctor.

Normally, topical tretinoin can be used as a short or long-term medication for challenging and clearing acne breakouts and in most cases is also used to eradicate stubborn acne blemishes that develop on your skin.

It can be said that tretinoin can cure many people of their acne but not all, so you’d be doing yourself a favor if you read this article before applying tretinoin on your acne.

Benefits of the tretinoin treatment

The fact is that tretinoin is a retinoid and as such is similar to vitamin A. All retinoids stimulate the circulation of cells on your skin.

This means that dead skin cells are automatically removed from your skin quicker while new replacement skin rises to the surface as a replacement.

The quicker the replacement of your skin takes place, the more your pores are cleared and unclogged.

This gets rid of bacteria trapped in your pore follicles which are responsible for causing your acne breakouts.

Like other retinoids, tretinoin is also responsible for controlling the amount of natural oil or sebum that your body produces especially in the pores of your skin

In doing so, it also helps prevent unwelcomed future acne breakouts that cause a lot of discomfort and embarrassment to the sufferer.

Another benefit from using tretinoin as your acne medication is their anti-inflammatory abilities which systematically destroy active pimples.

Impacts of tretinoin on the aging process

While acne may be dreaded by young teens, wrinkles are a nuisance to the aged but the good news for old people is that tretinoin may be just the solution for them.

Extensive studies have been carried out in ascertaining the effect that tretinoin cream has on wrinkles and the results have been highly satisfactory.

The studies have found that tretinoin cream does in fact have both short and long-term effects on the occurrence of wrinkles.

It’s for this reason that tretinoin has become a most favored ingredient for many face and eye creams which are found in over the counter drugstores and online pharmaceutical stores.

Effects of tretinoin on acne scarring

The unique quality of topical tretinoin is its ability to slow down the occurrence ofscarring from acne, but how is this possible?

Tretinoin has the ability to hasten the process of cell replacement on your skin by having the uncanny ability of stimulating new skin cell growth when scarring is detected.

To substantiate this unique ability, several types of tretinoin have been tested with positive results as proven medications for acne scarring.

In some cases, tretinoin can be used to make the skin adaptive to chemical peel treatments to help heal acne scarring.

The side effects of tretinoin treatment

Tretinoin is no different from other drug medications in terms of side effects but again people are different and while you may be affected by the side effects, others may not.

Also the side effects themselves have different intensities with some being more severe than others but in any case, the side effects may include the following:

• skin my become a different hue after the application of tretinoin
• burning or itching sensation on the skin
• warming of the skin when touched
• redness or peeling of the skin
• dryness of your skin

The length of treatment with tretinoin

Normally, it may take up to 12 weeks (3 months) to experience the results of the tretinoin treatment.

However, if your skin becomes irritated because of the treatment, it’s strongly suggested that you see a doctor to determine if the symptoms are normal for tretinoin which you bought over-the-counter.

If no improvement is visible in your skin after 8 to 12 weeks (2 to 3 months), consult a dermatologist about a stronger prescription of tretinoin or other alternative treatments.

Naturally, tretinoin should not be taken be women who are pregnant or engaged in breastfeeding.

Precautions when taking tretinoin treatment

The most obvious effect of tretinoin, as with other retinoids, is the thinning out of your skin making it very sensitive to sunlight and therefore likely to be damaged and suffer from sunburn.

To counteract this sensitivity of your skin you should wear a sunscreen when wandering outside and other protective item such as a wide brimmed hat.

It’s not often that an overdose of tretinoin takes place but when it does, it’s more likely to happen with Retin – A which is a prescribed treatment with a higher concentration of tretinoin added.

When an overdose does occur, breathing problems and loss of consciousness are the usual symptoms that usually appear.

Bottom Line

This article has provided sufficient information to answer the question: How effective is tretinoin (Retin – A) in treating acne? It does not only delve into how the drug medication treats acne but also discusses the benefits that accrue from it. It gives two prime examples to highlight the efficacy of the drug in the case of aging with its healing potency in making wrinkles and acne scarring disappear making it one of the most effective topical drug treatments of our generation.

When someone suffers from moderate to severe acne and has failed to get relief from other medications it’s inevitable that another treatment has to be found to address the problem. Isotretinoin is the perfect solution because of its high potency against acne. The most amazing thing about isotretinoin is its success in getting rid of acne after just 4 to 5 months of treatment. Only a few patients need to be treated again for acne.

The popularity of Isotretinoin (Accutane)

There are many reasons why isotretinoin (Accutane) has become very popular as the first line defense against acne.

Isotretinoin is generally known as a powerful drug medication for treating acne especially if it’s very severe and it only takes four to five months of the treatment to clear all acne away.

It’s a truly amazing drug treatment with a very high rate of success in treating virtually every kind of acne breakouts.

In most cases, the treated acne can be moderate or very severe with scarring consequences and isotretinoin has proven very successful where other medications have failed.

Isotretinoin has also proven successful in treating acne that has continued for many years and has not completely responded to antibiotic pills and creams.

Despite its many side effects, it has proven to be safer in many respects than the use of antibiotics over a long period of time.

More than two million people have taken the drug which indicates its effectiveness and safety when used.

What actually is this medication?

Accutane is a natural derivative of vitamin A and its presence can be detected in the bloodstream of everyone on the planet.

Accutane has similar effects to vitamin A when taken in large doses with both good and bad effects so it’s best not to take any vitamin A while you are taking Accutane.

It is formed in the body naturally from Vitamin A that’s present in the bloodstream

It should be noted that when Vitamin A is taken in large amounts, it can cause the same defects that result from taking too much Accutane.

Because Accutane occurs naturally in the body the body can quickly remove it from the bloodstream. Once it leaves the body within nine days, it will no longer have any effect on future pregnancies.

The cure provided by Accutane

Statistics show that about half of those who take isotretinoin for treating their acne are cured and they will never have to do anything else about their acne in the future.

Usually, it happens that during the first few weeks of treatment, only one out of five acne sufferers experience that their acne actually gets a little worse and only one out of 500 much worse.

The rest of acne sufferers either feel much better or feel better for a while which shows an extremely effective cure for severe acne.

Patients usually take isotretinoin for 4 to 6 months, but some need more time and have to be “retreated” for another 4 to 6 months.

Experienced side effects

Side effect                                  Percentage                                               Treatment

Chapped lips                                      90%                       Vaseline or Aquaphor as lip moisturizer 

Dry skin and itching                         80%                       Creams as moisturizer

Dryness of nose, nosebleed        80%                        Eased by “AYR gel”

Irritation of eyelids and eyes       40%,

Joint and muscle pain                     15%

Temporary hair thinning               10%

Rash                                                        7%

Intestinal symptoms                         5%

Urinary symptoms                             5%

Headache                                              5%

Increased sensitivity to sun            5%

Decreased night vision                   <1%

Depression, suicidal thought       <1%

It has been known that isotretinoin can increase the level of blood fats which can sometimes reach critical levels. It’s possible that the drug may also affect the liver and hence the reason why during treatments using isotretinoin (Accutane) it’s necessary to have regular blood tests.

However, there shouldn’t be any problems at all if acne sufferers strictly follow the directions given by their doctors or pharmacist.

The most alarming side effect of isotretinoin (Accutane)

Birth defects have become the most damaging effect of isotretinoin (Accutane) especially when the drug is taken during pregnancy so it’s important that related information should be provided.

It is crucially important that women should not be taking isotretinoin while pregnant and also not to become pregnant while taking the drug.

It is essential that if women are sexually active while they are taking isotretinoin (Accutane) they should make plans to use at least one very dependable contraceptive method.

This should be backed up by a barrier contraceptive method such as the condom which should not be used all by itself, as there are risks involved such as a leak in the condom.

The use of a birth control pill is the most effective and can be used alone without the need for a back-up method.

Nevertheless, just to be on the safe side, a back-up barrier contraceptive would be an excellent plan that leaves no room for doubt.

If the use of a condom poses problems from either partner, a compromise can be decided whereby a spermicidal foam or a sponge may be used instead of a condom.

It should be noted that considering the very serious nature of birth defects which isotretinoin can cause, it’s very important that you have a constant supply of birth control pills within easy reach so it’s a bad idea if you start sharing your pills with others.

Dealing with headaches and other illnesses

It is not unusual for people who take isotretinoin (Accutane) to develop headaches and in most cases, these headaches can be successfully treated by using pain killers such as Advil or Tylenol.

However, if the headaches caused by isotretinoin continue unabated it would be advisable to immediately stop the medication and to make contact with a physician.

It has been said that isotretinoin (Accutane) can cause feelings of depression and has also been linked with the emergence of suicidal notions.

Despite these leaks in information, a recent study has failed to come up with evidence to say that there is in fact some correlation between the drug and the two mental conditions.

Some people try exercising to get rid of their headaches. They should know that strenuous exercise can do more harm than good as they tend to develop muscle pains.

Bottom line

There’s no question about the efficacy of isotretinoin (Accutane) in the treatment of severe acne which no other medication has managed to achieve so far. What is more important however is that in the face of serious side effects that are caused by isotretinoin there is an effective solution in mitigating them. The solution is that people should strictly follow the directions given to them by their doctors or pharmacist.

Many people who have suffered from acne should be able to respond to the question: How effective is isotretinoin for acne? To be sure many have been cured to such an extent that they won’t need to go through the same process. In any case, if acne breakouts do occur again, they will go straight to the solution by getting isotretinoin (Accutane) from their favorite online pharmacist especially if the acne is very severe!

A basic overview of isotretinoin (Accutane)

According to medical experts isotretinoin is taken orally one or twice daily for a period of 16 to 20 weeks.

One of its main functions it does is to decrease the size of the oil glands in the body so that the production of oil in the body is decreased.

It also performs the very essential function of reducing the shedding of skin cells as well as the stickiness of skin cells in the follicles which is where acnes begin.

Results in medications have shown that isotretinoin is generally a highly effective drug treatment against very severe scarring that acne patients have to go through.

Results of treatments using isotretinoin over a period of 16 to 20 weeks show that up to 90% of cases were completely or nearly completely cured of their acne.

Nevertheless, for some the acne will appear again and they will need to be given extra treatment again using isotretinoin.

Disadvantages of isotretinoin (Accutane)

In addition to being an expensive drug treatment, isotretinoin has numerous side effects which, medically speaking can be very serious or life-threatening.

This is the reason why it’s so important to follow the directions given by your doctor or pharmacist as to how and when to take it!

Major side effects of isotretinoin

The following are the main side effects of isotretinoin divided into serious and less serious side effects.

Less serious side effects:

• Inflammation of the lip and mucous membrane of the eye
• Dry mouth, nose or skin
• Itching
• Nosebleeds
• Aching muscles
• Photosensitivity
• Decreased night vision (rare)

More serious side effects of isotretinoin

• Increased blood cholesterol
• Lipid (fatty substances not dissolvable in water such as oils, waxes, sterols etc.)
• Triglyceride levels
• AbnormalLiver enzymes

Normally all these side effects usually disappear once the medication ends. Don’t hesitate to tell you doctor when you experience these side effects while taking isotretinoin.

The most serious side effect of isotretinoin is its propensity to be teratogenic which means that it can cause defects in newborn babies if the mother takes the drug during pregnancy.

It’s therefore critically important that women of childbearing age should NOT be pregnant and should NOT become pregnant while they’re taking isotretinoin. This is of utmost importance to prevent abnormal births.

Some precautionary measures for women

Because the incidence of defects in unborn babies is the immediate responsibility of women in the sense that they should avoid taking isotretinoin if they are pregnant or when they do get pregnant, they should pay attention to the following suggestions:

• If you or any other woman in the childbearing age decides to take isotretinoin (Accutane) for treating some other condition, you must use an effective birth control method.
• You should use the method one month before your drug medication begins
• You should maintain your use of the birth control method during the entire period of your treatment and for one full month after the treatment has ended.
• You should discuss with your doctor about the safest time for you to get pregnant after your treatment with isotretinoin (Accutane) has ceased.

The precautionary measures explained in detail

 If you find that you have become pregnant while being treated with isotretinoin (Accutane), you must stop taking the capsules and inform your doctor of your problem.

It’s critical for you to know that you should not get pregnant while you are taking isotretinoin capsules. You should be aware of this because your doctor will have asked you to follow stringent rules for preventing pregnancy during your treatment.

In addition to this, you shouldn’t get pregnant for one month after your treatment has stopped.

To make sure that you are aware of the importance of not getting pregnant any time during your treatment, you will required to agree to certain conditions:

• One month before the start of your treatment you should use one, but more ideally, two highly reliable contraceptive methods. You should continue using the contraceptive methods one month after your treatment ended.

Your second contraceptive method should be a barrier contraceptive method such as the use of a condom for example but remember that there are risks involved when you only use the barrier contraceptive method and you shouldn’t use them alone.

• You should have a pregnancy test before, during and for five weeks after the cessation of your treatment. It’s not unusual that some doctors may ask you to undergo pregnancy tests each month.

During the meeting with your doctor you will be given a “patient reminder card” for taking isotretinoin which will help you remember when you’re supposed to take your dose.

You will also get an information leaflet that tells you all about how and when you are to take your isotretinoin capsules and be sure to keep them in a safe place for future reference.

It’s also important for you to know that you shouldn’t be breastfeeding while you’re on your isotretinoin medication. The drug may get into breast mild and do harm to your baby.

A guide for the men

The story is different for the men when it comes to taking isotretinoin capsules. The men can take the drug medication while they are engaged with their partners in trying to produce a baby or if their partner is already pregnant.

This is the case because the isotretinoin capsules don’t harm the male sperm. This means that even while ingesting the capsules, men can still succeed in helping their partners produce a baby.

It has also been proven that only a very small amount of isotretinoin can enter the male semen, which is unable to harm the unborn baby.

Bottom Line

There is no question about the effectiveness of isotretinoin in dealing with very severe acne breakout and as a matter of fact the question: How effective is isotretinoin for acne, appears a bit redundant. Perhaps this is the reason why more focus has been given to the side effects of isotretinoin because of the rather severe consequences of their effects on the human body.

This is a question that reflects the raw dread of acne if it should appear on anyone’s body especially the most exposed and sensitive part of the skin – the face. Acne is definitely not a welcomed guest and we generally agree on the reason why that is the case. It’s just too wrong, embarrassing and annoying to have your face, neck, back, shoulders or chest drawn with ugly scars so we ask: Does isotretinoin (Accutane) permanently remove acne?

Some important specifics about isotretinoin

Accutane is also the brand name for generic isotretinoin. Both drugs, though differently named, are sold as two different named products while they are essentially the same drug, so their names are interchangeable.

Accutane is highly effective in treating severe acne which has not succumbed to the potency of other medications.

The drug is a retinoid or a vitamin A derivative and as such, your body essentially responds to it in the same way as it responds to vitamin A. Typically, vitamin A can accumulate in the tissues of your body and as such can rapidly become a problem for your health. 

It’s touted as the best treatment for clearing up acne affected skin but be warned of many and strong side effects but also know that most of them will disappear once the treatment stops.

As with all other prescribed drug treatments, the dose is determined by the user in terms of his/her weight according to a set formula. You are advised not to take more than what has been prescribed.

The telltale signs of Accutane on the body

It’s important to realize at the outset that isotretinoin has been designed to treat and cure very severe acne which other treatments have failed to make an impression. Because of its sheer potency, it follows that it will inevitably affect the skin.

Despite this drawback, the drug medication is the perfect match for acne mainly because it focuses action on the following:

• The production of oil in skin follicles
• Bacterial survival and propagation
• Clogged pores
• Inflammation

One unfortunate thing about isotretinoin is that it lacks zest when initially ingested because it takes several hours before it starts to do its work. This means that at the beginning of the treatment, your acne may worsen prior to getting better.

Another result is that once it begins its healing work, its side effects start to appear and there are many of them including:

• Dry skin
• Chapped lips
• Dry nasal passage which can induce bleeding
• Skin sensitivity to sunlight 
• A flurry of skin conditions

With continued use of Isotretinoin its potency accumulates in your body resulting in the fragility of your skin which makes some healing processes become a threat rather than a cure.

Due to the fragility of your skin, it’s strongly recommended that you do not use any type of hair removing treatments such as laser treatment, waxing and dermabrasion because they can cause scarring.

It’s better to wait for a period of six months after the end of your treatment with isotretinoin before using these treatment processes.

Effect on the reproductive system

At the outset, you should know that isotretinoinis a danger to unborn babies.

It’s therefore critical that if, as a woman, you have reached the child bearing age,you should have a pregnancy test prior to commencing the medication with isotretinoin.

Women should be using a safe birth control method and an equally effective backup plan.

Its important that you don’t get pregnant four weeks after you’ve stopped taking it.

If however you do get pregnant at or before that time, stop taking your drug treatment an immediately inform you doctor about your predicament.

The possible hazards that can happen if you take isotretinoin during pregnancy include miscarriage, death of the fetus or premature birth. So it’s very dangerous to take isotretinoin during pregnancy.

Another very alarming result for taking isotretinoin during pregnancy are deformities that can affect the child at birth which can include:

• Abnormal heart defects
• Totally missing or abnormally small ears
• Loss of hearing
• Small or missing thymus gland that produces white blood cells
• Microphthalmia or abnormally small eyes
• Eyes totally missing
• Cleft palate

Taking isotretinoin can also produce hydrocephalus which involves the accumulation of pressure and  fluid on the brain. This may disable the child from having normal intellectual abilities.

It can also result in microcephaly, a condition where babies are born with an underdeveloped brain and small heads. This will hamper the proper physical and intellectual development of the child.

Men taking isotretinoin can also pass it on through their semen however there’s a lack of evidence to prove that this can result in defects at birth.

It’s equally unclear whether isotretinoin can pass to your baby through breastfeeding. To be safe, you should take precautionary measures when you’re having sex or breastfeeding.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist on these issues.

Effect on the central nervous system

Isotretinoin does affect the central nervous system considering that the drug’s side effects include fatigue and headaches.

You can develop poor eyesight that worsens at night. Others may develop ringing ears or loss of hearing which can become a permanent condition for some people.

Pressure on the brain can also happen which can be life threatening such as severe headaches, dizziness, vision blur, vomiting, stroke and other conditions.

Serious mental health problems can emerge that include depression, psychosis and even suicidal thoughts. You need to discuss these effects fully with your doctor or pharmacist.

Effect on digestive and Excretory Systems

There’s a whole range of effects that isotretinoin can exert on the body that include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Bleeding gums
• Appetite loss
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Dark urine
• Stomach pain
• Bowel pain

These symptoms usually indicate that your intestines, liver, pancreas or esophagus have been damaged. Consult your doctor about the symptoms.

Effects on blood, bones and muscles

The number of red and white blood cells may decrease causing a faint feeling and difficulty in breathing.

Isotretinoin can also accumulate in your bloodstream causing your lipid and sugar levels to rise.

Unborn babies in women are dangerously affected by isotretinoin so you should refrain from donating blood if you are taking the drug for your treatment.

Pain may occur in your bones, ligaments, joints and muscles.

Bottom Line

Can isotretinoin permanently remove acne? It’s clear that isotretinoin can do so. However, in doing so it also exerts an extraordinary amount of impact on the body in the form of side effects which can be very serious. Therefore following the directions that your doctor or pharmacist give you is crucial because it can lessen the intensity of or totally eliminate the side effects of the drug on yourselves and your baby.

Now that we are aware of the side effects that isotretinoin can produce to a person using it, it would be worthwhile to pursue the question in more depth so that you are fully prepared not only when you are personally involved but also when others are also involved. By knowing the side effects of isotretinoin it would be much easier to grapple with them to secure your own safety and the safety of others.

Important guidelines

Perhaps the bestapproach that anyone can adopt as best practice, when dealing with the side effects of isotretinoin and any other drug treatment for that matter, is to be able to contact an emergency number, your doctor and your pharmacist.

We all know that all drug treatments like isotretinoin produce side effects and treatments for these side effects are available but only the medical experts can administer them in the right way for best results.

Isotretinoin is a potent drug treatment and we know this from the kind of serious side effects that it can cause. For instance, although it’s rare that the drug treatment will trigger depression and suicidal tendencies, it has happened and precautionary measures need to be taken.

Rarer still is the appearance of a serious allergic disorder known as anaphylaxisfrom taking isotretinoin capsules, but it’s a condition that must be addressed with the help of your doctor or pharmacist.

These are some of the guidelines you need to take seriously when you are using or planning to use the isotretinoin capsule treatment.

When immediate action has to be taken

Here are some of the instances when you need to respond immediately to symptoms that appear:

• Your mouth, tongue, throat, face or lips start to swell up
• Ever had that ‘wheezing’ noise when you are breathing in air? You manage to breathe in air into your lungs but it’s very difficult to do due to a complication of your lungs like when you have asthma.
• You experience a rash on your skin that appears red, swollen or itchy and your skin blisters and it peels off.
• Your chest and throat tighten up for no apparent reason
• You suddenly experience difficulty when you are breathing or talking.

You may be experiencing other problems such as a serious allergic reaction from taking isotrentinoin and you need to be admitted to hospital.

In some cases, you lack the full list of side effects from taking isotretinoin and you want a full list. A full list of side effects can be found inside the medicines packet you’ve been given. Check it out.

How to deal with isotretinoin side effects

• Your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight – when you know that your skin has become more sensitive to sunlight, the logical thing to do is to avoid bright sunlight as much as possible. Using a sun cream but instead of using just any cream, look for a high factor oil-free sun cream (SPF 15 or above) and use it even on a cloud cast day. Avoid using sunlamp or sunbeds.
• Headaches, back, joint and muscle pain – you just can’t overcome these by doing nothing. Instead talk to your pharmacist for a painkiller they recommend not forgetting that light exercising can loosen up your body a little. However, avoid strenuous and heavy exercise that might worsen the painful part of your body.
• Dry or parched mouth or throat – this may be a good time to try chewing some sugar free gum or even fruity sweets.
• Nosebleeds due to dry nose – you should try and eliminate the dryness by applying a slim layer of Vaseline against the inside edges of your nose where the bleeding is most likely to start.
• Dry eyes – it would be appropriate to ask your pharmacist or your optician for eye drops which they recommend for your use. Alternatively you can wear contact lenses but there’s the chance they may prove uncomfortable. In that case you may have to be satisfied with wearing glasses while you’re on isotretinoin.
• Dry skin or lips – applying a moisturizer to your skin and a balm cream for your cracked lips would be the perfect solution. Keep in mind that the best moisturizer is one that’s oil-free especially for your face to guard against the threat of acne formation. When you shower shorten your shower time below 2 minutes maximum and use warm water instead of hot.

The how and when to take isotretinoin

Most important for your health and cure is to take isotretinoin exactly as your doctor or pharmacist instructed you to take it.

The standard dose for starting your isotretinoin treatment is 0.5mg per kilogram body weight per day (0.5 mg/kg/day). This effectively means that if you weigh 60kg, your ideal starting dose would be 30mg per day.

If that is your dose, you should take two isotretinoin tablets once or twice daily. One capsule contains a dose of 10mg or 20mg of isotretinoin.

You should note that the dose of the isotretinoin capsules will vary depending on the weight of the user.

When taking the capsules, swallow them whole with water with the best time to take them straight after a meal or snack so they can work effectively.

What should I do if I forget to take my dose?

If the main problem is your forgetfulness, you should get and set up an alarm bell that can help remind you not to forget to take your dose. Your pharmacist may also be able to help you find a way of making you remember to take your medicine.

If you’ve decided to take your isotretinoin capsules twice a day and you forget to take a dose, you can take it as soon as you remember provided that your next dose is two hours away. If your next dose is too close, you simply skip the missed dose and take the next capsule at the scheduled time.

If you’ve decided to take your capsules once a day and you missed a dose on the day, take it at the time you remember it. If you missed the dose the day before, simply skip the missed dose and take the next capsule at the designated time.

If you’ve missed a dose, never make up for the loss by doubling your dose. Don’t ever take an extra dose in order to make up for the missed dose.

Bottom Line

There are so many things that can go wrong when you’re using drug medication such isotretinoin (generic) which is also called Accutane as the branded name. One of the main problems is to be able to respond quickly to the side effects that result from taking isotretinoin which this article has explained. Other problems relate to the how and when to use the drug medication so that when you use isotretinoin, you are using it correctly at the time you a supposed to take it. Solutions for inadvertent mistakes are given.

The prospect of having your face literally dotted with whitehead and blackhead pimples would be the most unpleasant, embarrassing and annoying experience that anyone can face and there’s no doubt you’ve also gone through that agony. It’s only natural then that you will try to find the most effective remedy and ask: How effective is Isotretinoin for acne? The answer is that Isotretinoin is very effective especially against severe acne.

Getting to know isotretinoin capsules

Whenever there’s a breakout of acne you will often that isotretinoin is the most positive treatment for it especially if the breakout proves to be very severe in the mid and later stages.

Generally speaking, the drug is highly effective in preventing acute scarring for sufferers who have a severe breakout of acne.

Treatment usually takes 16 to 20 weeks (4 to 5 months) during which 90% of all patients treated witness their acne to disappear completely or very nearly totally eliminated.

However, the treatment needs to be applied as directed so it’s essential that if you want to be well prepared, you must have ready contact with your doctor or online pharmacist.

It would be to your advantage if you know everything about isotretinoin drug treatment so that you are familiar with its main features, qualities, potency, doses, how to use it and so on.

We will try in this article to provide the basic information about this drug treatment and you doctor and/or pharmacist will take care of the more technical information on the drug.

The isotrentinoin capsule

The major feature of isotretinoin is its capsule form which is taken orally and has been proven to be a highly effective treatment against very severe acne.

On the flip side, because of its high potency, it attaches rather serious side effects and hence the reason why it has to be given under prescription and supervised by a doctor who deals with using the drug.

Another known feature of Isotrentinoin is its generic status with brand names of Roaccutane and Rizuderm.

Main facts about isotretinoin capsules

• Prior to actually taking isotretinoin, you will be given a blood test followed by more blood tests during the course of your treatment.
• It’s possible that during your treatment your skin will become extra dry and will not be sun friendly so it you’d be wise to have some moisturizers for your skin available as well as lip cream for your lips to help prevent them from cracking.
• Women are reminded to avoid getting pregnant while they’re taking isotretinoin capsules and at least a month after the treatment has ended, Why? Because isotretinoin can do harm to the fetus while it’s still in its mother’s womb. As a reminder on this aspect women taking the capsules will be given a card.
• If you succumb to a feeling of depression or have an inclination to do harm to yourself while being treated with isotretinoin, stop taking your capsules and report the matter to your doctor right away.
• Once ingested, isotretinoin capsules will begin their work in your body after a week or 10 days. Cases show that the drug is very effective, with 4 out of 5 people treated having totally clear skin after about 4 months of prescribed treatment.

Can anyone take isotretinoin capsules?

The taking of isotretinoin makes no distinction between teenagers and adults who suffer from very severe acne, meaning that both age groups can take the drug treatment.

However care should be exercised not to provide isotretinoin capsules to children below 12 years or before they reach puberty.

It’s also useful to know that isotretinoin capsules should not be given to some people and if you want to know who these people are, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist.

To be absolutely sure that isotretinoin capsules are safe for you to take, you should make sure that your doctor knows your pertinent medical history. Honestly tell him if you:

• Are suffering from Crohn’s disease or if you have ulcerative colitis.
• Used to suffer from mental illness such as depression
• Suffer from high vitamin A levels
• Are either breastfeeding,
• Are pregnant or suspect that you with child
• Have high cholesterol levels or other fats in your blood
• Are allergic to isotretinoin or other medicines
• Have kidney or liver disease

Another potency aspect of taking isotretinoin capsules is their propensity to raise blood sugar levels. This is a serious situation to be in if you already have diabetes.

It’s therefore very important that you inform your doctor of your condition before you actually begin your treatment using isotretinoin capsules.

Isotretinoin and its side effects

Similar to all other drug medications, isotretinoin also has its own side effects but the good news is that some people are immune to them and in most cases, all the side effects disappear once the treatment stops.

Isotretinoin has two types of side effects, the serious and not so serious or common side effects

Serious side effects

The serious side effects of isotretinoin are extremely rare as they occur in 1 out of every 1,000 people and if you succumb to any of them immediately contact your doctor. They include:

• Sudden blurring of the eyesight that gets worse at night
• The occurrence of depression or other mental conditionswhich can trigger mood changes or suicidal thoughts and may cause feelings of anxiety, aggression and violence.
• A stubborn headache that simply refuses to go away
• Acute stomach pain that may cause diarrhea, nausea or vomiting indicating a serious condition known as pancreatitis
• Yellow coloured skin or yellow whites of your eyes, urinating complications and fatigue all betray kidney or liver problems
• Weak muscles that cause difficulty in moving legs and arms, swollen, bruised and painful body areas or dark urine discharge (pee).
• Bloody diarrhea which may indicate bleeding of intestines or stomach.
• Serious skin rash with blisters and peeling usually accompanied by infections of the eyes, ulcers, headaches and fever.

Not so serious side effects

Some of the more common side effects of isotretinoin can include:

• Headaches and aches and pains all over the body
• Skin sensitivity to the sunlight
• Dry eyes
• parched throat
• Dry nose sometimes with nosebleeds

Bottom line

It is clear from what has been discussed in the article that there are many things to know and learn about this efficacious drug treatment. More important and useful to know are the serious side effects that may appear when you start taking isotretinoin capsules and the actions you need to take to protect yourself against them. It’s also comforting to know that usually, the side effects of the drug on the body dissipate once the treatment is stopped.

There’s general agreement among medical experts that once a patient starts a treatment course using isotretinoin (Accutane), a patient’s acne would become worse at the beginning of the treatment. However this will last only for a short time but it’s important that a doctor is informed about the development in case other medicines can be used together with isotretinoin to improve the situation. Find out more as you read on.

The life changing drug treatment

When your privacy and comfort are invaded by an acne breakout, the first thing that comes to mind is how to rid yourself of the intruder and you’d probably try as many medications to do so.

Many have done this and failed miserably until they had the good fortune of discovering a life changing treatment called isotretinoin (Accutane)

What is isotretinoin?

With a brand name of Accutane, isotretinoin is a drug medication used for treating severe breakouts of acne on a person. You might have been subjected to its discomforting presence.

The drug has been a huge success but that’s because those who use it make sure that they use it the right way. For instance, you should be familiar with the side effects that are caused by the drug.

In order to really know this medicine, you should discuss it in detail with your doctor or pharmacist so that you become familiar with it including the side effects and know how to protect yourself against them.

Basic information you should know

At the outset, you should get acquainted with some basic information about isotretinoin (Accutane), for instance, taking isotretinoin with food is the ideal way for taking the drug.

You are not obliged to store your medicine in the refrigerator, but you shouldn’t put it out under the sun and avoid storing the medicine in a warm place.

The prescribed dose and direction for taking isotretinoin has been made for your own benefit. You should not share it with others

You should make sure you keep your medicine away from children.

You are obliged no to donate blood during you treatment but you can do so after one month from the time your treatment ended.

Before starting the treatment

These are the things you need to do before your treatment begins:

• Tell your doctor if you or any of your family members have diabetes, liver disease, depression or heart problems.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any type of medicines especially parabens (can cause breast tumor), which are present in the isotretinoin pills.
• Make sure you inform your doctor if you are taking other medicines including over-the-counter medicines.
• Isotretinoin is similar to vitamin A so while you’re taking isotretinoin, avoid taking vitamin A pills or other multivitamin pills that have vitamin A in them.

During the course of your treatment

It’s usually the case that your acne breakout can get worse at the start of your treatment. This, however, is a temporary occurrence but you should nevertheless tell you doctor when it does happen because other medicines may be used to address the problem.

Your dosages of isotretinoin (Accutane) may not be the same as other patients and your doctor may change your dose if they think it’s necessary.

It’s very important that you follow your doctor’s instructions for taking your isotretinoin capsules and if you forget to take one dose, don’t try to catch up by taking an extra capsule the next time.

Attending all your appointments is very important as the doctor needs to check on your progress. Your doctor may need to check your liver and cholesterol levels.

It’s normal that you will suffer from side effects from taking isotretinoin (Accutane) but don’t be unduly alarmed. These side effects, which are listed below usually disappear when your isotretinoin treatment stops:

• Dryness of your skin and lips – you will need to use lotions and creams to ease the dryness and your doctor will tell you which ones to get and use.
• Blurred night vision – if you experience problems with your sight, stop taking isotretinoin and immediately check the situation with your doctor.
• Fragile skin, itching or rash – you skin becomes easily prone to injury
• Muscle pains
• Bleeding gums
• Blood issuing from your nose
• Peeling of your skin, palms of your hand and soles of your feet
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight (get sunburn easily)
• Red, dry eyes – when this happens during your treatment, you may find it difficult to use your contact lenses
• Thinning hair – thinning of your hair will occur but it’s no big deal because your hair growth will return to normal once your treatment ends.

The above side effects are viewed as common side effects of that result from taking isotretinoin (Accutane). Some patients experience the following side effects which are considered more serious:

• Blurred vision, nausea, vomiting and headaches
• Mood changes and feeling of depression
• Severe stomach pain, diarrhea or anal bleeding.
• Extremely dry eyes
• Dark yellow urine
• Yellow color of the eyes and skin

At the end of your treatment

The time that you stop taking isotretinoin (Accutane) is the signal that your treatment has come to an end. Most of the side effects you’d been experiencing gradually disappear after a few days from the time you stopped taking isotretinoin.

Sometimes it happens that your side effects may continue for a few weeks after not taking the drug. When this happens, you should talk to your doctor about it.

There are patients who need to take isotretinoin more than once. If you find you need to take the drug medication again, you can do so again after 8 to 10 weeks after the end of your initial treatment.

You should not donate your blood for at least one full month after you stopped taking isotretinoin at the end of your treatment.

Conclusion

There’s always a right and a wrong way of doing things and while in many cases, the consequences of doing things the wrong way are not so serious, in the case of medicinal usage it can mean the difference between a not so serious result and a dire consequence. You now have all the information you need to deal a death blow to your nodular acne breakouts

For most of us, if not all, the successful treatment of a severe acne breakout that can continue for 4 to 5 months is a definite relief. However, it’s very common that a disease, infection or condition can re appear again after treatment prompting us to ask: Does acne come back after Accutane (isotretinoin) treatment? Fortunately the answer is that while for some people acne can reoccur again, for many, the cure is prolonged or permanent.

Accutane and Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin, also popularly known as Accutane is the perfect drug treatment for severe acne. It can be confusing now that brand name Accutane has been pulled out of the market.

However, Isotretinoin is the prescription pill for treating acne which is now sold to people suffering from severe acne breakouts, especially nodular acne.

Many people praise isotretinoin for offering prolonged and in many cases, permanent cure for severe acne, labeling it as a miracle drug.

The words “life-changing is often used to describethe potency of the drug medication on patients suffering from severe acne.

Others warn of the serious side effects the drug produces with tons of information on the internet claiming that it’s a drug that may cause depression, suicide, vision changes that are permanent loss of hair and other alarming results.

The reactions show both realities and hearsay and it’s up to you as a reader to determine the real from the fantasy by considering the answers to 10 questions provided by dermatologists.

Does isotretinoin (Accutane) provide partial or permanent cure?

A special feature of Accutane (isotretinoin) is it’s the onlydrug medicationthat fully combats the four causes of acnewhich include excessive oil production, clogged pores and too much bacteria (P. acne).

Treatment involves the taking of one isotretinoin (Accutane) pill per day for five months.The essence of the dose should be cumulative based on a patient’s body weight. When the dose is cumulative, a positive response in terms of a cure is highly likely.

According to actual results, two thirds of patients achieve a prolonged and sometimes permanent cure but some return for treatment after completing their initial treatment course. In percentage terms, those who have a second treatment make up 20% of treated acne patients.

In the event that acne recurs, continued treatment may be needed in the form of topical (apply medications externally), oral medications or another isotretinoin course depending on the type of acne or what your dermatologist suggests should be done.

Does it directly cause birth defects?

If you are of child bearing age and can get pregnant, you must have two plan Bs at your disposal to prevent you from getting pregnant – a birth control pill regimen and a barrier method (condom) that are used at the same time.

This is the safest prevention as opposed to using a condom all on its own which can invite a pregnancy risk.

A woman taking isotretinoin while pregnant can cause severe birth defects, miscarriages and premature births.

A person taking isotretinoin for a treatment course (Accutane) should not donate blood for fear of passing on birth defects to another person.

A person may donate blood 30 days after taking the last treatment pill.

If for instance you donated blood to a pregnant woman, her unborn child can be harmed.

Will isotretinoin make my skin turn really dry?

If you decide to take isotretinoin (Accutane) make sure that you invest your wealth in procuring moisturizers to combat dryness.

Why? Because the answer to the above question is Yes. Isotretinoin will reduce oil production by your skin hence its reputation as being so good at treating acne.

Of course it’s the same reason why dry skin and lips are the most common side effects of this drug medication.

The fact is that most patients will experience dryness due to the way isotretinoin operates.

Other common side effects include bone and joint pain, burning, red or itchy eyes, nosebleeds and skin rashes

Will taking isotretinoin (Accutane) make my skin more sunlight sensitive?

It may be advisable for you to take extra precautions of using more sunscreen while you are taking isotretinoin (Accutane).

It maybe be possible for some people to feel their skin becoming more sensitive to the sun’s rays. 

According to a dermatologist this may be caused by the possibility that the drug medication is thinning out the topmost layer of your skin which is called the stratum corneum.

Can a person drink alcohol while also taking isotretinoin (Accutane)?

Generally speaking, booze and isotretinoin don’t mix well together for various reasons.

 It’s true that isotretinoin is normally filtered from your bloodstream by the action of your liver. Alcohol is similarly filtered from your bloodstream by your liver.

Mixing alcohol and isotretinoin at the same time will add more strain on your liver to filter both substance and liquid from your bloodstream.

It’s therefore inevitable that your doctor or dermatologist will advise you to either reduce your consumption of alcohol while you’re taking isotretinoin (Accutane) for your treatment or to completely abstain from alcohol while taking the drug.

Up to now, there appears to be no sure guidelines that can lead you on this question so you need to consult your dermatologist to find out their views on what is the safest path you can follow.

Will taking isotretinoin (Accutane) make my hairs fall out?

It is definitely the case that taking isotretinoin will in fact cause your hair to thin out but there’s no evidence to confirm that all your hair will fall out when you take the drug medication.

The prospect of suffering total hair loss from taking isotretinoin has been a controversial subject to potential isotretinoin patients. However it’s true to say that while patients may in fact suffer some hair thinning, it’s only a temporary condition that won’t last.

It’s equally true to say that once patients stop taking the drug medication, their hairs will return to their normal state of existence in the same way that your nails may become thinner and weaker but will return to normal after you stop taking your drug medication.

Conclusion    

It’s very clear that following a treatment course with isotretinoin (Accutane), the level of success in curing severe acne falls into three main cure categories. The first is a prolonged absence of acne after drug treatment and the second is that a good majority of patients experience a total  cure of their acne while about 20% of those treated can suffer a recurrence of acne and they need a second round of treatment.

There are so many opinions expressed about whether Accutane (isotretinoin) is good or bad for you that it becomes essential to really grapple with a question such as: Is Accutane really bad for you? You need to search out the answer and when you do, you yourself become satisfied that this drug medication is a highly effective treatment which you should have taken when you had your first acne breakout.

The search of an acne cure

Let’s say you are taking the place of a young High School girl teenager who is searching in real life to find a cure for her severe acne. The story begins like this…

Searching out a satisfactory cure for your acne outbreaks may have led you into different paths and situations for many years, but you refuse to give up because wearing a face full of whiteheads and blackheads just doesn’t seem right and you need to get rid of them fast!

Things become even more desperate when you find that it’s not a simple case of a whitehead and blackhead breakout but a breakout of nodular acne, the worst kind of acne which leaves behind scarring lines that will forever disfigure your face.

You’ve tried face soaps, washes, toners and scrubs which didn’t work. You then probably tried all types of ointments such as Neutrogena, Cetaphil, Proactiv and Clean & Clear products also to no avail. But you refused to quit and you went on searching.

You tried Retin-A, Tazorac and Epiduo creams, antibiotics galore but they too failed to clear your face of acne. A pimple went away just to be replaced by another pimple. Your pimples seem to get worse even at the end of your teens also worsening your frustration and embarrassment.

You became a total mess during your first senior year at high school with your acne breakouts still as active and embarrassing as ever but at last you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of finding a solution to your woes.

The discovery of generic Isotretinoin (Accutane)

After this and many years of searching and talking to dermatologists, you at last come face to face with a dermatologist who introduces you to a new drug name, Isotretinoin with the brand name of Accutane which was pulled off the market in 2009.

But the cure lived on as isotretinoin, a generic drug that also cures severe acne breakouts such as nodular acne. And upon the dermatologist suggestion you relent and forget all about the failures of your other acne cures and you invest in isotretinoin (Accutane).

You joined other nodular acne sufferers for your last shot at ridding yourself of your embarrassing acne breakouts and became a taker of isotretinoin (Accutane) which for you was like discovering kryptonite!

You learnt of its efficacy after you took two pills a day for six months and from that fateful day, it was a permanent goodbye to you acne worry forever!  You ask your dermatologist who is a professor at Penn State College of Medicine: Why does isotretinoin (Accutane) work so well?

The response you get is “We don’t really know,” said Joslyn Kirby. He went on to say that his colleagues were doing research on that very subject by looking at some of the changes in the sebaceous glands and what is happening to the skin cells which might give some explanation.

The things which research has uncovered

What research has unraveled about isotretinoin (Accutane) is not so much how bad the drug medication is bad for you but instead has filtered a plethora of reasons why the drug is in fact good for your health. Isotretinoin (Accutane) is good for you because it can:

• Ultimately, reduce inflammation and renders your pores less favorable to the survival of bacteria.
• Cure the acne infestation of sufferers over four to six months of treatment
• Be used in higher dosages (within safety limits) to lessen the treatment period but it will also heighten the intensity of the side effects.

The side effects of Isotretinoin (Accutane)

The main reason why the drug is the choice of last resort for treating severe acne is because of the strength of its side effects which include:

• Acute dry skin – this is one of the most common effects of the drug
• Inflammatory disease of the bowel – this has been a recent development
• Depression
• Rise in suicidal rates – while there’s still no evidence to suggest that isotretinoin is the cause of these conditions, they still qualify as possible risks for taking the drug medication.
• Joint and muscular pains
• Eyesight problems
• Liver damage – because the drug has an impact on the liver, patients are advised to refrain from drinking while their liver enzymes are monitored during the entire treatment.
• Miscarriages and severe birth defects if the drug is taken during pregnancy – These have led to the introduction of strict regulations to monitor and control the condition of women and other patients and who are taking the drug medication.

Following set procedures for pregnancy risks

For women, it’s essential that they undergo a monthly blood check up at the lab to determine whether or not pregnancy had occurred. For other patients, the test was for liver enzymes and blood fat levels which can be increased by the drug medication.

Patients especially women should also be members in the iPledge online program for preventing pregnancy and it requires the following from patients:

• Patients must confirm the know the risks of the medication
• Promise to maintain their monthly appointments with their doctor
• Agree not to share medicine or donate blood while on the drug medication.
• Attend a monthly session of answering questions on birth control
• Prescribers were required to confirm results of negative pregnancy test to their peers.

The most common side effects suffered by women

It has been found that once women start taking isotretinoin (Accutane) pills, dry skin chapped and swollen lips together with drying up of the nasal area and nose bleeds became the most common side effects which women suffered from using isotretinoin (Accutane).

A once smooth oily face can be transformed into a completely dry area of your face gave way to a dry desert. Only a light touch is enough for the skin on the forehead to come off in flakes and thin layers became easy to peel off.

There was a need to have something handy to sooth cracked lips that kept on cracking and swollen while dryness of the nasal area made things worse followed by nosebleeds. At the end of the story, the skin flakes that peeled off left behind new, smooth oily skin that replaced the old dry skin.

Conclusion                        

Many of us would have gone through the same experience as the young girl in the article who searched for a cure to her severe acne outbreak. Like us, she searched hard for what she hoped would be the final cure for her acne. She never gave up in her search and she finally stumbled on the one treatment she never thought she would find – Isotretinoin (Accutane). We can now say that Accutane (isotretinoin) not bad but definitely good for treating your severe acne!