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Friday, October 26, 2007 8:07 PM

When is medical treatment for Acne the right choice? What are some side effects?

There are different levels of Acne. For moderate or low level acne most topical solutions and a hands-off picking mentality should do the trick. However, for people with cystic acne (inflamed nodules that can cause scarring), Accutane is the best treatment.  The most common side effect is dry lips.  So if your dermatologist recommends this treatment you should probably keep a tube of chapstick or vaseline in your pocket at all times and apply it throughout the day.  And remember, dry lips is often less considered a side effect, but rather a marker of Accutane activity.  If you don’t have dry lips while taking Accutane then we worry that the medication is not being absorbed properly.  Other possible side effects, that are not very common, include headache and muscle aches.  Certainly, birth defects are the worst side effect and any pregnant woman should not be taking Accutane and should also wait 30 days from the time of discontinuing Accutane until getting pregnant.

Posted by Dr. Jody Levine
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Comments

re: When is medical treatment for Acne the right choice? What are some side effects?

Accutane is a powerful and dangerous drug with harmful psychological side effects. This is proven clinically. I personally know of someone who became suicidal and severely depressed after using this drug. Accutane should only be prescribed for the most severe acne cases and is not for people with a history of psychological problems.

Posted by jen1tiff@hotmail.com    Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:36 AM


re: When is medical treatment for Acne the right choice? What are some side effects?

I took Accutane for my acne and my skin was fantastic.  It cleared up and stayed clear, my marks went away, it was smooth, soft, and luminous.  I didn't wear any foundation or powder - I didn't need it.  I also didn't get oily - life was perfect...well almost.  

I did get extremely dry lips, skin (body), and scalp.  So it felt like I traded great skin for extreme dandruff and cracked body skin.  Accutane was also crazy expensive and when I stopped taking it, my acne came back - less severe than previously (though my dandruff and dry body skin and lips went away, lol).

Visit a licensed dermatologist and review his patient success, continuing education, and your comfort level with him. Then make your choice.

Posted by Tommy Bahama & Mama    Saturday, March 22, 2008 1:45 PM


re: When is medical treatment for Acne the right choice? What are some side effects?

I took oral medication for acne for about 2 years, and it totally cleared up my skin.  Aldactone is a medication that may or may not be typically prescribed for acne.  I had to have my potassium levels checked every 6 months, but other than that, I was really happy with the results.  Acne is a hormonal thing a lot of times in women, so if you don't plan to take birth control to help level things out...other oral meds may help.  My dermatologist told me he would NOT put me on Accutane without a last resort...and even then he had 6 other meds in line before getting to that suggestion.

P.S. I have no medical issues, very average, and no family history of medical issues.  So, aldactone worked for me as an option.  Obviously you should talk to your doc about what might work for you.

Posted by specialed01    Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:10 PM


re: When is medical treatment for Acne the right choice? What are some side effects?

Accutane is a good choice for people with very severe acne that is causing them lots of stress/ self-esteem problems. You need blood work every 2-4 weeks to measure your liver function, and it can cause decreases in night vision, of course it will dry out your eyes, lips, etc. The very most important thing about Accutane is that you CANNOT get pregnant. You must be on hormonal birth control or your husband must have a vasectomy. There's no way around this because the drug is very very harmful to fetuses and causes a bunch of birth defects. Besides all of this, the results are fabulous and it's a great choice for severe acne, not just the occasional pimple.

By the way, I'm a pharmacist so I promise what I'm saying is true!

Posted by MrsWicks2007    Friday, July 18, 2008 1:09 PM


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