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

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

jen1tiff@hotmail.com — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:36:59 GMT

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.

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

Tommy Bahama & Mama — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:45:29 GMT

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.

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

specialed01 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:10:46 GMT

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.

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

MrsWicks2007 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:09:07 GMT

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!