Isotretinoin for Acne User Reviews (Page 3)

• Jes...
• October 10, 2019

"I had cystic acne for a while, and it was honestly just the worst. I hated taking any kind of pictures and showing my face anywhere. Besides that, it was just plain painful! I went to my dermatologist, and she started me on Accutane. It took about 2-3 months before I started seeing significant differences, but after that, it just kept getting better. All of my acne is completely gone now, and you can’t see any scarring. I do have some freckles, so it covers up whatever little dots are left behind from permanent scarring, but there are barely any anyways. The only real problems I had were dry lips and scalp. I made sure to always have chapstick on me, and I went through many hair masks, but I have no other complaints. With that, I know people have some emotional problems, but I can say I had none, although I was way more confident with my appearance. I was very, very skeptical at first with all the crazy side effects, but I can say I am so grateful I did it!"

• lin...
• December 12, 2014

"Dried up the acne after a few months, though side effects during the 12-week treatment included nosebleeds, peeling lips, sore feet, and joints. Worth it though, still get the odd spot, but feel normal again and don't hide away from the world anymore."

• Par...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2020

"I was very concerned about starting this medicine for my son, as I had read horrible stories about this medicine. My son, who is 15, had severe acne. After trying everything and all the medicines and creams for a year, we broke down and started Claravis (Dec 2019). The first month was amazing, the active acne has gone. I can't believe how much change has happened in the first month. Like I said, his acne was severe, large, hard pimples, which would make his face sore. He has a lot of red marks left from the acne. He started on 40 mg a day for 30 days. He is now on 40 mg in the morning and 20 mg at night. We are now in week 6, his face is starting to really look great. Some of the dark red marks are more pink than red. I have read some don't see results until month 4, but this seems to be working for him. He uses moisturizer on his face and Aquaphor on his lips, so far, no side effects. He is also into every sport with no problems. Keeping my fingers crossed as we continue this journey."

• Cha...
• May 10, 2017

"Miracle. Period. I had ZERO side effects, and I feel so much better I can't even describe the feeling of relief. This medicine literally saved my life, and I would take it again. I wish I could take it every day because it made my skin look AMAZING. I haven't had a SINGLE pimple or cyst since I finished this. I used to have cysts so huge they would turn my skin purple. I have horrendous scars all over my face from the damage. But now? It's getting better, and I feel like a new person. Thank you!"

• Cou...
• January 3, 2015

"I am a nineteen-year-old female who has suffered with mild acne since I was about 10. I tried every cream, pill, and face wash you can imagine throughout the years, and nothing completely got rid of my acne. When I was 18, my doctor recommended I try Accutane. I did a 6-month course of 10 mg a day, and I can honestly say it changed my life. I would recommend it to anyone who struggles with persistent acne. Before taking Accutane, acne controlled my life. I would stay home just because of bad breakouts. Now my skin is flawless, and I only get the occasional pimple, which I can now deal with. Yes, I was dry when I was on Accutane, but the end result is SO worth the 6 months of mild dryness!"

• 19...
• July 15, 2015

"I want to start off by saying this is a miracle pill. I've suffered from acne since I have been in 7th grade (12 yrs). I remember running into bathroom stalls to powder my face, only hoping one day I would pass the 'puberty' phase. However, here I was, 19, graduating high school with worse acne. After years of treatment such as tropicals and numerous antibiotics, I decided to take on Accutane. Two months into Accutane, I am leaving my house with just BB Cream. No concealer, no powder, nothing. I wake up and look into the mirror and feel like crying from happiness. It's been two months, and I have another three to go. My journey has only begun, and I can't believe these results. The only con is the chapped/dry lips. If you ask me, it's all worth it."

• Jen...
• May 13, 2019

"Accutane has been great for my skin as I struggled with mild acne from the age of 12 to 18 years old. When I hit college, my skin became extremely oily, and my small pimples became deep cysts. I saw a dermatologist and was put on Differin and also Duac. I went through several courses of antibiotics without ever getting fully clear skin. My dermatologist told me that Accutane was the next step. The only bad side effects I had besides the dry skin and dry lips were some pretty horrendous headaches at the beginning. My dermatologist made me take a week off taking it, and those headaches never returned. Besides that, my Accutane course was great, and my blood work was just fine. Before Accutane, I was too embarrassed to be seen by anyone, including family, without makeup on. Now I can leave my house with no makeup. This is true freedom, my skin is now JUST skin, and I can look people in the eye and not worry about them staring at a huge cyst on my face. I wish I had done this ten years ago!"

• Rex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

"I've had acne my whole life (age 29). Face was always oily, and I'd pop pimples all the time. Started Accutane in January. Face and lips started getting really dry. Eucerin lotion and Aquaphor worked very well, but needed to apply several times a day. Eczema on the top of my hands, wrists, and upper arms (small red bumps that I've never had before in my life), so more lotion was required. By the middle of the second month, my acne was gone. I had dry eyes that required artificial tears at least 8 times a day. After 3 months, my doctor told me I can discontinue taking it. It did not hold me back from being active and traveling through a few countries either. The side effects had disappeared except for a few small bumps only on my upper arms. It is November now. Still haven't seen a single pimple on my face! Had mild depression and anxiety, but I've also had a long history even before taking Accutane. Different people will have different results and side effects. Best of luck to everyone."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2015

"The side effects suck. I would get a bloody nose at least 5 times a day, my lips would peel and get blisters, and my arms would get rashes. But it was all worth it. Accutane is amazing. I am so thankful for it. I had acne for 6 years, and I tried everything you could imagine to try and clear my face up. Now, after 4 long months, I am just now taking my last pill. I go to the mirror, and I don't see a pimple, scar, or even a red mark on my face. My self-esteem has improved so much. I would definitely recommend it."

• Sel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2017

"I struggled with such bad acne since I was in middle school. I tried almost every type of over-the-counter medicine that there was, and none of it worked. During my freshman year of high school, I decided that I needed a cure for my acne because of how terrible it was getting. I went to a dermatologist, and he recommended Accutane for about 7 months. After about 3 months, I could not believe that my face was getting clearer! When I was finally done, my skin was clear! I was so excited! I even recommended Accutane to one of my friends, and her face turned out great as well. I took Accutane back in 2009, and I'm now 22 years old, and my face still looks fantastic! I highly recommend Accutane to anyone who is struggling with acne, it works!"

• Gan...
• June 25, 2019

"I had a hard time with acne. I tried everything. Went through a cycle of doxycycline, used benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid for face wash. Even tried to use Proactiv. Nothing worked, and my acne was getting out of hand. I needed to do something drastic, and my doctor had recommended Accutane. At first, I was hesitant since it took a long commitment, and it sounded like a risky process. The 'no alcohol' part didn't help either. But when I finally bit the bullet and went for it, it ended up being a great decision because my face was saved. The first few months, my acne was still bad and getting a tad worse, but by month 4, I only had one pimple left on my face. This was in 2016, and today in 2019, I have very little problems with acne, with the exception of a pimple here and there. I am so glad I went through the treatment because I feel it gave me a new life, free from worry about acne. If you're able to do this treatment, I recommend you go for it."

• joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2019

"Reading all these horror stories from those who took this medication, I can see how they would scare someone off considering taking Accutane. Speaking as someone who suffered from severe acne in high school, I KNOW the emotional toll it has on a person's self-esteem. I took Accutane for a total of 6 months, and to say it has been a LIFE SAVER would be an understatement. 2 years later and no crazy side effects or third arm growing. These days, I get nothing less than a single pimple every now and again. This medication is a life saver if you can take it!"

• l-j...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2015

"If you have acne, Accutane is the holy grail. I had mild to moderate acne in high school. I took it for six weeks. It sucked my skin dry as a bone, but after that, my skin looked pristine. With the exception of an occasional stray pimple, I have not had a breakout in 15 years. There is no point in trying anything else."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2016

"I read the Accutane horror stories, so I turned down my dermatologist's suggestion of it. After 4 more years (25 now), the cystic acne has just been getting worse and worse. It was seriously impacting my life. I just finished a month ago doing a 5-month, 60mg/day treatment, and my skin is flawless. I cannot believe it. I actually have better skin than people who I once thought had beautiful, perfect skin. I experienced some joint pain the first month and dry lips the entire time, but I started seeing reductions in acne by month 2 and had no new cysts by month 4. There are still a few that are healing (yes, I would get some cysts that take 6-8 months to heal). I would highly recommend this. I have so much of my life back, not worrying about my skin."

• Phi...
• August 26, 2019

"I really struggled with acne in my teens and my twenties. Roaccutane, at 27, I took the plunge. I read all the side effects. I was due to be on Roaccutane for 4 months, but I ended up on it for 6-7 months. Nothing can prepare you for the dry lips and skin. After about 7 days on the treatment, my acne just went crazy. I was developing 10 new spots an hour, they were coming out so fast my face was now full with more spots than ever, but I had prepared myself for it. The medication was starting to take effect. It was hard being on the medication with dry lips and skin, but a small price to pay for good skin. In the last month of the treatment, my skin improved 100%. People would comment on how clear my skin was. But then, about 3 months after, I would get the odd spot, but since then I apply a little Duac gel from the doctor once or twice a week, and it keeps my skin clear. I am now 39, and my skin is good, it has changed my life for the better."

• Nip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2016

"My 16-year-old son has had acne-not to the point of scarring but enough to really affect his self-esteem. He is now under a specialist and has been taking Accutane for about 3-4 months, 40 mg per day. After a month or so, his skin was even worse, and it was quite horrific, but now he is nearly clear! He has always been very moody, and I have constantly been worried that he may have depression. He has shown NO signs of being any worse on this medication! Dry, dry, dry lips is the worst side effect, and his self-esteem is better."

• bra...
• January 17, 2017

"I'm your typical 18-year-old lad and have never written on a forum before, but I want to write something for the people that are worried about taking this (in my opinion) miracle drug. I am coming to the end of my 6-month course, and I can honestly say it's been life-changing. Before I started Roaccutane, I was fairly depressed and seriously lacking confidence due to my appearance. But after months of failed treatments on various antibiotics, I was referred to a dermatologist who instantly said there's only one way to fix my acne problem: Roaccutane. At first, I thought this is the worst-case scenario and I'm going to be even more depressed as a result of the possible mental health side effects. Depression has run in my family, so I was very worried. However, living with acne wasn't something I was prepared to do, so I started the course on 40 mg a day. The first week, I had a headache daily, but thankfully these died off after a week, and paracetamol and ibuprofen will take all the pain away. Almost immediately, my lips were cracking, and from then on in, I never went anywhere without some Carmex lip balm in my pocket. As the first 3 months went by, I was still breaking out and was starting to think it isn't going to work. However, I'm so glad I stuck with it because now I haven't got a single spot on my face, and the scars have faded to the point where you can barely see them! After the third month, my derm upped my dose, and I started to take 60 mg a day. Luckily for me, I hadn't had any serious side effects. Just your occasional nosebleed and dry skin, and sometimes my eyes were a bit blurry, but it's not much of an issue. Anyway, I just want anyone reading this who is worried about starting this medication to know that not everyone has a horror story about Roaccutane, and I couldn't be happier with how it's made me feel! Don't let acne take over your life!"

• Chi...
• May 13, 2014

"I'll admit, at first I was extremely skeptical. I had heard about all of the nasty side effects that occur with this medicine. Five months ago, I had cystic acne so bad that each side of my face on my cheeks looked like I had a big, inflamed rash on them. I was embarrassed to leave the house and I had to cake on the makeup, and even then you could tell I had a big problem. Within the first three months or so, I had been on it, and while it got better, I was sure it would never get really better because I kept breaking out. Well, I am officially on my fifth and last month, and I haven't had a new pimple in over a week, I am 100% clear. This stuff works. Don't let people scare you, the side effects are really not that bad. Life-changing stuff."

• MVP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2016

"I will tell you one thing: at 25 years, I had thought I would have acne forever. My skin's texture was horrible-blackheads, whiteheads, cysts at times that were very painful, and worse...scars. I started taking 40 mg once a day, then alternating 60 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg between days. I noticed by the end of month three, my breakout significantly declining. Then 80 mg a day. I can't tell you how shocked I was because, and I know everyone says it, but I really did truly try EVERYTHING under the sun for my acne. I wouldn't let anyone touch my face, not even my mom. I changed my pillowcase and used every oil-free product, etc., etc. End of month five, and I NEVER have seen my skin so radiant! The side effects are worth it 500,000 times over!"

• Mir...
• November 25, 2014

"Started it at 31. All the extra stuff that comes with the medication is SO worth it. Yeah, you feel achy and have dry skin, but it literally gets rid of everything. I had mild but very persistent acne since my early teens. This included body acne. I tried it all: detergents, shampoos, face washes...nothing worked. I had very oily skin. I was free of acne after about 3 weeks of taking it. I've had maybe 10 tiny zits since then, and I am in month 4 of 6."

• Anonymous
• August 4, 2008

"I used Accutane and found that the secret is to complete the whole treatment. I used it for a month and acne disappeared but started coming back. Then I did the whole treatment for about four months and acne never came back. Side effects are not fun, especially dryness of the lips, but it is definitely worth it. No acne for more than ten years. Great, especially for people with very bad acne."

• Lis...
• August 8, 2014

"Amazing! I understand when people say they tried everything. I didn't have severe acne, but persistent and regular. Plus, it didn't help that I was a real squeezer and probably made the whole situation worse. And I already get anxious about social situations, so the skin problem added to that! I was able to go on a low dose, 20 mg, which I was scared wouldn't be enough, but this stuff is strong! Can't complain about the dry skin, as how else is it going to work? The whole idea is to make you less oily. Lips were very dry and gross at the start, and whole layers were peeling off, but that isn't so bad now. Have been through about 10 lip balms already! But that's it really. Sometimes feel a little tired, but that could also not be Accutane."

• Xxn...
• May 27, 2013

"I had cystic acne on my face, neck, shoulders, and back. I have never been able to wear a tank top or bathing suit and my hair with no makeup for 7 years. HIGHLY RECOMMEND ACCUTANE! I'm not even done with my 120-day course yet, and I could almost cry right now, talking about how great I feel now. I think the trick to avoiding all those serious side effects is sticking to a lower dosage. I'm on 30 mg a day, and it took 3 1/2 months (BE STRONG PEOPLE, IT TAKES TIME), and I can officially say I am acne-free all over for the first time in 7 years. I wish I could be some sort of motivational speaker for this stuff. If you are thinking about it, DO IT! The downside is the dry patches on my arms and cracked lips, the only thing that works is Vaseline. And another upside to it is my hair! It never gets oily!"

• Joe...
• January 31, 2015

"I started taking this medication about four years ago, stopped maybe two or three years ago. Great success, my acne vanished and I have only had acne one time since, when I accidentally used moisturizer on my face. The only side effect I had was dry skin (mostly just chapped lips), which is to be expected, but it is pretty much back to normal now."

• kai...
• May 13, 2014

"I was hesitant to try Accutane because of its dangerous side effects. However, as a 17-year-old, I had been suffering from severe acne since I was 11 years old. Accutane is not a medicine that I would recommend taking if you don't absolutely need to. Prior to starting it, I tried everything you could name-virtually anything they sold in chemists and countless topicals and oral medications, all with little to no effect. Looking back on it, I wish I would have started Accutane sooner. I cannot stress what amazing results I got after finishing my 7 months on the medicine. It did cause the expected dryness of lips, eyes, nose, etc. However, the results of the medicine completely outweigh its side effects."