How to decide whether to use accutane for acne

This guide will set out the pros and cons of using accutane for treating acne.

Doctors often prescribe accutane as a last resort for the treatment of acne. There are valid reasons for this. Accutane is seen as a treatment for serious cases of acne and has the possibility of serious side effects (though rare) that not everyone is willing to risk and compromise their health, even if it provided possibly the best option to get rid of acne. The side effects will be discussed in depth later in the article. However, it should be stated that the “major side effects” are very rare.

How does accutane work

Accutane is a commercial name for Isetretinoin. It derives from vitamin A. It is taken in pill form and its purpose is to regulate, control and reduce excess sebum production from the sebaceous glands. When sebum gets to the skin, it can block pores and damage hair follicles. This in turn combines with dead skin cells thus resulting in acne in the form of postules, nodules. Accutane is usually given to those with acne modules and signs of acne scarring.

Pros of taking accutane for acne removal are:

• The success rate of acne removal is far greater with accutane than with other less potent acne treatments, even other prescription treatment such as benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin (retin a).

• For many, it has been shown to clear acne with great success. In fact, some of the people describe it as clearing it up altogether with all trace of acne gone.

• The results are much faster. It is not taken indefinitely until the acne clears up, rather, there is a timeframe of up to 20 weeks during which it should be taken.

• It has the added advantage of taking pills orally rather than hassles of applying daily on the affected areas.

Side effects

Some of the minor side effects that might be expected with accutane are dry skin, drowsiness and dry lips, vomiting in rare cases.

Dangerous side effects

Doctors will not prescribe accutane to women who are planning to bear a child, even if the acne is really bad and other acne treatments have failed to work sufficiently. Taking accutane has been linked with causing serious damage to an unborn fetus and the possibility of being born with birth defects.

• Some reports of depression and mental health problems
• Kidney failure
• Hair loss/thinning hair

Conclusion

Do not take this medicine under any circumstance if you are planning to give birth. The best advice would be to give other acne treatments a chance to work. Sometimes people with acne can be very impatient and expect to see results instantly and do not give sufficient time to their acne treatment regimen. If other treatments do not work then a doctor may prescribe accutane. However, you should report to the doctor anything unusual you experience with your bodily functions.