Accutane
Accutane or Isotretinoin is very effective because of it has the ability to target specific areas at the root of acne. Normally accutane is prescribed after all other treatments have failed. Accutane is prescription only and can only be prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist. Accutane should never be prescribed as a first choice. It should be only prescribed if all other treatments have been unresponsive.
The recommended dose of accutane you are prescribed depends on your weight. Accutane comes as capsules in strengths of: 10, 20, 30, and 40 milligrams. Normally you take a pill with food 2 times daily for a period of 15 to 20 weeks. Some people notice a significant change in the first month of treatment. Most people also notice their acne continues to improve even after the treatment has stopped.
The strength of accutane lie in the ability to:
Stop excess oil production: It limits the amount of sebum produced. It also has the ability to reduce the size and limit the output of your sebaceous glands.
Stabilize keratinization: This help with the shedding away of dead skin cells, so they do not
have as great a chance to clog your pores.
Accutane or Isotretinoin is know to have serious side effects in some people. Therefore is should only be used for severe, resistant acne.
Accutane is best used for the following types of acne:
Recurring acne that is severe to moderate.
Moderate to severe nodular acne that are resilient to other medications.
Acne that is inflammatory with scarring.
Accutane can cause extremely severe birth defects in pregnant women or a women that becomes pregnant while taking accutane. Accutane can also increase the risk of miscarriage if it is used during pregnancy or up to one month before the pregnancy. For women that are of the childbearing age accutane should only be prescribed for disfiguring, sever, cystic acne. Women of childbearing age must agree to additional testing in order to use accutane. All women of childbearing age must have two negative pregnancy tests. It should also be noted that some people have an increase in acne before the acne starts to clear up.
Some of the birth defects are:
Heart defects
Cleft palate
Nervous system defects
Accutane side effects tend to be related to the dose prescribed. The higher the dose, the better your chance is for side effects. If you do have severe side effects the only thing to do is to get on a lower dosage. Most people only experience mild side effects. These side effects are usually caused by the reduction of oil in your skin.
Some of the mild side effects include:
Dry lips
Mild nosebleeds
Dry skin
Dry eyes
Mild sun sensitivity
Some people have reported more serious problems. If any of these side effects are present you should stop taking accutane and call your dermatologist.
Some of the more serious side effects include:
Mood swings
Depression
Vision problems
Suicidal thoughts
Allergic reactions
Hearing impairment
Persistent headaches
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