Treatment of Acne
One of the most widely used oral retinoids is isotretinoin, which is sold under the brand name Accutane. This acne pill typically takes 16 to 20 weeks to stop acne.
Treatment of Acne Using Oral Retinoids
In addition to topical use, retinoid acne treatments also are available in the form of oral medications. Isotretinoin is one of the most widely used oral retinoids and is sold under the brand name Accutane. This acne pill typically takes 16 to 20 weeks to stop acne. It remedies acne by treating the skin's excess oil production, clogged pores, skin bacteria and skin inflammation.
Pros and Cons
The oral retinoid isotretinoin is one of the best acne products available for those individuals afflicted with nodular or cystic acne. Often, isotretinoin can clear acne from the skin for several months or years.
Although this acne medication is one of the most effective forms of acne treatments available, it is not typically considered the first treatment option, due to its long list of serious side effects. One of the most serious side effects of isotretinoin is its tendency to cause miscarriage or birth defects if taken by a woman who is pregnant. Because of this serious side effect, the FDA has required women of childbearing age to undergo pregnancy testing and practice birth control both before and after taking isotretinoin. Individuals may also experience other, less serious, side effects while taking an oral retinoid, such as chest or abdominal pain, nausea, trouble swallowing, depression, or dryness of the skin.
Cost
Prescriptions of isotretinoin can range from $99 to $199, depending on the brand, dosage and insurance coverage.
Effectiveness
The oral retinoid isotretinoin is considered to be the most effective acne treatment for treating severe cystic acne, as well as other severe acne cases that do not respond to other medications.
WARNING Isotretinoin is very likely to cause birth defects if used during pregnancy. Do not donate blood while you are taking isotretinoin and for at least a month afterwards. There have been some successful lawsuits claiming isotretinoin has caused serious depression (and suicide), which has led to strict control of the drug in the U.S. However, the relationship has never been clinically proven and other studies have shown that patients with acne have an increased risk of clinical depression whether or not they use isotretinoin.
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Oral retinoids like Accutane can be very effective for the treatment of acne. Go to the next page to learn about acne laser treatment options under development.