Accutane for acne


Posted on February 26th, by The Skiny in Acne, Dermatological Advice, Expert Tips. No Comments

Accutane for acne

Accutane: a magical cure for acne sufferers?

Guest Written by Kelsey McGillis

Whether you’re a life-long acne sufferer or someone recently coping with it, chances are you’ve heard of the popular acne medication.  In this article we discuss accutane for acne.

With about 85% of people between 12 and 24 experiencing some type of acne, either you or someone you know has likely come in contact with the medication.  However, like any medication, between the horror and miracle stories, the reality of using Accutane for acne lies. If you’ve ever wondered whether Accutane could be the miraculous cure to your acne woes, read on as we catch up with our own acne expert dermatologist Dr. Lisa Kellett.

For starters, what is Accutane? In short, it’s a drug taken orally for between 5 and 9 months, with dosage and length of treatment varying on an individual basis. The pill works to decrease oil gland production, a very helpful step in helping treat acne. Accutane for acne can be a life changing treatment, as Dr. Kellett states “about 85% of people see a significant improvement. For the right person and under the right circumstances it can be very effective.”

So… 85% sounds like pretty good odds, right? Especially if you’re someone who’s tried every lotion and treatment on the market. However, how do you know if you’re this “right person under the right circumstances”? There’s a number of profiles that fit the ideal user of Accutane for acne. Dr. Kellett describes a couple, “Sometimes I see women who are in their 30s and have tried everything and they’re a great candidate for it because they have what we call recalcitrant acne, which is acne that fails to respond to other things. So that would be one person, whereas another person might be young, 17 or 18, and have nodule cystic acne, [which is] acne that is starting to scar. Both of those patients are [equally] good candidates.” However, beyond this, many people can benefit from Accutane for acne.

To find out whether this treatment is the best and safest option for you, it’s important to sit down with an experienced dermatologist. As with any drug, Accutane doesn’t come without its downsides. For starters, Accutane for acne might not be your best friend in the hot summer months as it makes users very photosensitive (aka have a bad reaction to sunlight). Along with timing your treatment for indoor months, a number of other potential factors play in. Dr. Kellett dives into a few common side effects “…the most common side effect would be dry lips and dry eyes. Another common side effect would be dermatitis, or a flare of eczema, or an increase in redness of the face.”

Although it shouldn’t be hailed as the be-all, end-all acne solution for everyone, As we’ve learned Accutane can be extremely effective. Accutane for acne isn’t either the magical cure or the terrifying product people describe it as, and is simply one of many options for both teenage and adult acne sufferers. Talk to your dermatologist to craft your personalized skincare solution, which just might include this pill.

 





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