| Many
people of all ages are troubled by irritating outbreaks
of acne and are searching for a cure, once and for
all. Very often, in severe cases of acne, their search
leads them to Accutane. Also known as Isotretinoin,
Accutane is taken orally, and is available only by
prescription. It is a five month treatment regimen
for severe cystic acne.
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Taken
once daily with food, Accutane works by decreasing the amount
of oils produced by the glands. Acne may worsen before it
gets better, and it usually takes about two months on Accutane
to notice improvements in symptoms.
While
it can be very effective, Accutane has many significant
side effects, ranging from mildly irritating to severely
life-threatening.
The
most frequent side effects reported by Accutane users are:
-
Dry, chapped, or peeling lips
- Dry,
itchy skin
- Dry
nose, mild nosebleeds
- Irritation
of the eyelids and/or dry eyes
- Joint
and muscle pain
- Thinning
of the hair
- Rash
- Intestinal
problems
- Urinary
problems
- Headache
- Increased
skin sensitivity to light and sunburn
- Decreased
night vision, which may continue after completing treatment
regimen
- Depression
and/or thoughts of suicide.
Accutane
may also increase the level of blood fats (cholesterol),
sometimes to dangerous levels, which may interfere with
liver function. Prior to starting the Accutane regimen,
blood tests are required to rule out pregnancy and establish
a baseline for monitoring cholesterol levels. Frequent blood
work is ordered by
dermatologists to check these levels which, if too high,
may cause complications with liver functioning.
The most dangerous side effect of Accutane is severe birth
defects if taken during pregnancy. It is strongly recommended
to avoid becoming
pregnant during treatment and for at least one month after
stopping Accutane.
Accutane
is not guaranteed to cure acne. Reports have found 1 in
10 Accutane users have reoccurrences of acne one year later
and 1 in 4 users after two years. It may be prescribed again
for reoccurrences of acne.
Only
you -- with your doctor -- can determine if treating your
acne problem with Accutane is worth the potential risks
involved.
About
the Author
Diane
Darling, COTA/L, is a licensed and certified occupational
therapy assistant who works with learning-challenged children.
She also has a keen interest in issues of skin care and
acne, and maintains the Treating Acne website located at
http://www.treating-acne.com |
