Accutane Treatment
What is Accutane?
Accutane is a brand of isotretinoin, which is a prescription medicine for severe acne. This type of acne can be small or large, causing painful cysts and nodules. Scarring is often common with this type. If severe acne is present and is difficult to clear up with other methods, Accutane can often provide long-term elimination of acne (permanently for some patients).
How Long Does Accutane Treatment Take?
A course of Accutane treatment typically takes around four to five months, but this can vary depending on the patient and situation.
Is Accutane Safe?
Accutane can have potentially harmful side effects, therefore your dermatologist can only prescribe this medicine if you enroll in a program from the FDA, have regular follow-up visits and sign a form stating that you know the risks involved. Extra precautions for patients who can become pregnant should also be considered. It’s recommended to avoid pregnancy while taking Accutane. Also, patients who can get pregnant are required to take pregnancy tests before and during the treatment.
Your safety is our top concern. If this medicine is an option for you, your dermatologist will talk with you about how to take this medicine safely and what you can expect. You and your dermatologist should jointly decide whether this medicine is right for you.
