If it’s permanent cure for acne, why it’s not advertised more visiblly? All I knew was Pro-active with celebrity spokesperson smiling at you!!
If I remember correctly (and it’s been awhile), 70% need only one round (16-20 weeks) of Accutane, 90% never need more than 2 rounds (with time between the rounds) and 10% need more. We unfortunately have fallen in the 10% category. Daughter’s acne flared up about 2 years after the first round - not as bad so she took a lower dose for a shorter time. And so on.
Accutane is expensive and requires a monthly doctor’s visit with blood work for the time you’re on it. It is used when other treatments don’t work. For example, my daughter can’t take the antibiotics used to treat acne. She breaks out in hives/skin rash.
It truly is a wonder drug for those who need it. Still, it’s best to make sure that a simpler course of action isn’t effective for run-of-the-mill acne. Most don’t need Accutane. A dermatologist can help with that decision.
@ignatius my son has finished his second course of Accutane (at the highest dose possible) and is breaking out again current dermatologist will not prescribe a 3rd round. Not sure what our next step will be.
I wasn’t sure how to word it so I said that isotretinoin is ‘generally’ a permanent cure (as it has been for my kids), though not for 100% of people who take it.
I think it’s not advertised more heavily because of the long list of possible side effects, and the time and expense of monthly dermatology appointments and monthly blood draws.
@3scoutsmom Has your son tried Aczone (dapsone) 5% gel?
yes, it was one of the things we tried before accutane and is what he is currently using to try to control break outs.
Unfortunately, genetics are against him and my other kids. Both DH and I had horrible acne. I took 2 and a half courses in my 20’s (the half course was from a dr. that did not follow protocol so I stopped). My acne didn’t clear up until I was pregnant with my first child. DD is currently on accutane but a lower dose than her brother, she’s almost three months into it and not showing much improvement (tried various topical treatment, antibiotics and hormonal treatments - the pill prior to accutane). Youngest really needs accutane but the Dr. wants to hold off until he is older (he just turned 14 this month). Current thought is when dd is finished with her current course, youngest ds will start. This stuff is expensive and we really can’t afford to have more than one kid at a time on it anyway.
@3scoutsmom The manufacturer recommends only two courses, but that said some doctors will prescribe a third or fourth. I had a doctor almost kill me a few years back, and realized that I was willing to spend 40 or 50 hours researching my particular problem while they perhaps had 10 or 15 minutes. So I do not hesitate to doctor on myself. After researching the matter you can decide for yourself whether or not your son should take a third course, and if so you can purchase the medicine from abroad. It is likely to be very expensive, as much as $50 for a course of treatment.
(Just waiting for the bleating from the sheeple)
3scoutsmom: Sorry it isn’t working better for your son. How frustrating. Maybe you should get a second opinion.
My daughter fell in that 10% of needing a third round (as did my son). Her skin responds well to Accutane and she has none of the side effects. She started breaking out again about two years after the first round and then another two years after the second round. So she had quite a bit of time between rounds. The dermatologist prescribed a low dose for 16 weeks. Though she ended up on Accutane again, her acne never got as bad as that first time.
My son had worse acne than my daughter and his rounds of Accutane were more immediate - one after the other and then a short time period before starting again. I think he had four rounds total.
My oldest daughter has and had almost perfect skin - an occasional breakout when stressed or starting her period. Funny how things go.
I pay for the Accutane etc. even though my daughter is an adult now. The course of treatment is expensive with the dermatologist visit, blood work, and medication it can run $250 - $450 a month (depending on your insurance.)
For what it’s worth, we all really like and trust the dermatologist. I don’t think any of us would feel comfortable trying it out without his constant monitoring. He checks the blood work and skin, along with spending some time just talking with the patient (another way he monitors progress.)
Just ran across this article in today’s news cycle: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Dermatology/GeneralDermatology/54399
*Isotretinoin = Accutane and its varied generic names
We have a friend whose son developed inflammatory bowel issues on accutane. My kids did extremely well with twice daily use of lots of 5% benzyl peroxide (or was it 2.5%?) We got it online in a very liquidy formula and they slathered it on. Both kids had significant acne - but it was NOT the cystic acne which is so painful and hard to cure.