Have you downloaded "10 Steps to Preventing Acne Scars"? Click here for... free PDF DownloadCountless people today face daily challenges related to acne both on physical and psychological levels. On the physical level, people with acne have resulting inflammation that can be painful and can cause scarring in many instances. Acne can also take its toll on a person’s self-esteem and beliefs of attractiveness, which can result in damaging short and long-term psychological effects. The causes of this disease are as vast as there are types and treatments. Despite this fact that there are numerous types of treatments, a majority seems to have no power on controlling, reducing, or eliminating acne’s effects. An alternative form of treatment that has recently hit the market is known by its brand name of Accutane. We will discuss this powerful medicine’s brief history in addition to the common benefits and detriments that patients may discover when taking this drug.
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Over-the-counter creams, pills, antibiotics, healthy diets with less oils and gentle face wash soaps and astringents are still very common treatment methods recommended by dermatologists. However, the fact of the matter is that oftentimes these just simply do not work as effectively as they should. If these treatments have been exhausted and have shown little to no success, dermatologists will bring out the big guns. One such method is a drug that took the dermatology industry by storm about a quarter of a century ago. This drug’s brand name is Accutane and the generic name is known as isotretinoin. This really is one of few medicines that has the potential to treat very severe acne and is argued to have the greatest number of success stories. In fact, it is the only medicine known to clear severe acne permanently after one full course of treatment. With one full course of Accutane averaging about five months, approximately 85 percent of patients only require topical creams or nothing else after being treated.
Common psychological benefits with taking Accutane is improved mood, enhanced self-concept, positive self-esteem and heightened confidence. These are directly related to improved conditions in the patient’s acne severity. The physical benefits are improved appearance, reduced inflammation, reversal of scarring and the healing of open wounds resulting from acne.
While the benefits of Accutane are numerous, the detriments unfortunately may be vaster and outweigh any positives obtained through treatment. This drug has been known to commonly cause excessively dry skin and mucous membranes in which the consequence is recurring nosebleeds, itchiness and dry eyes. Other adverse symptoms include headaches, increased blood glucose levels and fatigue. Less common side effects can include severe depression, bone disease, cataracts, hair loss, memory loss, pancreatitis and hepatitis. Most importantly, though, is its known ability to cause birth defects. Defects such as mental retardation, heart defects, cleft lips and palates and other learning disabilities are high risk factors for unborn children when their mother is taking Accutane. As a result, the drug is not prescribed at all when it is known by the doctor that the mother is pregnant or is breast-feeding.
Research into the realm of Accutane’s full potential rages on as scientists race to produce scientific evidence pointing to solid positive or negative effects that the drug creates on a person’s body, mind and acne. Ultimately, it is a judgment call for the patient whether or not they want to use the medicine. The patient must weigh their own tolerance to risk and determine if the potential benefits outweigh the large number of adverse effects.
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