If you are struggling with severe acne, it can be challenging to be comfortable with your skin. Clear and healthy skin boosts your confidence and offers you a youthful look. In today's world, many treatments and medications can help with severe acne. One of the important oral medications, Accutane (isotretinoin), is used to treat severe acne. This oral medication is known for effective results in the prevention of acne and results in clear skin. In this blog, an important topic, “Accutane: What You Need to Know About This Acne Treatment,” is going to be discussed. So stay tuned with us!
Accutane: What You Need to Know About This Acne Treatment
Accutane is a type of retinoid (Vitamin A derivative) that is available in the form of a pill and is advised for severe acne that hasn’t responded to other treatments. It can help normalize the sebaceous glands and prevent acne in the long run.
Benefits of Accutane:
Accutane works on the skin by reducing oil production, clogging pores, and reducing the inflammation that leads to clear skin.
Here is a detailed explanation for accutane working:
- Shrinking Oil Glands:
A retinoid, Accutane, derived from vitamin A, reduces the activity of sebaceous glands that are responsible for oil production. It can reduce the size of the glands in the skin that are responsible for oil production. Also reduces the bacteria in the skin and results in acne prevention.
- Reducing Sebum Production:
Accutane reduces sebum production by shrinking oil glands that can clog pores and lead to acne. Excessive oil production is the main reason for the acne production. When the sebum (oil) production is reduced by accutane, that can help in the reduction of acne appearance.
- Preventing Pore Clogging:
Excessive sebum production can lead to creating an environment where bacteria and acne lesions form. This powerful medication, Accutane helps in preventing the skin cells from sticking together and clogging pores resulting in reducing the risk of acne breakouts.
- Reducing Inflammation:
The anti-inflammatory properties of Accutane can help in reducing the redness and swelling that are associated with acne lesions.
- Reducing acne-causing bacteria
Accutane also reduces the number of Cutibacterium acne, which can contribute to acne production in the skin.
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Increased Skin Cell Turnover:
Accutane helps increase skin cell turnover, which helps in shedding dead skin cells and producing new skin cells that can also help prevent clogged pores.
Can there be side effects of Accutane?
Despite the numerous benefits, there can be negative effects of Accutane. There can be a range of side effects caused by Accutane (isotretinoin) that can include dry skin, lips, and eyes, as well as mental health issues such as depression and suicidal thoughts. Side effects of Accutane include common side effects as well as serious side effects.
Let’s understand the common side effects first:
Common side effects of Accutane include negative effects on skin, eyes, musculoskeletal, mucous membranes, and others.
- Accutane can affect your skin in different ways. Your skin shows symptoms such as dryness, redness, itching, and increased sensitivity to sunlight.
- This powerful medication, Accutane, can also affect the mucous membranes, resulting in dryness of the lips, nose, and throat.
- Accutane (isotretinoin) can affect eyes by causing dry eyes and can reduce night vision and result in blurry vision.
Serious side effects can include the effect on mental health, liver problems, kidney problems, hearing problems, and many more.
- While Accutane is effective in the reduction of severe acne, it is also associated with side effects that include depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
- Accutane can cause some temporary increases in liver enzymes that can be detected through tests, but it can rarely cause lasting liver damage.
- Change in kidney function is also a negative effect of Accutane.
- Accutane (isotretinoin) can cause skin problems by reducing sebum (oil) production that leads to dryness, irritation, and increased sun sensitivity, and can also cause a temporary worsening of acne.
- Isotretinoin (accutane) can cause bone or muscle problems that can include joint pain, muscle pain or stiffness, or difficulty moving.
If you experience any type of side effects, you need to contact your doctor immediately.
Who needs to be aware before using Accutane?
Before using Accutane, you should be aware of the potential risks and side effects that could be worse.
Here is a brief detail of who should be aware before using Accutane:
- Individuals who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant should be aware before using because accutane is highly teratogenic and can cause severe birth defects.
- Accutane can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. Any individual with a history of mental health conditions should avoid or be careful before using Accutane.
- People with liver disease, diabetes, weak bones, high cholesterol, asthma, and allergies should avoid the use of accutane as it can worsen these conditions.
Important Considerations for Accutane:
You can also consider these points when using or thinking of using acne treatment, Accutane.
- Accutane is a prescription medication that can be taken under the supervision of a well-qualified healthcare professional.
- This is important to ensure that the treatment is safe and effective for you or not.
- You need to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully, such as dosage or duration of treatment.
- Various potential side effects can be seen, such as dry skin, chapped lips, and increased sensitivity to sunlight. You need to be aware of the potential side effects.
- You should not take vitamin A supplements when you are taking Accutane because it can increase the risk of side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions about Accutane:
Q.1. Is accutane suitable for everyone?
Ans. No, accutane is not suitable for everyone. There can be some negative effects of accutane and can have contraindications. You should use Accutane with the doctor’s prescription.
Q.2. What can be the treatment period of Accutane?
Ans. The general time duration for treatment of Accutane can be 4–8 months, in which isotretinoin continues to work for up to 2 months. This acne treatment comes in capsules. It can help in normalizing sebum. After the treatment period of Accutane, your doctor can help you with the next procedure, if required.
Q.3. Can Accutane make my skin more sensitive to the sun?
Ans. Yes, Accutane makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. You need to use sunscreen and protective clothing so that sunburn can be avoided. To protect your skin, always use sunscreen in the sun.
Q.4. Are the regular blood tests important to monitor accutane?
Ans. Yes, regular blood tests are important to monitor accutane and its side effects. Accutane can be responsible for the increase in cholesterol levels. Monitoring can help you ensure safe treatment and detect the side effects of Accutane.
Q.5. Can accutane cause hair thinning or hair loss?
Ans. Yes, Accutane can cause hair thinning or hair loss, as these are considered side effects. But hair thinning as a side effect of Accutane is temporary. Accutane can affect your hair growth cycle and result in hair loss.
