If you suffer from severe acne that has NOT responded to traditional acne treatments like low-dose antibiotics or birth control, your doctor or dermatologist may prescribe the popular acne treatment, Accutane or Roaccutane.
Want to know the truth about Accutane? Read on:
Accutane or Roaccutane is a drug that has been widely used to reduce acne symptoms after a course of approximately 4-6 months. It was originally prescribed to people who presented with severe acne that did not respond to other traditional treatments. However, it has since gained popularity has been prescribed more frequently for less severe acne.
Why is Accutane one of the most controversial drugs on the planet?
Most people are unaware of the documented list of severe and some permanent side effects associated to taking Accutane.
Common side effects include:
- Dry eyes
- Dry lips
- Nosebleeds
- Sensitivity to sun
- Thinning hair
- Extremely dry skin
Most people are aware of these tolerable side effects and choose to continue on with their course of Accutane. However, what many people don’t know is there is also a LONG list of serious side effects that have been reported which continued long after stopping the medication.
More serious side effects include:
- Severe allergic reactions
- Difficulty breathing
- Vision problems
- Hearing loss
- Permanent liver damage
- Permanent migraines and headaches
- Skeletal hyperostosis
- Severe aches and pains in lower back
- Birth defects (if taken when pregnant or trying to conceive)
Due to the possibility of birth defects and harm to unborn child, it should never be used during pregnancy. Women who have taken the drug should avoid pregnancy for at least a month after ceasing taking the drug.
There is also suggestions that taking Accutane or Roaccutane may lead to depression, anxiety, mood disorders and suicidal thoughts. Researchers still debate whether the drug causes depression however the manufacturer openly states that “Synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, can negatively impact brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.”
The FDA website goes on to warn “All patients treated with isotretinoin should be observed closely for symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts, such as sad mood, irritability, acting on dangerous impulses, anger, loss of pleasure … mood disturbance, psychosis, or aggression.”
Furthermore, statistics show that there were 72 suicides linked to Accutane between 1989 and 2003 by American teens younger than 18. This statistic is HIGHER than suicides linked to Prozac – a popular anti-depressant drug.
Accutane or Roaccutane works by stopping excess oil production responsible for causing acne. The issue is that the drug damages your sebum glands and liver function during the course of medication and your liver may not be able to balance your hormones properly.
Did you know you can achieve the same results safely and naturally?
Accutane or Roaccutane works to improve fat metabolism and reduce inflammation. However, it is possible for these benefits can be achieved naturally and safely.
How? By eating the right diet, supplements and skin care alternatives that aren’t going to cause potentially irreversible damage to your body and depression. By increasing your intake of foods high in Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene you can effectively reduce the over-production of oil by your sebaceous glands without the side effects!
Supplements like vitamin C, E, Zinc and Glutamine all help to boost immune function in the body and reduce inflammation that is responsible for the red, inflamed breakouts associated to acne.
Accutane is NOT the magical solution to acne and can make your skin worse!
Do not be fooled into thinking that accutane is the magical solution for acne. It does not treat the root cause of acne, it merely addresses the symptoms.
By stopping your skin’s natural oil production, you can experience more dryness which ultimately can lead to premature ageing. The secret to maintaining youthful skin is to keep your skin adequately hydrated inside and out. If you’re stopping your skin’s natural oil production, your skin is more prone to wrinkling and can make you look older than you are.
The best long-term acne solution is one that addresses the internal issues of WHY you are suffering from acne. Skin conditions are your bodies way of saying there is something wrong and you need help. Turning to Accutane or Roaccutane is not the answer, it will simply mask the issue and potentially cause more problems in the long term.
Look to a long-term solution that uses natural methods like diet, lifestyle and skincare solutions to clear your skin forever without the drugs, chemical products and gimmicky tricks.
Discover the natural techniques to cure acne forever and regain your confidence again. Clear Skin Project shows you how to quickly and easily cure acne permanently WITHOUT harmful drugs, expensive creams and without the side effects – guaranteed!
Check out the testimonial of some of my clients who followed the advice in my Clear Skin Project program to completely clear their skin HERE! AMAZING and completely drug and expensive skincare product-free!
Have you tried a course of Accutane before? What were your experiences like? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Olivia x
Hey Olivia! I took accutane about 5 years ago, I have tried everything and anything for about 6 years before I decided to take accutane. Nothing was working for my skin, 3 months before I decided I chose to do antibiotics to see if that would work. Unfortunately it didn’t, so I caved for the accutane. With the monthly blood tests, the tests online, the limited amount of time to pick up prescriptions, it was torture. The side effects kicked in right away, dry cracked lips, dry skin, cracking skin, painful joints, back pain and super dry hair. It was suggested I do the pills for 6 months, one day I was walking and my back started hurting so bad I had to stop in the street and I started crying because of the pain I was in. I stopped the treatments right then and there. 5 years later my lips still crack, my skin is extremely dry, my eye lids are always peeling with skin and the area by my nose crack. Accutane is like a double edged sword. It work but it hurt my body in so many ways. I still breakout with a few pimples, but I know how to control them now with healthy eating and healthy skin habits. One things for sure, healthy eating changed my life more than accutane.
Hey Izabella!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your story 🙂
I’m so sorry that you had that experience on accutane and that you don’t suffer from the same symptoms anymore. It’s an experience that I know all too well based on how many clients I have treated that have had the same issues on the drug.
It’s great to hear that healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle have had a much more positive effect on your body and skin than the drug did. It’s important that we spread the message that there are other methods of treating acne that don’t require drugs like accutane.
Thanks again for stopping by 🙂
Olivia x
I went on Roaccutane at the age of 21 and it gave me perfect skin for 20 years. It is an amazing drug. It also has a strong anti ageing effect. Side effects were dry lips only in my case which I managed with Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream. I recommend it.
Hi Melanie! Thank you for sharing your feedback. While I understand some people may choose this drug as an option for clearing acne, it’s not a personal belief of mine. Roaccutane has many dangerous side effects including birth defects, depression and even suicide in some cases. I’ve seen the damage that it can cause long into adult life and some of the side effects are irreversible. Olivia x
Hi Olivia I never had any dangerous side effects or any irreversible side effects. I am now 47 and look 10 years younger. I put it down to the drug. The best thing is after taking Roaccutane I didn’t have to think about my skin for 20 years. It was flawless every day. I encouraged a young work colleague to take it who had severe cystic acne. She has been cured by the drug and now has perfect skin. The drug has changed her life and she is much happier. Many young women get a marvellous result from the drug….