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Accutane

Accutane.

Accutane

About this product

An oral retinoid medication prescribed by dermatologists to treat severe acne, particularly nodular and cystic forms, by reducing sebum production and preventing comedone formation.

Best for

Acne-prone skin

The Guru Index verdict

72%

Approved

Approved · 72%
5Reviewers
2Approved
2Mixed
1Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus split on Accutane's place in acne treatment. Dermatologists widely recognize it as highly effective, particularly for severe or scarring acne, with some calling it transformative; they emphasize it should be a last resort after topical treatments fail and requires close medical oversight. Non-medical reviewers acknowledge dramatic results but stress significant side effects (pregnancy risks, potential bowel issues, and general discomfort during treatment) making them hesitant to recommend it as a first option. Consensus is that it works but demands careful patient selection and monitoring.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews
Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
~Mixed
"Medications like Accutane, all those things come with a price. Most people would prefer not to do that if they don't have to. I believe that medication should be the last step. If we can try to do some other things first, then at some point when I'm like, listen, enough's enough, we need to get you on a prescription, I'll recommend that and send them to a derm. But I think most people would prefer not to do that if they don't have to."
Approved
"This patient's a candidate for Accutane. They've got a lot of acne and they're at risk of scarring. They really need a treatment plan to go ahead and prevent future scarring from really bad acne. Accutane can be a great option in those circumstances."
All 2 takes from 208SkinDoc
Dermatologist Reacts: Laser Fails & Skin Treatment Dangers
"This patient's a candidate for Accutane. They've got a lot of acne and they're at risk of scarring. They really need a treatment plan to go ahead and prevent future scarring from really bad acne. Accutane can be a great option in those circumstances."
Crazy Skin Treatment Reactions by Dermatologist!
"I might actually just put a patient on Accutane and really try to dry up those oil glands so that they're not getting this recurrently because topical medications like retinol are although effective can only go so far if you have this many forming on the skin you might need to treat it from the inside and Accutane can be a really good option and because there's not a ton of inflammation it's not inflammatory cystic acne a course of Accutane is probably going to take a little longer but ultimately it would give you a really good result."
~Mixed
"I micro dose Accutane so I currently take two pills a week each one's 40 milligrams which has really been great. Accutane is the brand name of isotretinoin a retinoid given by mouth to treat acne. It works because it is a comedolytic meaning it dissolves blackheads and whiteheads and it also is sebum suppressive it reduces the output of oil."
Top Pick: acne treatment
All 3 takes from Dr Dray
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"I micro dose Accutane so I currently take two pills a week each one's 40 milligrams which has really been great. Accutane is the brand name of isotretinoin a retinoid given by mouth to treat acne. It works because it is a comedolytic meaning it dissolves blackheads and whiteheads and it also is sebum suppressive it reduces the output of oil."
5 Skincare Myths That Are Ruining Your Skin
"Accutane, branded name for isotretinoin, an oral retinoid, that quite literally was one of the most game-changing inventions in dermatology. Before Accutane, if you had acne, nodular acne, scarring was the outcome. You were going to likely have scarring in some capacity. When isotretinoin came on the scene, it completely changed that because it's really the only medication that can, being the key word here, cure the acne. It can shrink those abnormally dilated and enlarged and active sebaceous glands that are driving the sebum. It has so many benefits for acne and it keeps people from having disfiguring scarring acne, completely has changed lives. There are side effects with isotretinoin for sure, and it should be administered by your health care provider, a board certified dermatologist."
HOW SAFE IS RETINOL IN PREGNANCY? Dermatologist @DrDrayzday
"Accutane is a retinoid given by mouth to treat acne and while it's very effective for many people for treating acne it is not at all safe during pregnancy it causes severe fetal malformations that are not compatible with life."
Skip
"Accutane, a prescription acne medication, has been the subject of numerous lawsuits. Plaintiffs claim the drug caused serious side effects including inflammatory bowel disease and birth defects. The manufacturer of Accutane faced multiple losses and eventually discontinued the product in some countries."
Approved
"Accutane is basically a prescription medication that you take that's really intense but it's one of the best things if not the best thing to get rid of really severe cystic acne. I can't even count how many dramatic transformations I've seen from Accutane. While it can be a really painful, just uncomfortable process most of the time, it gives pretty incredible results."
Top Pick: severe cystic acne treatment
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