Learn how to treat acne here: http://www.ringpfeildermatology.com/cosmetic-dermatology/acne-treatment.php
The treatment with Isotretinoin or also know as Accutane, has become
extremely controversial. I grew up as a dermatologist after Accutane has
already been on the market for a short period of time. And I can absolutely
attest to the fact that Accutane works. I apologize for using the trade
name all the time but that's what most people are equate with the actual
use of this word. So, Accutane is a medication that has the ability in
about 75 percent of all people who take it, to stop the acne once and for
good. Yes, there are 25 percent in whom it does not work this way, it only
reduces the acne. There are very, very rare scenarios in which it actually
even fails, but as I said, 75 percent of all people who take one course of
Accutane, will no longer have acne in their life.
Accutane works by a couple of different mechanisms, and it has become a
focus point in the media because of its one extremely important side
effect. What does Accutane do? Well, it doesn't only stop acne. If you are
a woman and you are pregnant and you are exposed to Accutane by taking it,
chances are that unborn will develop birth defects. There is absolutely no
reason to think that if you're a woman and you take Accutane and you become
pregnant, at some point of time down the road that there will be any birth
defects. It is a teratogenic agent, it means you have to pregnant and take
Accutane in order to develop that. That has lead the media, the lawyers,
and social groups to believe that Accutane can do so many other dreadful
things.
Yes, it's a medication that's highly monitored because potentially anybody
could become pregnant. There are so many safeguards in place and we find
ourselves more and more prepared in prescribing Accutane. But let me tell
you, it is one of the best monitored medications. It requires blood test
every month. It requires office visits before you can even get your new
prescription. But because of all that safeguarding put in place, it is
actually one of the safest medications. Woman need to have pregnancy tests
every month, including two tests even before the start of the treatment
that are one month apart. And the treatment course is usually five to six
months. Most people are done in five months of treatment. And you must not
become pregnant when you are a women for the months there after but after
that pregnancy is absolutely safe and there's no risk of developing birth
defects. Accutane is a total life saver for so many people with sever
cystic acne. It is usually an insurance covered service, unlike
photodynamic therapy, which is still not regarded, however may come in the
future. Accutane treatment makes it possible to avoid scarring acne as long
as the scars have not deeply formed. However, it may even undo some of the
freshly formed, very recent scars.
