I am 28 and thinking about taking accutane for my acne does any body have any ac!
Question: I have read that the side effects can be horrible and permanently damage my body but I still want to get rid of my acne I am confused and don't know to take it or not.
Answers: I have read that the side effects can be horrible and permanently damage my body but I still want to get rid of my acne I am confused and don't know to take it or not.
First, listen to the advice of your physician/dermatologist. He/she knows your skin better than anyone on this website. Second, over TWO MILLION people have taken Accutane -- and the number of people who have suffered serious complications are very small. Those complications typically stop once the medication is stopped.
I took Accutane four times -- and while it does cause unpleasant side effects: very dry skin, peeling, itching, chapped lips, sometimes headaches or body aches -- that is typically all that it causes. For those who had truly severe, serious acne which makes them miserable and causes scarring, it can be a miracle drug. It made me a little more irritable, but that was all. Some people cannot tolerate the side effects, and some people are more emotionally unstable than others. It doesn't *destroy* your body -- it can elevate your cholesterol and liver enzymes, and so blood tests are required. It can cause birth defects (as can *many* medications), so birth control is required for females who take it.
The list of side effects for many medications sounds terrible if you read about them. Even aspirin can cause gastrointestintal bleeding, which can result in death. Tylenol can also result in permanent liver damage and death -- but there is no hysteria about these medications. (Despite what other responders have said, there is no specific age recommendation for Accutane, and it's not an antibiotic; it's a derivative of Vitamin A.)
If you want unbiased, objective advice, use the tool from WebMD below to help determine if you should take Accutane. Good luck! :)
dont take accutane then if you are worried just put some foaming face wash or something
The mental side effects are what you really need to worry about. A friend of mine took accutane for about 3 weeks. He went from a happy go lucky, very funny upbeat guy, to full on crying for no reason and wondering why he was alive. i guess we were about 26-27 at the time. They dont sell it to teenagers at all for this very reason. He stopped taking it and his reasoning was simple he didnt want to feel like he was dying anymore. But it doesnt effect all people this way. I worked in a pharmacy during that same time and there were quite a few people who took it and it didnt have those kind of side effects. The older the better. I think if you do try it. Be careful, and if you start feeling funkish, stop.
I had really bad acne years ago, and took accutane.
I would not take it again!
Have you been to an endocrinologist besides your dermatologist? If not you may want to go and just have all of your horomone levels, etc. checked out. That could be playing a role in the acne issue ~
Talk to a cosmetic dermatologist. They can hook you up with some stuff for adult-onset acne. Acutane is for kids. It's an antibiotic... At 28 (I'm your age, too), your acne is probably related to hormones.
Also, don't put powder on your face. Use rice papers to blot the oil.
My son took it at 16, 7 years ago. worked great. the first month you look worse, and it really dries out your skin and lips. you cannot get pregnant or it would be a nightmare (don't know if you are male or female) and they have to do blood tests to make sure your body is handling it. If not covered by insurance, very expensive....but the end result is that he has not had acne since. talk to a good dermatologist first. I think that the links to depression are true, but if someone is already depressed and see their face get worse, it could also help set them off. at your age, you would be able to be proactive for yourself if need be. go for it.