Accutane in Orange County
Isotretinoin (trade name: Accutane, Roche) is a powerful drug used in the treatment of acne. Four to five months of isotretinoin treatment usually leads to clearing of acne for one year or more after the medicine is stopped.
What is Accutane?
Accutane is a synthetic vitamin A derivative (13-cis-retinoic acid) which is administered orally in pill form, normally for 15-20 weeks.
How does Accutane clear acne?
Exactly how Accutane works on a cellular level is unknown, but we do know that it affects all of the four ways that acne develops.
- Accutane dramatically reduces the size of the skin’s oil glands (35%-58%) and even more dramatically reduces the amount of oil the skin produces (around 80%).
- Acne bacteria (P. Acnes) lives in skin oil. Since oil is so dramatically reduced, so is the amount of acne bacteria in the skin.
- It also slows down how fast the skin produces skin cells inside the pore which helps pores from becoming clogged in the first place.
- It displays anti-inflammatory properties.
Who is a candidate for treatment with Accutane?
Accutane is considered for severe acne that has failed other treatments. It is a potent medication that is very effective for severe, scarring acne. Is also used for acne present for many years that has not responded to antibiotic pills and creams. Accutane or generic Isotretinoin medications is never a first choice and should never be “shared” or purchased over the internet without the guidelines of a physician.