Acne Skin Care

Is accutane ruining my body's natural way of dealing with acne?

I am now an 18 year old male. I first took accutane about a year ago for about 6 months when I had acne ranging from mild to medium-severe, and it had fantastic results. After i stopped taking it acne was not even an issue anymore. Then after about 5 months the acne slowly but surely started coming back. Now I am on it again and it is woking but taking a little longer than the quick results the first time. I was and am now taking 1 pill a day (40) mg i believe. My questions are: 1. Is me taking accutane ruining my bodies natural way of dealing with acne? My brother had some mild acne issues in his teen years but his body naturally took care of it. Should I just wait out the embarrasing acne rather than taking accutane. Can accutane actually delay the acne stage for later years? 2. Are my symptoms/accutane history average for accutane users, and what can I expect for results? 3. Will accutane ever permanently rid my face of acne? Thank you for your time reading my question.

Public Comments

1. I think that accutane is for severe cases of acne.. You need a dermatologist to prescribe it to you. It seems that he/she would be best at explaining to you it's effects and if it stops your body's natural way of dealing with acne. Consult your dermatologist.
2. Accutane only works while you are taking it. I don't believe the body has a natural way of fighting acne. Your brother just had a mild case. .
3. 1) No accutane isn't ruining your body's way of fighting acne. There are many reasons for acne and different types that accutane is prescribed for. Usually is it is severe acne and my dermatologist said throughout my life I will occasionally have break outs but nothing like I had before. However that being said, accutane will change some of your body chemistry because its a derivative of Vitamin A and a very powerful one. 2) I haven't taken it again, my acne isn't back but I occasionally have flare ups and I've been off it for 2 years. However my dermatologist did say that sometimes it takes another round to completely clear it up, which could be your case. 3) Depends on body chemistry, but still will get zits, pimples. I had nodular acne which is very painful cysts on my face, back and neck. As a young teenage girl it was embarassing and painful. I knew the risks of accutane before going to the dermatologist, what it could do to my body and how it was trying to be banned. I did suffer from slight depression, had paper textured skin, and dry chapped lips. In a year it cleared up and I am happy with my results. I do not get those nodular cysts anymore just pimples but they are slight. Good luck with it, and God bless.