Is Accutane Bad For You? What are the side effects? Find out the answers to these questions and more before starting Accutane!
If you have acne you may have thought about trying Accutane, which is understandable. Acne can be debilitating and extremely frustrating to treat.
I’ve had acne since I was twelve and have tried just about everything to get rid of it; however, I have never tried Accutane. Even before I became a holistic esthetician, I knew in my gut that Accutane would probably do more harm than good.
In this post, I will be answering all of your questions about Accutane. Is Accutane bad for you? Is accutane worth the risk? Is Accutane safe?
After reading this post you will be an expert on Accutane and will be able to understand why it is not the answer to your acne struggles.
This post is all about answering the big question: is Accutane bad for you?
Is Accutane Bad For You?
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What Is Accutane?
It is a prescription drug with a very high dose of vitamin A. It is used to treat severe acne.
Oh vitamin A? That’s good for me that doesn’t seem so bad!
Well, not exactly, but we will get into that later.
Accutane is also known as isotretinoin, It is an oral retinoid and it literally changes the size and function of sebaceous glands.
It shrinks the glands and dramatically decreases sebum production. This has a permanent effect on the sebaceous glands, so you may experience dryness for the rest of your life.
This may sound good to someone who is very oily and struggling with acne; however, Accutane takes it to the extreme. We need sebum for a healthy skin barrier, so if your body isn’t producing enough of it, you will run into problems.
Accutane also prevents keratinization, which is the accumulation of dead skin cells. This is great for preventing buildup and clogged pores, but our body needs to be able to keratinize to heal itself from wounds by forming scabs. Just like sebum, keratin helps to support and protect the skin.
Accutane Side Effects
Although Accutane is considered the “cure” for acne, it comes with a ton of side effects that are not worth the risk. Also, a lot of people develop acne again after going off Accutane, so it was all for nothing.
- Depression and suicide ideation
- Dry skin, eyes, mouth, throat, and lips
- Sexual dysfunction
- Skin rashes
- Headaches
- Joint and muscle aches/pains
- Sun sensitivity
- Hair thinning
- Ear ringing or loss
- Blindness
- Liver damage
- Nausea/vomiting
- Pancreatitis
- Allergic reactions
- Stomach pain
- Rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea
If you’re a woman, one of the most scary things about this drug is that you have to go on 2 types of birth control and get tested for pregnancy every month.
Why? Oh because it can cause birth defects such as the baby being born with most of its brain and head missing. So if you do get pregnant on this medicine, you are recommended to abort the baby.
I don’t know about you guys but that last side effect was one of the huge reasons I never wanted to go on Accutane. Having to be put on birth control while also taking this severe drug and going to the doctors to get tested for pregnancy every month just sounded awful.
And the fact that it can cause such horrible birth defects was a huge red flag. I thought “If this medicine can do that to an unborn child, what is it going to do to me?”
Accutane Alternatives
I know how frustrating acne is and how badly you want it to go away. You may even still want to go on Accutane after reading this post because you don’t care about side effects as long as there’s a chance your acne may go away forever.
I understand, I really do.
There is a better way, though. You don’t have to put your body through that because other healthier ways will get to the root of your acne!
- Balance your hormones
- Address food sensitivities
- Use non-comedogenic skincare
- Try Clearsteam
- Herbs
- Acupuncture
- Light therapy
- Go Animal Based or Carnivore
{RELATED POST: How I Got Rid Of My Acne By Going Carivore And You Can Too}
Trying to cure your acne on your own can be very overwhelming. I felt overwhelmed for years trying to figure out how to cure my acne. It may be helpful for you to seek professional help.
Some professionals that can help clear acne are:
- Acupuncturists
- Naturopathic doctors
- Holistic estheticians
- Holistic dermatologists
- Herbalists
- Holistic estheticians
I know it is so hard right now, but there is relief ahead! Achieving clear skin the natural, healthy way will take time and effort. It will not be quick and easy, but you will be nourishing your body and helping it in the long run.
I believe in you and I know you can do it! Don’t give up because one day you will look back and be so proud of how far you have come🤍
This post was all about if Accutane is bad for you.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY LIKE:
How To Get Rid Of Body Acne: 7 Body Acne Products & Tips
How I Got Rid Of My Acne By Going Carivore And You Can Too
How To Do A Holistic Facial At Home (Better Than The Spa)
References:
Gronich, D. (2022, March 22). Finally – A Natural Alternative to Accutane (That Works!). Clearstem. https://clearstem.com/blogs/skin-care-learning-center/alternative-to-accutane
(2022, June 9). Keratin. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23204-keratin
Strauss JS, Stranieri AM. Changes in long-term sebum production from isotretinoin therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1982 Apr;6(4 Pt 2 Suppl):751-6. doi: 10.1016/s0190-9622(82)80055-8. PMID: 6461678. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6461678/
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/018662s060lbl.pdf
Pile, Hannah D., Sadig, Nazia M. (2024, January). Isotretinoin. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525949/
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