IsotretinoinIsotretinoin is a relatively new retinoid-based medication used to treat severe acne. It’s based on vitamin A and can be found naturally in the human body in small quantities. The most common trade names for oral isotretinoin are Accutane and Roaccutane; topical isotretinoin is marketed as Isotrex or Isotrexin.
While antibiotics only work against the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria, isotretinoin reduces sebum production and changes the quality of the skin by shrinking the sebaceous glands and stabilizing keratinization; it also combats the proliferation of Propionibacterium and other skin bacteria that can cause acne. Unlike antibiotics, it does not lose effectiveness over time.
Isotretinoin is typically prescribed when other acne treatments have failed. This is because of the adverse side effects and the costliness of this treatment. Oral doses work best after eating a high-fat meal.
Adverse effects may include dry skin, nosebleed, photosensitivity; acne flares; elevated blood glucose; vision changes; hepatitis; hypertension; and many other problems that may persist even after discontinuing therapy. It is also a teratogen, therefore contraindicated for pregnancy. However, adverse effects occur in less than one percent of those who take isotretinoin.
Web Resources On Isotretinoin
MedlinePlus: Isotretinoin
Acne and Isotretinoin
Book Resources On IsotretinoinOral Isotretinoin: Do Our Patients Fully Benefit? by J. H. Saurat et al.
21st Century Complete Medical Guide to Acne, Accutane (Isotretinoin), Blackheads, Whiteheads, Pimples etc by PM Medical Health News
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