What is Accutane?
Accutane is a systematic retinoid which is prescribed for treating severe acne. Accutane decelerates the growth and maturation in the skin and sebaceous glands thereby preventing skin pore blocking. Accutane is a highly effective medicine, but it could only be prescribed in special cases of acne. The patient should stay under doctor`s supervision throughout the whole treatment course. Before starting Accutane and during the treatment course it is recommended to take some tests.
The main factor which may refrain you from taking Accutane for treating acne is the risk of developing side and toxic diseases. Accutane should not be used in pregnant and breastfeeding women, since it may cause serious lesions in the fetus or baby. Accutane increases skin sensitivity to light and ultraviolet irradiation; they should be avoided during treatment. Surgical and esthetic operations, epilation, laser impact and dermabrasion are not allowed during the treatment course and within a year after the drug withdrawal. Some medication should not be used with Accutane (e.g. vitamin A and tetracycline).
The possible Accutane side effects include various disorders of gastrointestinal tract, nervous system lesions, joint pain, depression, skin dryness, etc. For your safety it is recommended to consult your doctor regularly during the therapy with Accutane. Accutane is not a panacea for acnes, though 50% of patients with certain forms of acne report full recovery. In a number of cases a standard treatment does not work and the effect develops very slowly; relapses and exacerbations may also occur, especially after the withdrawal of the drug. In such cases the dermatologists use a special tactics of treatment. The most important thing to remember is that Accutane is prescribed in some special cases and is not intended for everyone who has acne.
Accutane has been officially approved by FDA for treating persistent cystic and youth nodular acnes, since this method showed best results in the treatment of these types of acne. However, Accutane is not included in the list of the main medicines used for their treatment and only should be used in cases when other medicines and methods turned ineffective. The biological spectrum of Accutane action is so broad, that besides treating acne it may have other uses as well. Since clinical improvement of acne is directly associated with decrease of sebaceous gland secretion, the very mechanism of Accutane action consists in decreasing gland secretion. Accutane also has an apparent impact on keratinization and ability of follicular keratinocytes to cohesion, thereby impeding formation of microcomedos. Besides that, Accutane has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect and suppresses microbal ferment activity.
The dosage of the medicine depends on the severity of the disease and body weight of the patient. The highest dose is 0,5-2,0 mg/kg/day. The duration of the treatment course is 4-6 months. The refresher course of Accutane treatment is prescribed in case of relapse, but no earlier than 2 months after the first course of treatment. Accutane should not be used with tetracycline antibiotics and vitamin A. Accutane used with tetracyclines significantly increases the risk of developing high intracranial pressure and vitamin A toxic effects. Some researches showed that in male patients Accutane increases sensitivity to testosterone resulting in such psychological effects as irritability, excessive self-confidence and increased libido. It is worth mentioning, that these symptoms kept on more than a month after finishing the therapy.