Isotretinoin: FAQs.Low Dose Accutane: Too Good to be True? | Dermatology Realm
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- Five Frequently Asked Questions About Accutane Treatment for Acne - Advanced Acne Institute
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Accutane is a powerful drug that is used to treat even the most severe cases of acne. Over 2 million people have a history of taking Accutane for their acne, so a lot is known about the drug and its possible side effects. Because it is a powerful medication, certain precautions are necessary to ensure the safety of the patients undergoing Accutane treatment.
These precautions may sometimes cause confusion or anxiety about starting a regimen of their own. In this article, we will try and eliminate some of that anxiety by answering five of the most frequently asked questions about using Accutane to treat your acne. Herbal products undergo very little, if any, regulation by the FDA for safety and effectiveness.
However, this is not always the case. Many herbal supplements can have severe health consequences. For example, some herbal supplements have been linked to unwanted side effects, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and psychiatric side effects. A variety of other complications and side effects of herbal products are also described in various reports, including the potential to cause liver damage that can be dangerous while undergoing treatment with Accutane, which is processed in the liver.
At the Advanced Acne Institute, we have encountered patients with elevated liver enzymes detected in monthly blood tests while on Accutane that were found to be caused by herbal supplements. Other supplements can have adverse interactions with other prescription medications when taken together.
For example, some herbals have been reported to interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills that can have serious consequences when taken with Accutane, which is teratogenic. Some herbals can interfere with the absorption of medications, which can also potentially impact the safety and effectiveness of Accutane treatment. Vitamin A supplements should also be avoided while taking Accutane.
Accutane is a derivative of Vitamin A and the side effects of Accutane may be enhanced if supplemental Vitamin A is taken while on Accutane. Similar to herbal supplements, vitamins receive very little oversight from the FDA. Although usually considered safe and effective by most consumers, the fact is that there is very little oversight of these products.
A frequent question that we hear is whether continued physical exercise and working out at the gym are compatible with Accutane treatment.
Accutane can be associated with mild lower back pain and mild joint pain, especially in the knees. Although infrequent, when these symptoms do occur, it is usually relatively early in the course of Accutane treatment.
Rarely do patients have to discontinue treatment as a result. Often, the discomfort resolves with time without any intervention. In our experience at the Advanced Acne Institute, patients on Accutane who perform aggressive workouts and body-building routines can sometimes develop an increased risk of painful joints that typically resolves with the moderation of their exercise levels.
We have also encountered patients who engage in athletic dance programs who have experienced lower back pain that improved after taking a hiatus from the activity. In addition, we have encountered patients participating in competitive running who have noted pain in their knees coincident with the intensity of their activity.
Back pain has also been noted to occur in patients performing strenuous weight lifting activities. We generally do not prevent patients from continuing their workout routines, but we caution them to avoid over-aggressive activity. Accutane has been noted in limited reports to be associated with mild elevations of blood tests that indicate mild muscle damage.
The blood test results are often not associated with symptoms and have not been considered dangerous. Rare incidents of more severe muscle damage associated with Accutane treatment and very strenuous exercise have been reported, and one fatal case report has been published. Recommendations regarding the continuation of physical activities during Accutane treatment should be based on the individual circumstances of each patient.
In general, it is recommended to avoid strenuous or aggressive athletic activities during Accutane therapy. Accutane blocks oil production in the skin. As a result, the skin becomes very dry and more sensitive to the environment. Patients can become very sensitive to sun exposure and can become sunburned more easily , although definitive studies on this subject are lacking.
It is nevertheless recommended to avoid going to the beach or the swimming pool while taking Accutane. At the Advanced Acne Institute, some patients ignore the instructions to avoid sun exposure and escape sunburn.
However, some who ignore the recommendation to avoid sun do indeed suffer very significant sunburns. If appropriate sun protection is used and sunblock is reapplied, patients can continue to engage in outdoor sporting activities as long as they are careful not to become over exposed to the sun or sunburned. Accutane makes the skin very dry and sensitive and can lead to greater fragility of the skin surface. Laser treatments, such as laser hair removal, can be harmful to the sensitive skin surface and are generally not recommended during treatment with Accutane or for months after completion of Accutane treatment.
However, limited studies have been reported showing safe and effective laser hair removal in patients undergoing concomitant Accutane treatment. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised before contemplating the use of laser treatment during Accutane therapy. At the Advanced Acne Institute, we do not recommend laser treatments until the skin has fully recovered from Accutane treatment. Likewise, other hair removal procedures such as facial or body waxing can also damage the skin while on Accutane.
These procedures can lead to superficial stripping of the sensitive skin surface, leaving an open erosion that may heal with discoloration. Patients must be very careful to avoid these types of procedures while taking Accutane. Other hair removal techniques such as threading or gentle shaving can be used instead. Accutane is metabolized in the liver. Therefore, it is important to avoid ingesting anything that can harm the liver during Accutane treatment or anything that can compete with Accutane for processing in the liver.
Blood tests are done monthly to check the liver while on Accutane to make sure that Accutane is not harming the liver. Alcohol can be harmful to the liver. Therefore if alcohol is consumed together with Accutane the risk of liver damage is increased. Also, if alcohol and Accutane are taken together, we will not know if evidence of liver damage that may show up in monthly blood tests is caused by the alcohol or from Accutane.
Alcohol can interfere with Accutane processing in the liver and has been reported to possibly make Accutane treatment less effective. However, other studies suggest that alcohol does not affect Accutane processing and efficacy. As the only dermatology center in Florida that treats only acne, our professionals are equipped with the expertise and experience necessary to help you successfully treat and manage your acne breakouts.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss with us if Accutane should be part of your acne treatment plan. Acne Treatment Miami. Request Appointment Login Question 1: Can I take vitamins or herbal supplements while taking Accutane?
Question 2: Can I work out at the gym while taking Accutane? Question 3: Can I go in the sun while taking Accutane?
Patients should use an acne-safe sunblock and sun-protective clothing while on Accutane. Patients on low doses of Accutane are less susceptible to sunburn. Question 4: Can I have laser hair removal or face and body waxing while taking Accutane?
Question 5: Can I drink alcohol while taking Accutane? Patients on very low doses of Accutane may be at less risk of alcohol-related liver damage.
At the Advanced Acne Institute, we recommend that patients on Accutane do not consume alcohol. Is Accutane right for you?
❾-50%}Low dose accutane waxing -
Accutane is a derivative of Vitamin A and the side effects of Accutane may be enhanced if supplemental Vitamin A is taken while on Accutane. Similar to herbal supplements, vitamins receive very little oversight from the FDA. Although usually considered safe and effective by most consumers, the fact is that there is very little oversight of these products.
A frequent question that we hear is whether continued physical exercise and working out at the gym are compatible with Accutane treatment. Accutane can be associated with mild lower back pain and mild joint pain, especially in the knees.
Although infrequent, when these symptoms do occur, it is usually relatively early in the course of Accutane treatment. Rarely do patients have to discontinue treatment as a result. Often, the discomfort resolves with time without any intervention. In our experience at the Advanced Acne Institute, patients on Accutane who perform aggressive workouts and body-building routines can sometimes develop an increased risk of painful joints that typically resolves with the moderation of their exercise levels.
We have also encountered patients who engage in athletic dance programs who have experienced lower back pain that improved after taking a hiatus from the activity. In addition, we have encountered patients participating in competitive running who have noted pain in their knees coincident with the intensity of their activity. Back pain has also been noted to occur in patients performing strenuous weight lifting activities.
We generally do not prevent patients from continuing their workout routines, but we caution them to avoid over-aggressive activity. Accutane has been noted in limited reports to be associated with mild elevations of blood tests that indicate mild muscle damage. The blood test results are often not associated with symptoms and have not been considered dangerous. Rare incidents of more severe muscle damage associated with Accutane treatment and very strenuous exercise have been reported, and one fatal case report has been published.
Recommendations regarding the continuation of physical activities during Accutane treatment should be based on the individual circumstances of each patient. After 4 months of treatment, during which the acne lesions improved and the patient experienced only mild xerosis and cheilitis, the dosage was increased to 60 mg daily.
Three weeks later, the patient underwent wax depilation, which resulted in the erosions. A and B, A year-old adolescent girl with severe skin erosions on the posterior left shin and lateroanterior left thigh following wax depilation while taking isotretinoin. Oral isotretinoin treatment leads to structural and functional changes to the skin, related to epidermal dyscohesion and sebo-suppression.
Although these changes may not be clinically evident in all patients, they still make the skin much more sensitive to external mechanical stimuli.
Because it exerts remarkable mechanical stress on the epidermis, it may lead to epidermal stripping in patients taking isotretinoin, manifesting as widespread erosions and resulting in notable patient distress. With social media being at the forefront of all of our lives, platforms like TikTok and Instagram are wonderful places to find professionals and brands recommending these products.
When you come in for your appointment, your esthetician will go over a list of contraindications. This will either come in the form of a waiver, verbal confirmation or sometimes both.
A contraindication can be anything that may prevent you from having a service or a treatment performed. Vitamin C, Retinol or Salicylic Acid are products that are completely safe to still wax on, we just ask that you stop using them one week before any facial waxing, to avoid any damage to the skin. Then on the more intense side, there is the one big acne treatment that we will never do any type of waxing on anyone, and that is Accutane. This treatment can be blissful for someone who has severe acne looking to clear it up, but it does come with some side effects that can prevent any waxing whatsoever.
This information is just the basic knowledge that I, as an Esthetician, need to know so I can perform waxing safely. As well as educate my clients on why I may not be able to perform the service. Accutane Isotretionoin is a powerful, prescribed medication that is used to help anyone suffering from severe acne. This makes isotretinoin very effective.
You will need to learn about the potential side effects before you decide whether to take isotretinoin. If you and your dermatologist decide that this medication is right for you, your dermatologist will enroll you in a risk-management program. While taking isotretinoin, you will need to do the following:. See your dermatologist every 30 days for a follow-up appointment, either in-person or by telemedicine. Do not wax to remove hair while taking this medicine, and for 6 months after you stop taking isotretinoin.
Protect your skin from the sun and do not use a tanning bed, sun lamp, or other indoor tanning device. You can learn about the safeguards that help prevent side effects, at: Isotretinoin: The truth about side effects. No waxing, please.
Waxing can cause permanent scars in people taking isotretinoin. To avoid scarring, you must not wax while taking isotretinoin and for six months after you stop taking isotretinoin. This applies to hot wax and cold wax. If you plan to spend time outdoors, it is important to know that isotretinoin can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. You can sunburn unexpectedly and quickly.
Accutane is a great treatment option for this otherwise difficult skin condition. However, it often comes with side effects such as dry eyes, nose and lips, muscle aches, etc. And like a TV drug commercial, I have to mention the less frequent but more severe possible side effects like vision loss, hearing loss, bone growth abnormalities, suicide risks, and GI symptoms.
But what if there was a dosage of Accutane that would still clear acne or excessively oily skin or rosacea papules often without the same side effects of the typical dosing? Sound too good to be true? Normal dose Accutane is regularly dosed based upon body weight and often increases slowly over the course of several months.
A low dose regimen uses less milligrams and is taken less often. For example, instead of taking a high dose of 40mg twice a day, the lower dose protocol might be 10mg, twice a week.
This off-label use of Accutane provides great control of oiliness, as well as eliminating many, if not all of the common side effects. This also means we do not know what effects this protocol may have when used long term, or if this eliminates any or all of the more serious side effects.
We do, however, still believe that absolute birth control is a must for female patients. If you have persistent acne or oily skin into your adult years, come see us at Dermatology Realm and let us determine if the off-label use of Accutane may be something that is appropriate for your skin. Sign up to receive exclusive emails for expert skin care tips and advice, special promotions, and more!
About Meet Dr. Adam W. Low Dose Accutane: Results without side effects? Too good to be true? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. RealmBlast Sign up to receive exclusive emails for expert skin care tips and advice, special promotions, and more! Email Address. Free Consultation.
localhost › Questions. Questions about Accutane and waxing, with answers from board-certified doctors. Get all of your questions answered on RealSelf. localhost › forums › topic › waxin. After 4 months of treatment, during which the acne lesions improved and the patient experienced only mild xerosis and cheilitis, the dosage was increased to Accutane can cause skin integrity to become compromised so you should not wax while using it. It is recommended to cease treatment for a minimum of 72 hours. Accutane makes the skin very dry and sensitive and can lead to greater fragility of the skin surface. Sign up to receive exclusive emails for expert skin care tips and advice, special promotions, and more!Oral isotretinoin is a widely used treatment modality in dermatologic practice that is highly effective for severe and recalcitrant acne vulgaris in addition to other conditions. Its use is accompanied by a variety of side effects that are mainly mucocutaneous. These dose-dependent side effects are experienced by almost all patients treated with this medication.
A generally healthy year-old adolescent girl presented with severe widespread erosions located in a linear pattern corresponding to areas of wax depilation on the shins and thighs Figure.
Approximately 5 months prior, the patient started oral isotretinoin 40 mg daily for severe and recalcitrant acne vulgaris.
She was not taking other medications. After 4 months of treatment, during which the acne lesions improved and the patient experienced only mild xerosis and cheilitis, the dosage was increased to 60 mg daily. Three weeks later, the patient underwent wax depilation, which resulted in the erosions. A and B, A year-old adolescent girl with severe skin erosions on the posterior left shin and lateroanterior left thigh following wax depilation while taking isotretinoin.
Oral isotretinoin treatment leads to structural and functional changes to the skin, related to epidermal dyscohesion and sebo-suppression. Although these changes may not be clinically evident in all patients, they still make the skin much more sensitive to external mechanical stimuli. Because it exerts remarkable mechanical stress on the epidermis, it may lead to epidermal stripping in patients taking isotretinoin, manifesting as widespread erosions and resulting in notable patient distress.
Dermatologists typically advise patients to avoid wax epilation while being treated with isotretinoin; however, some patients do not adhere to this recommendation.
Also, there are dermatologists who are not aware of this potential side effect. It currently is included in the isotretinoin prescribing information 6 with an indication not to perform wax depilation for 6 months after stopping treatment. This case should serve as a reminder to avoid wax depilation during isotretinoin treatment. Skip to main content. Case Letter. The authors report no conflict of interest. PDF Download. Practice Points Oral isotretinoin treatment leads to structural and functional changes to the skin, making it much more sensitive to external mechanical stimuli.
Wax depilation may lead to epidermal stripping in patients taking isotretinoin and therefore should be avoided in these patients. To the Editor: Oral isotretinoin is a widely used treatment modality in dermatologic practice that is highly effective for severe and recalcitrant acne vulgaris in addition to other conditions.
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