| Countless people today face daily challenges related | | | | treated. |
| to acne both on physical and psychological levels. On | | | | Common psychological benefits with taking Accutane |
| the physical level, people with acne have resulting | | | | is improved mood, enhanced self-concept, positive |
| inflammation that can be painful and can cause | | | | self-esteem and heightened confidence. These are |
| scarring in many instances. Acne can also take its toll | | | | directly related to improved conditions in the patient's |
| on a person's self-esteem and beliefs of | | | | acne severity. The physical benefits are improved |
| attractiveness, which can result in damaging short | | | | appearance, reduced inflammation, reversal of |
| and long-term psychological effects. The causes of | | | | scarring and the healing of open wounds resulting |
| this disease are as vast as there are types and | | | | from acne. |
| treatments. Despite this fact that there are | | | | While the benefits of Accutane are numerous, the |
| numerous types of treatments, a majority seems to | | | | detriments unfortunately may be vaster and |
| have no power on controlling, reducing, or eliminating | | | | outweigh any positives obtained through treatment. |
| acne's effects. An alternative form of treatment that | | | | This drug has been known to commonly cause |
| has recently hit the market is known by its brand | | | | excessively dry skin and mucous membranes in which |
| name of Accutane. We will discuss this powerful | | | | the consequence is recurring nosebleeds, itchiness |
| medicine's brief history in addition to the common | | | | and dry eyes. Other adverse symptoms include |
| benefits and detriments that patients may discover | | | | headaches, increased blood glucose levels and fatigue. |
| when taking this drug. | | | | Less common side effects can include severe |
| Over-the-counter creams, pills, antibiotics, healthy | | | | depression, bone disease, cataracts, hair loss, |
| diets with less oils and gentle face wash soaps and | | | | memory loss, pancreatitis and hepatitis. Most |
| astringents are still very common treatment methods | | | | importantly, though, is its known ability to cause birth |
| recommended by dermatologists. However, the fact | | | | defects. Defects such as mental retardation, heart |
| of the matter is that oftentimes these just simply do | | | | defects, cleft lips and palates and other learning |
| not work as effectively as they should. If these | | | | disabilities are high risk factors for unborn children |
| treatments have been exhausted and have shown | | | | when their mother is taking Accutane. As a result, |
| little to no success, dermatologists will bring out the | | | | the drug is not prescribed at all when it is known by |
| big guns. One such method is a drug that took the | | | | the doctor that the mother is pregnant or is |
| dermatology industry by storm about a quarter of a | | | | breast-feeding. |
| century ago. This drug's brand name is Accutane and | | | | Research into the realm of Accutane's full potential |
| the generic name is known as isotretinoin. This really | | | | rages on as scientists race to produce scientific |
| is one of few medicines that has the potential to | | | | evidence pointing to solid positive or negative effects |
| treat very severe acne and is argued to have the | | | | that the drug creates on a person's body, mind and |
| greatest number of success stories. In fact, it is the | | | | acne. Ultimately, it is a judgment call for the patient |
| only medicine known to clear severe acne | | | | whether or not they want to use the medicine. The |
| permanently after one full course of treatment. With | | | | patient must weigh their own tolerance to risk and |
| one full course of Accutane averaging about five | | | | determine if the potential benefits outweigh the large |
| months, approximately 85 percent of patients only | | | | number of adverse effects. |
| require topical creams or nothing else after being | | | | |