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Next Option to Try if Accutane Doesn't Work?

asked 2 years ago by Julie1234 in Baton Rouge LA
Latest answer by Bryan K. Chen, MD
Question viewed 4,864 times
Tags: female, acne

My daughter has done two rounds of Accutane (5 months each round) and the acne is back in full force. It clears up beautifully and then after about 5 or 6 months, the acne reappears. What is the next treatment step?

3 answers to Next Option to Try if Accutane Doesn't Work?

+1

If Accutane doesn't work

While recurrent acne after 2 courses of Accutane is uncommon, it certainly does happen. It would be very unusual though if your daughter's acne is as severe as it was prior to the two courses of Accutane. If her acne continues to be very severe, I agree with Dr. Lupo that a hormonal work-up should be done. If your daugher's acne clusters around the time of her periods, hormonal therapies such as oral contraception (e.g. Yasmin or Yaz) should be considered. Yet another course of accutane... more
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A hormonal work-up

Have you had a medical work-up from your dermatologist? Perhaps your daughter has an adrenal or ovarian growth. Perhaps she has PCO. Accutane is the best we have, but no treatment is 100% in 100% of patients. Have you considered Cooltouch or Isolaz? I hope you find the answers., but keep trying.
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Failed Accutane treatment

Unfortunately, there are a small percentage of people that do not maintain a response to Accutane. Although this is not common, it does happen. This is a complicated question though and probably best served by a doctor's appointment since Accutane failures are not the norm there may be something else causing severe acne that is worth evaluating. Hormonal treatment remains an option to those that have failed Accutane but carries issues that must be addressed by a dermatologist extensively... more

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