I've been on Accutane for 5 1/2 months and my acne is not cleared, should I stay on longer or discontinue?

Question

I've been on accutane for the past 5 months and my acne is not cleared and last time I went my doctor she tried to take me off of it but I insisted I wanted at least one more month. Should I ask to stay on it longer or stop taking it and see how my skin turns out?

Faiyaaz Kalimullah, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Generally speaking, when prescribing Accutane, most dermatologists recommend reaching a particular cumulative dose based on a patient's weight to ensure the best changes of a durable response to treatment.  That said, if your skin is not clear at the end of your course of treatment, it is unlikely that it will continue to clear after coming off Accutane without additional treatments (like oral antibiotics, topical acne medications, chemical peels, etc).  I would recommend discussing your concerns with your board-certified dermatologist at your next visit.  I hope this helps!

I've been on Accutane for 5 1/2 months and my acne is not cleared, should I stay on longer or discontinue?

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I've been on Accutane for 5 1/2 months and my acne is not cleared, should I stay on longer or discontinue?

Answers (1)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Accutane

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.