What Happens After I Finish Accutane Treatment ?

After a typical course of Accutane (Isotretinoin) patients are generally completely clear of of all active acne lesions, and require no continue after care unless new acne develops.  Many patients never see acne again, and few will see any acne for at least 6 months.

The red spots you see sound most consistent with Post-Inflammatory Erythema, a temporary color change seen in most all inflammatory acne lesions, and generally fade by 6-9 months.  Persistent redness can be treated with the Pulsed Dye laser, such as the V-Beam. 

True scars are textural changes-- like pot-holes in a road.  These are much more difficult to erase, and often best treated with a resurfacing modality such as fractionated CO2.

Accutane is used to address current and active acne. Usually after finishing a course of Accutane a maintenance program is set in place, depending on the type and degree of your initial acne, to help keep it from coming back. Additionally it's at this point that any PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) in red or brown forms, and any scarring can be addressed. Some patients will go on a topical course like Retin A Micro, some may get some light laser treatments (like Cutera Genesis) and some may need deeper treatments for scarring like Matrix RF or Fraxel. You and your physician need to address your specific concerns and long-term plan, as there are many options.