I took Accutane 20mg/6months at 17 for cystic acne my skin was good for a year and then it came back 100 times worse. At 24 I took another 20mg 6 months again. My skin cleared up. Now I'm 29 and the cystic acne is coming back all over my neck. Why is this happening? Am I out of options now?
June 19, 2019
Answer: Acne returned after Accutane To be effective Accutane requires a cumulative dose of between 8000-16000mg total dose. If you took 20mg daily for 6 months you merely took 3600mg total. That is far, far below even the minimum dosing required, and for cystic acne, you'd be more likely to be up into the 10000mg dose range. So, basically, you need to be on the meds longer or a higher daily dose to get the right cumulative total. "This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."
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June 19, 2019
Answer: Acne returned after Accutane To be effective Accutane requires a cumulative dose of between 8000-16000mg total dose. If you took 20mg daily for 6 months you merely took 3600mg total. That is far, far below even the minimum dosing required, and for cystic acne, you'd be more likely to be up into the 10000mg dose range. So, basically, you need to be on the meds longer or a higher daily dose to get the right cumulative total. "This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."
Helpful
June 11, 2019
Answer: Accutane treatment Hello and thank you for your question. There is a target minimum cumulative dose that you would want to reach before stopping Accutane, and that dose depends on your weight. There still is a chance that Accutane will not completely clear your acne as there is no cure. I would recommend a consultation by a board certified dermatologist for evaluation of your skin and discussion of appropriate treatment. Best of luck.
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June 11, 2019
Answer: Accutane treatment Hello and thank you for your question. There is a target minimum cumulative dose that you would want to reach before stopping Accutane, and that dose depends on your weight. There still is a chance that Accutane will not completely clear your acne as there is no cure. I would recommend a consultation by a board certified dermatologist for evaluation of your skin and discussion of appropriate treatment. Best of luck.
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