What Is Isotretinoin (Accutane)?
Isotretinoin appears to be within the retinoid class. It seems to be offered as an oral prescription. Adult acne patients may take a standard dose based on their weight. This seems to be between 0.25 and 0.5 milligrams per kilogram of their weight. They may take this dose two times in a day. The maximum dose appears to be two milligrams per kilogram. Patients may be able to take this medicine for up to twenty weeks. This may be due to the risk of side effects. These effects seem to be why patients must be on a registry for their treatment. Their doctor may provide close monitoring also.
It seems that isotretinoin is a severe acne treatment. However, individuals may need other acne medications first. An isotretinoin prescription appears to have to meet stringent requirements. Most patients may need to try topical acne spot treatments or home remedies for acne first. Some dermatologists seem to prescribe topical retinoids first also. Although it may also be a strong acne scar treatment, patients appear to need a strong understanding of isotretinoin before receiving it as a treatment for acne first.
How It Should Work
Isotretinoin seems to be a synthetic version of vitamin A. It may be sold under the brand Accutane. Doctors appear to consider it an oral retinoid. This medication should help patients reduce the size of the skin glands that produce sebum. It may also help reduce how much sebum they make. Isotretinoin should also decrease bacteria on the skin. This medication appears to reduce skin inflammation also. Ultimately, this retinoid can dry the skin. The result may be an unfavorable environment for acne.
This prescription may trigger a significant decrease in clogged pores. It should also increase an individual's skin cell turnover rate. Experts seem to believe that it boosts how much neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin the skin makes to achieve this. It appears that this is what kills skin cells in the glands that make sebum. This medication may influence sebum in other ways. This may include blocking MMP-9 action.
Continue reading to reveal possible uses for this medication next.
