I am having terrible acne issues since my teenage. Can I take Isotretinoin?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 28 year old male, having terrible acne issues since my teenage. Now I am married and a father of a child, and I still have pimples all the time. I have been treated for acne for many years. Some of the doctors suggested me to take Doxycycline 20 mg daily for 3 months. It delayed the appearance of pimples but did not stop them. Then, I moved on and got help from another skin specialist. He treated me and gave me soap and face wash. He also gave me another antibiotic called Azithromycin 500 mg for 3 days in a week for about 2 months. He also gave me topical creams (Deriva-CMS, Adapalene microspheres, Clindamycin phosphate gel). But the same thing happened again. The acne eruption stopped only for a few months when I was taking medicines, and after that, it started coming back.

These pimples are also seen in my back. But now, only very few pimples are left in my back. I guess due to all these medications it has reduced but not permanently gone. I heard about Isotretinoin medication which is also an option for acne, but I have not tried it. I am really suffering from acne issues for quite a long time. Please help me get rid of this.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have reviewed the images (attachment removed to protect patient identity)

Moderately severe to severe grade of acne and persisting since years such as in your case is an automatic choice for treatment with Oral Retinoids i.e Isotretinoin. You may continue with other topical medications like Adapalene, Clindamycin, and Benzoyl peroxide gel and oral antibiotics such as Azithromycin.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The Isotretinoin capsule is of 20 mg. It can be taken once daily. Various brands are available such as capsule Sotret, Claravis, and Accutane.

Baseline lipid profile and liver function test are recommended before starting treatment with Isotretinoin. These tests need to be repeated after 4 weeks of Isotretinoin. Treatment duration can be 6 to 8 months. I suggest you take it under the supervision of a dermatologist in your vicinity.