Accutane Truths For Clear Skin

So the first thing I want you to understand is that Accutane is not a skin treatment and It's a whole body treatment that just happens to change your skin.

So Accutane is a very high dose form of vitamin A called a retinoid.

And your body has special receptors that are designed to respond to vitamin A.

So the way I like to explain it to my patients is to think of them like light switches.

When a retinoid connects with one of those receptors, it can switch genes on or off inside the cell.

And here's the key.

These receptors are not only in your skin.

They're found in all tissues throughout your body, your liver, your digestive tract, your eyes, your bones, your brains.

So when you take a high dose of vitamin A retinoid every single day for five or six months, it's not just visiting the oil glands in your skin.

It's reaching every tissue that has those switches.

And that's why the side effects list is so long and why it touches so many different systems.

Almost everyone on Accutane gets dry skin and cracked lips.

In fact, one study, it was close to 100% of patients.

In fact, your doctor has to order regular blood work because Accutane can raise your triglycerides, your cholesterol, and your liver enzymes.

Of course, it causes the dry eyes, and in some people, it affects night vision.

It causes joint pain, back pain, especially if you're active, and it carries official warnings about depression and mood changes.

So your prescriber is supposed to be monitoring your mood the entire time.

So Now, look, I want to be fair and honest with you.

For many people, these side effects are mild.

Many of them go away after the medication stops.

I'm not here to scare you.

I'm here to tell you the truth.

But think about this for a second.

When a medication needs monthly blood work, monthly pregnancy tests, and mood checks, that tells you something.

It tells you how far beyond your skin this medication is reaching.

So the first thing I want you to understand is that Accutane is not a skin treatment and It's a whole body treatment that just happens to change your skin.

So Accutane is a very high dose form of vitamin A called a retinoid.

And your body has special receptors that are designed to respond to vitamin A.

So the way I like to explain it to my patients is to think of them like light switches.

When a retinoid connects with one of those receptors, it can switch genes on or off inside the cell.

And here's the key.

These receptors are not only in your skin.

They're found in all tissues throughout your body, your liver, your digestive tract, your eyes, your bones, your brains.

So when you take a high dose of vitamin A retinoid every single day for five or six months, it's not just visiting the oil glands in your skin.

It's reaching every tissue that has those switches.

And that's why the side effects list is so long and why it touches so many different systems.

Almost everyone on Accutane gets dry skin and cracked lips.

In fact, one study, it was close to 100% of patients.

In fact, your doctor has to order regular blood work because Accutane can raise your triglycerides, your cholesterol, and your liver enzymes.

Of course, it causes the dry eyes, and in some people, it affects night vision.

It causes joint pain, back pain, especially if you're active, and it carries official warnings about depression and mood changes.

So your prescriber is supposed to be monitoring your mood the entire time.

So Now, look, I want to be fair and honest with you.

For many people, these side effects are mild.

Many of them go away after the medication stops.

I'm not here to scare you.

I'm here to tell you the truth.

But think about this for a second.

When a medication needs monthly blood work, monthly pregnancy tests, and mood checks, that tells you something.

It tells you how far beyond your skin this medication is reaching.