People suffering from bad acne can’t wait to see improvements in their skin, so as soon as they start taking Accutane, the gold standard of acne treatments, they wonder when they will see good results.
Accutane is the brand name of a prescription retinoid, isotretinoin, indicated for the treatment of nodulocystic acne but now often prescribed also for milder forms of acne, for eczema, and for other dermatological conditions.
So how long does it take for Accutane to start working?
Effects of the medication can be seen in as little as 10 days after you start taking Accutane.
Commonly between 2 and 10 weeks after starting the treatment you may notice a worsening of your acne known as a “flare up”.
Most patients will notice the full benefits of taking Accutane between 1 and 3 months after starting the treatment which usually lasts 5 to 6 months.
80% of patients who use isotretinoin capsules will have clear skin after 4 months.
The efficacy of this treatment is also dose-dependent, and many patients are started on a lower dose which is gradually increased over the course of several weeks; your specific therapeutic plan, including isotretinoin dosage and what other medications you are taking or what other treatments you are undergoing, will influence how fast Accutane will produce results on you.
After finishing one Accutane cycle, if acne persists a second course of therapy may be initiated after a period of at least 2 months off therapy.
Refer to your dermatologist for advice tailored to your specific case.
Sources
- Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology, 9th Edition
S Kang – McGraw-Hill, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-07-183783-5 - Daily Routine in Cosmetic Dermatology
MC Almeida Issa – Springer, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-07-183783-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12589-3 - UK National Health Service (NHS)
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/isotretinoin-capsules/
