How can I prevent an Accutane breakout?

Doctor's Answers 3

Photo of Dr Joanna Chan
Dr Joanna Chan

General Practitioner, Aesthetic

Several factors have been identified as predictive factors for an acne flare during Accutane (isotreitinoin) treatment. These include: male gender, young age, and the presence of macrocomedones (large whiteheads).

Male gender and young age are generally factors that cause an individual to produce excess sebum. Macrocomedones may be identified by a doctor familiar with acne treatment prior to commencement of oral Accutane. Your doctor would then discuss treatment options with you. At times, these macrocomedones may be treated procedurally before starting Accutane, to reduce your risk of an acne flare while take Accutane.

Nevertheless, a slow response to oral Accutane and/or an acne flare during Accutane can happen. Treatment options include adding an antibiotic such as erythromycin or trimethoprim, adding a course of oral corticosteroids, or even reducing the dose of Accutane if you have very inflammatory acne while on Accutane.

Given that many factors need to be taken into account and eventual treatment plan would differ for each individual, I strongly advise you to see your doctor for his/her opinion on this, and not to increase your Accutane dosage on your own.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Dr. Joanna Chan

Hello, you can still have occasional breakouts even you are on accutane. It will usually be less severe compared to your breakouts before. You should be able to see improvement after 1 to 2 months of usage and it will continue to improve when you are on it.

Some doctors will have a target cumulative dose of accutane for you based on your body weight. If you can tolerate the side effects from accutane, you can consider increasing the dose gradually. However please consult your doctor first before changing the dose yourself.

Ensure you have adequate sun protection to reduce risk of PIH. Hope this helps!

Regards

Dr Jiwei Wu

Photo of Dr Joanna Chan
Dr Joanna Chan

Aesthetic, General Practitioner

Several factors have been identified as predictive factors for an acne flare during Accutane (isotreitinoin) treatment. These include: male gender, young age, and the presence of macrocomedones (large whiteheads).

Male gender and young age are generally factors that cause an individual to produce excess sebum. Macrocomedones may be identified by a doctor familiar with acne treatment prior to commencement of oral Accutane. Your doctor would then discuss treatment options with you. At times, these macrocomedones may be treated procedurally before starting Accutane, to reduce your risk of an acne flare while take Accutane.

Nevertheless, a slow response to oral Accutane and/or an acne flare during Accutane can happen. Treatment options include adding an antibiotic such as erythromycin or trimethoprim, adding a course of oral corticosteroids, or even reducing the dose of Accutane if you have very inflammatory acne while on Accutane.

Given that many factors need to be taken into account and eventual treatment plan would differ for each individual, I strongly advise you to see your doctor for his/her opinion on this, and not to increase your Accutane dosage on your own.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Dr. Joanna Chan

Similar Questions

Should I switch my acne treatment after 2 weeks if I’m still having bad acne breakouts and scarring?

2 weeks would be a tad early to stop the treatment, as mentioned. A course of antibiotics usually takes at least 3 – 4 months. Sometimes, Differin can cause an initial outbreak during the first month or so and if it causes excessive dryness, irritation and flaking of the skin, I would advise using it once every 3 days first and then slowly increasing the frequency to daily. If you have cystic acne, I would advise draining the cystic acne and consider injectable steroids so as to arrest the inflammation and swelling. This will decrease the risk of subsequent scarring.

Photo of Dr Rui Ming Ho

Answered By

Dr Rui Ming Ho

Aesthetic

Does Nimegen have the same effects as Accutane? Does it cause worse breakouts or bigger pores?

It’d definitely help to highlight all these worries you have during the consult with your doctor, so that he can take your concerns into consideration, and advise as necessary. He’ll always be the best person to advise you, as compared to any online source. Eg if I googled online about any medication, I’m sure I’ll find a million and one horrible things that could happen. In answer to your questions: Yes Nimegen = Accutane = isotretinoin (it’s the active ingredient in both), hence side effects will be the same.

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