I have severe acne and I was diagnosed with PCOS. I have tried all topical creams and took birth control pills to treat my acne and PCOS. After 6 months, my period is still irregular and I am still suffering from severe acne. What alternatives do I have ( e.g. Accutane)?

You are quite right that genetic and hormonal reasons are the 2 more common causes for acne. At the same time, there are also other possible causes that may have aggravated your conditions, making your treatment less effective. While Isotretinion and hormonal treatments are both highly effective, these 2 treatments are often done in combinations. First to prevent pregnancy while on isotretinion, second to potentiate the result. Once the acne is under control, I may remove the isotretinoin once it achieve the targeted dosage based on your weight.

Acne is the most common skin disease, affecting up to 95% of adolescents. Severe episodes of acne can cause considerable physical and psychological scarring. All forms of severe acne require systemic treatment. The available options include oral antibiotics, hormonal antiandrogens for female patients and oral isotretinoin, as well as combination treatments. Oral isotretinoin is the only drug available that affects all four pathogenic factors of acne, the first of which is excess sebum production. This may explain why it is so effective. A dose of 0. 5–1.