Accutane and Clarus (Isotretinoin) as Acne Treatment
You may have heard the drug called Accutane before. Called Isotretinoin, it is an extremely powerful drug that effectively treats the most severe cases of acne. It is a vitamin A analog and available in pill form.
Taking Isotretinion
Generally, isotretinoin is taken with food that contains fat. Milk is often used for this purpose, and this helps the absorption rate.
Effectiveness and use
Isotretinion is often prescribed for patients who have severe and resistant acne that does not respond well to other treatments. For these severe cases, Isotretinion cures over 25% of patients after one course of treatment which generally takes 4 to 6 weeks. Over 70% of all patients using this drug experience long-term remission from acne. While remissions do occur in some people, most dermatologists agree that Isotretinoin is one of the most effective and powerful drugs available for treating severe cases of acne.
Mechanism of action
Isotretinoin assists the sebaceous glands in maturing properly by inhibiting testosterone levels in the oil glands, and changing the composition of oil to one that is less likely to cause acne. It also prevents excess keratin from being produced, which also prevents blackheads and whiteheads from forming.
