What Price Beauty? (Accutane hit piece alert)

The Boston Globe Magazine ^ | 4/27/2003 | By Ellen Rafshoon

[RikaStrom]

Although Accutane causes birth defects, many acne sufferers love the way the miracle complexion pill makes them look, and so do their doctors. That's why it has become the most widely prescribed birth-defect-causing medicine in the United States.

I took Accutane. My insurance paid for it because I had disfiguring cystic acne. (I feel sorry for my not yet here kids.)

I was warned extensively of the problems that would occur should I get pregnant on the regimine. My doctor actually had me sign a document that said if I got pregnant, that I would have an abortion. (I was 19 then, different values, I've grown up now.)

No woman who takes accutane is unaware of the risks.

[starr12]

I do not think it is fair for people who have not suffered from acne to say that taking accutane is out of vanity. I have been suffering from acne for 4 years now. I have taken creams, antibiotics, used benzoyl peroxide, and tried every natural remedy that I have heard of and so far nothing has worked. I started thinking recently about taking the drug accutane. I am very scarred about taking it and when my doctor suggested it a year ago I told him I wanted to try everything before going on it. One thing that I would like people to know is that it’s not about vanity and the decision to use it is hard. It really really hurts when you have cystic acne. My pimples throb with pain because they are so huge and so deep. Just recently I got one under my eye and it feels like I got punched in the eye because it has swelled. I also have acne on my back that are cystic and I have to be careful the way I sit because if they hit the chair just right I get stabbing pain. They also hurt so bad when I try to pop them that I get tears rolling down my cheeks. I had to ask myself how much is enough. The choice to go on it is not an easy one but I’m glad that my last option is available because it is no way to go through life. I think that we need to spend more time and money on finding a better cure than trying to ban accutane. There is no doubt that we need a better cure, one without the harsh side effects.

[Paleo Conservative]

Wow, I'm still getting responses on this four year old thread.

If I were you, I'd get on accutane as soon as possible. The side effects while severe, aren't as bad as the problems you're having with acne. I wanted to go on accutane when it first came out, but my dermatologist thought I would outgrow my acne anyway. I didn't persuade my dermatologist to presribe it to me till 15 months later. The first effect I saw was that it actually increased my break outs some, but it caused the pattern to change. It dried out my nose, and I was rather miserable during cold dry winter weather. It makes the skin turn red and looks somewhat like a sun burn. A course of therapy is only five months, and the results are so dramatic that the side effects are bearable.

[angeleyes121385]

I am 21 years old and didn’t have a single zit on my face until I was 19. Since then they have progressed and gotten worse. I have been on minocycline and doxicycline. Neither of them worked very well and made me sick. I stopped taking them and used Proactiv. It worked for a little while then it was like my skin became immune. I go to modeling and acting schools but am currently not taking classes because of my face. Neither of my parents have a history of acne. It seems like stress adds to the problem. How expensive is accutane? Is it covered by health insurance? I have talked to people that say that after they took accutane they never had, or haven’t yet had a problem since. I just stumbled upon these posts and thought maybe my qurstions could be answered. Thanks.