If you need to take isotretinoin again, you can start taking it again 8 to 10 weeks after your first treatment is over. Do not give blood for at least one month after you stop taking isotretinoin.
Treating patients for an additional 2 months after clearance may decrease rates of acne relapse and the need for a second course of isotretinoin.
Hormonal acne is more likely to come back after a course of Roaccutane (Accutane) has successfully cleared it. Besides being stubborn to treat, hormonal acne causes redness for prolonged periods, scarring and pigmentation.
A dermatologist's take: As Dr. Gohara said, very few (five percent, if she had to guess) of her patients go on Accutane a second time, while the vast majority never see a major breakout again. Again, your results will vary, but rest assured most patients see life-changing improvements with a course of isotretinoin.
If your acne does return, usually it will not be as severe as it was before, and will be controlled with the kind of treatments that you can apply directly to your skin. You can buy some of these (for example Benzyl Peroxide) over the counter. There are other treatments that your GP can prescribe.
Isotretinoin is usually taken twice daily for 15-20 weeks, or as directed by your doctor. Directions for most generic forms of isotretinoin state that it should be taken with meals. However, the FDA has indicated that the Absorica brand may be taken with or without food.
Maintaining Clear Skin After Treatment: Think: a gentle cleanser, hydrating moisturizer, and a facial sunscreen with at least SPF 50. Post-Accutane, your skin should be pretty low-maintenance, but it may take some time to adjust.
Accutane, or Isotretinoin, is an oral medication used to treat moderate to severe, nodulocystic acne. It is a derivative of Vitamin A, and helps to improve the blocked-up material within whiteheads and blackheads. It has become a mainstay in the treatment of acne, and is one of the most effective treatments available.
How does it work? Isotretinoin works by shrinking your oil glands and normalizing the way your skin grows, which prevents pimples and clogged pores. Because your lips have a lot of oil glands they will become dry first, followed by your face and possibly other areas.
Maintenance therapy with a topical retinoid, applied regularly for the first 2 years after completing treatment with oral isotretinoin, and oral antiandrogen treatment in women were 2 key protective factors for decreasing the relapse rate.
Doctor's Answers 1 It is usually safe to go for repeated course of isotretinoin if acne recurs or relapses. It is important to continue close monitoring and repeated blood tests to check on the liver function test and lipids level may be required.
Patients were monitored for 12 months after their last day of isotretinoin. We chose this length of follow-up because previous studies7,17 have found that 80% to 90% of patients experience relapse within 12 to 24 months.
The usual starting dose is 0.5mg per kilogram body weight per day (0.5 mg/kg/day). So if you weigh 60kg, your dose will usually start at 30mg a day. Usually, you take isotretinoin capsules once or twice a day.
There are several things that I think are important in a skin care regimen after isotretinoin therapy. These include the following: daily sunblock, a gentle cleanser, a daily moisturizer, and semi regular to daily use of a topical retinoid.