Isotretinoin is a specially designed medication used in the treatment against severe acne forms. It was initially developed by a pharmaceutical company in order to serve as a chemotherapy medication in the treatment for different kind of cancer, such as the brain cancer, pancreas cancer and other hepatic afflictions of this disease. Today it is used in many oral medications that reduce cancer’s effects because of its ability to ravage rapidly the dividing cells. The effects of this are systemic and non selective. In some isolated cases, it serves as a treat for Harlequin mode ichthyosis, up until now a lethal skin mutation in which the patients develop something similar to an armor plated skin and usually die very soon after their birth.

It is a retinoid or a derivate from the vitamin A and is found, naturally but in very small quantities in our bodies.

Oral isotretinoin appears in the market under numerous trade names, most commonly: Roaccutane.

The early treatment for sever acne was for a long time the use of antibiotics such as erythromycin and tetracycline. Then the treatment based mostly on a constant vitamin A dosage, for its effects in reducing the sebum secretions that occur naturally on the skin surface, as a protective layer, but due to its numerous side effects, this kind of therapy was stopped. Vitamin A, in a constant and ascendant dosage can flourish the cancerous cells that feed with this, and encourage the disease to settle, mainly in the brain through tumors and in the pancreas.

The development of isotretinoin in 1982, by doctor Hoffman La Roche, was a very big step in the battle against severe acne. Although its effect is clearly visible in small dosages, the recommended amount of this medication is still the one that doctor La Roche prescribed thirty years ago.

Severe acne treatment starts with benzoic peroxide or Brevoxil , the commercial naming, followed by an antibiotics treatment, and only after that, isotretinoion therapy. This fact owes itself to the low risk of side effects during the previous treatments.

Oral administrated, the isotretinoinul absorbs itself better after a rich meal, full of lipids. The recent stuies show that plasmatic concentrations duble in size when adiminstrated after a rich meal in lipids, managing to stick to the plasmatic proteins, especially albumins, in proportion of 99.9 percent.

The dangerous metabolites are eliminated in stool and urine and make the first effect visible in the first 24 hours of administration.



The main side effects of the isotretinoin acne treatment are similar to those inflicted by high dosages of vitamin A. We are talking about an even worst sebum secretion that consequently leads to more acne, a strong sensitivity towards all kinds of light, nose bleeds, the facial skin dryness, headaches and trouble absorbing nutrients.

Some of these side effects can get worst during the first and second part of treatment and it is necessary for a consult in case the headaches are getting stronger, more persistent and affects your seeing.

A treatment with isotretinoin can only be done under a doctor’s supervising so that he can monitor closely the ongoing effects.