How Well Does Accutane Work?
Isotretinoin (the medication commonly known as Accutane) has been around since the 1970s. Research and millions of patients have confirmed that it is the most effective treatment for acne, especially scarring acne. But, until recently, no research has shown how quickly it works from the patient’s perspective. We used Skindex-16 scores (PRO scores) at monthly visits in nearly 60 patients to answer a few key questions about Accutane.
First, we learned that patients see about 50% improvement by month 2. This is important, because patients starting Accutane really want to know how quickly they will see improvement, and now we can answer that question.
Next, everyone sees improvement in their acne on Accutane. On average, by the end of a course of Accutane (usually 5-6 months), patients see about 80% improvement in how acne affects their quality of life.
Finally, acne is primarily a skin issue that affects us emotionally or socially. It usually doesn’t hurt or itch, we just really don’t like how it looks. We saw this with our PRO scores. The emotional Skindex-16 scores were the highest at the start of an Accutane course, and they saw the greatest improvement. The most likely reason why patients on Accutane don’t have their Skindex-16 drop to zero is because scarring is often still visible on the skin even after the acne has cleared, and this scarring, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, can take months to fully clear. Also, Accutane causes a lot of dryness to the skin, especially the lips, causing them to crack and peel. Near the end of a course of Accutane, the acne is usually gone, but the dryness from the Accutane still exists, meaning that the patients’ skin is still bothering them a bit.