Thinking of taking acne medication? Dermatologist shares what you should consider before starting Accutane
- When pimples and blackheads cause extreme discomfort and anxiety and aren’t responding to your skincare routine, it might be time for professional help
- Dr Joyce Tang explains how doctors assess the severity of your skin condition and what they can do to treat it
If you’re still in the early stages of acne, it’s important to establish a good skincare routine. Photo: ShutterstockAcne can be worrisome for teenagers, not only because of the pain and discomfort but also the anxiety and insecurity it can cause. When regular face washes and serums don’t seem to help, you might start thinking about getting something stronger from a doctor.
To help you make an informed decision about your skincare, we talked to a dermatologist, Dr Joyce Tang, who explained when you should seek professional acne treatment and what you can expect if you do.
Our guide to what causes acne and how you can treat it
Is my acne bad enough that I should see a dermatologist?
There are signs that teens can watch out for to help them determine the severity of their symptoms.
“[If] they often find black and white heads, these could be signs of early acne,” the dermatologist said.
At the early stage of acne, Tang advised teenagers to establish a good skincare routine, which includes using face wash twice a day, not putting too many layers of skincare products on their face, and avoiding sugar or dairy products that can aggravate their skin.
“When they’re finding that the acne is emerging all over their faces ... or it’s affecting their self-confidence that they feel frustrated when their peers are pointing at them, this is the point where they really need to seek professional help,” the doctor advised.
What happens when I see a doctor about my skin?
Dermatologists identify the severity of acne based on how large the affected area is, how bad the inflammation is, and whether there are scars. This helps them decide what medicines to use.
Acne is caused mainly by three reasons: blocked pores, increased oil secretion and bacteria on the skin.
“We often use a combination of topical and more medication to target all these three mechanisms,” Tang explained. “We commonly use antibiotics either in cream or orally to target the bacteria. And then some other cream [containing] salicylic acid and glycolic acid are used to reduce the oil secretion and also unclog pores.”
If the diagnosis is mild, doctors usually go with topical cream and oral medicines; if not, they use Accutane – the brand name for isotretinoin – which Tang described as the “big gun”.
“If it’s severe acne, then we might go straight to Accutane, or if their acne is not responsive to the topical cream or antibiotics, we might have to consider Accutane,” the dermatologist said, explaining that the cautiousness to use this medication is because of its side effects.
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What are the side effects of using Accutane?
“It’s harmful to the fetus. So if they are pregnant, they can’t take it. If they are sexually active, they have to take [birth control].”
Apart from this, Accutane also causes extreme dryness because it reduces the skin’s oil secretion.
“Their lips and eyes are dry so they often have to put on moisturiser and lipstick,” Tang said, noting that this side effect occurs in most patients.
She added that they must also be wary of being exposed to sunlight: “[Accutane] will make their skin very sun-sensitive, which means they will easily get sunburn. So they have to put on SPF if they are going outdoors.”
Other side effects such as moodiness and liver problems are less common.
But with the correct dosage and duration of treatment, Tang noted that Accutane could help most patients avoid suffering from acne for some time. According to the doctor, after using this medication, the acne is unlikely to return for at least a few years.