Lindsey Metrus: The Science of Beauty: Here's What Accutane Does To Your Body

This document discusses the drug Accutane, which is sometimes prescribed to treat severe acne. It works by reducing oil production in the skin and making pores less sticky. While it can significantly improve acne, it also has many serious potential side effects, including birth defects, depression, increased skull pressure, and various other internal issues. The drug is generally only recommended for cases of very severe acne that has not responded to other treatments, as the side effects can be life-threatening. It discusses concerns about generic versions of Accutane that are produced with less regulation of safety standards.

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Lindsey Metrus: The Science of Beauty: Here's What Accutane Does To Your Body

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Nicole Ann Aveno

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The Science of Beauty: Here's What

Accutane Does to Your Body

by LINDSEY METRUS
UPDATED 09/08/17
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AMSTER LABS
A pimple can easily feel like the end of the world,
especially if it’s large, painful, red, and… you get
the picture. For those of us with the unfortunate but
occasional breakouts or acute smatterings of
blemishes across our face and body, topical creams
and medicated cleansers (or, in some cases,
antibiotics) usually do the trick. But for those with
an excessive amount of pimples, visible redness, and
deep-rooted cystic acne, these topicals and low-
grade prescription medications aren’t aggressive
enough; you’re still left with unsightly marks that
physically affect your skin and, in turn, tarnish your
self-confidence.
In these cases, when patients can’t achieve a clear
complexion with OTC treatments or antibiotics (or,
in some instances, birth control), a dermatologist
may suggest Accutane.
The name alone may scare people away. After all, it
carries a stigma: Harmful internal maladies and
depression are widely known side effects that paint it
as a taboo and potentially dangerous kind of drug.
Despite its setbacks, however, Accutane can actually
be a “cure” of sorts, for those with chronic acne, a
sentiment Dr. Hadley King, a dermatologist, agreed
with when we spoke with her last month. “Accutane
can be a life-changing medication for people who
suffer from severe acne,” King says. “For severe
recalcitrant acne, isotretinoin [the medical term] is
an excellent option.”
MEET THE EXPERT
Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist
who specializes in cosmetic and medical
dermatology. Her sought after private practice has
landed her in publications such as Elle, Glamour,
and Self Magazine.
So how does Accutane work? According to Dr.
Elizabeth Tanzi, founder and director of Capital
Laser & Skin Care, “One of the main effects acne
has on the body is in the sebaceous glands of the
skin. [Accutane] reduces sebum production and
makes the pores less ‘sticky’ so they don’t get
clogged and cause acne.”
We don’t keep our beauty secrets.
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MEET THE EXPERT
Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi is a board-certified
dermatologist and founder of Capital Laser & Skin
Care in Washington D.C. She has written numerous
academic articles and lectured on cosmetic
dermatology.
For a visual guide to Accutane's potential effects, see
the graphic below.

Here is an incomplete list of its side effects:

 miscarriages (patients must be on birth control
when using it)
 birth defects (facial and nervous system
deformities, mental retardation)
 increased internal skull pressure
 bone mineral density
 depression
 psychosis
 suicide
 aggressive or violent behaviors
 acute pancreatitis
 "unknown" cardiovascular consequences
 deafness
 hepatitis
 bowel disease
 excessive bone growth
 night blindness and sight loss
All this for a drug that cures acne. Even Roche
gave up marketing this drug after the cost of
lawsuits became greater than its profits. One is
tempted to conclude that Accutane essentially
functions as a poison that kills acne before it
kills you, but only just.
Now, before my readers fire
up their emails, I know this drug is not a cure
for the minor zits accompanying adolescence.
It's a last resort for people who experience acne
as an intractable, socially debilitating skin
condition. These pictures of "Kelli," who kept a
photo blog of her Accutane experience,
demonstrate that kind of medical misery that
acne can bring in extreme cases. Her blog ends
with her getting married -- aw! -- and looking
lovely so only a real grinch would want this drug
banned, right?

The problem is that an underclass of less-than-

great generic companies is now churning out
Accutane, much of it in the Third World where
medical safety is less well regulated than it is in
the U.S. Ranbaxy, (RANB.BO) the disastrous
Indian generics maker that was named BNET's
Worst Drug Company of 2009, had two lots of
generic Accutane recalled last year. And that
was just in the U.S.