Despite being highly effective in stopping acne, Accutane has earned itself a pretty infamous reputation, thanks to its many (often serious) side effects, ranging from cramps and rashes to mood swings and suicide. The latest link to be found is between Accutane and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and it hammers the point further than this is not a prescription treatment you should be on, no matter how bad your acne is.
Accutane is a vitamin A derivative that works by targeting your body’s regulation of skin oil, forcing your sebaceous glands to stop producing excess oil. Since excess skin oil is to blame in the majority of acne cases, this approach is very effective, and has made Accutane the prescription treatment of last resort for acne sufferers. However, even great results aren’t worth the risk of something as serious as IBS or Crohn’s Disease. These are not just temporary side effects - they’re conditions that can cause life-long impairment, and in some cases even death. Accutane may wreak some real damage on your digestive tract, causing your bowels to become chronically inflamed or irritated. These conditions are not easy to treat, and in cases like Crohn’s Disease, may be impossible to cure.
So don’t risk it.
Remember that vitamin A and its derivatives should only be taken at reasonable doses and under the supervision of a medical professional. Many acne sufferers need more vitamin A, but follow my advice and get it in its more natural form as beta-carotene, such as you would by eating more carrots. Beta-carotene makes for a safer intake method, since your body can more easily eliminate any potentially harmful excess before it becomes toxic. Accutane may get it right by targeting skin oil regulation, but there are better alternatives for combating the same problem, including safely increasing your body’s metabolism of skin oil with vitamin B5.
