side effects of Accutane

My 17 year-old daughter is now undergoing her second treatment with Accutane for severe acne.  This time I notice that she has a "moustache" that has developed after the first month of treatment.  The hairs above her upperlip are clearly darker than before, like in a peri- or postmenopausal woman.  Is this a "common" reaction with Accutane?  Will the "moustache" disappear once she has gone off Accutane, in about 2.5 months?  Or is this a permanent pigmentation change?
Thank you very much for your input.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't believe this is a reaction to Accutane at all, certainly not one I've ever encountered.  The amount and color of facial hair varies a lot among people.  Chances are your daughter may want to do something about the hair--bleaching, waxing, laser--but I don't think you need to feel concerned that your decision to proceed with Accutane brought the problem on.  After all, this is her second treatment course, and apparently nothing happened the first time.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[crystalob]

My doctor has perscribed accutane to me after trying antibiotics and other topical treatments.  I did not have a severe case of nodular acne before I started but it is bad enough. I have found after being one accutane for the last month and a half (40mg) I am seeing no improvement at all, infact people are noticing that my skin in worse off. I now have scars, where I would never develop them before and a rash that seems to look like eczema all over my arms and stomach. I have experienced dry lips and other side effects but I still have just as much acne as before. I know someone who went on this drug with really bad nodular acne and they cleared up in a month. Why is it that it is not working for me, I am really discouraged. Is it possible that the drug could not work on certain people and am I now going to have to live with these scars? My doctor had said that it will get better that every patient he has had it cleared up there acne. Would I jsut be better off to jsut come off the drug? Please help.

[jessy1]

Hi! I finally went on Accutane after about 10 years of acne and was really disappointed by my first month's results also. My skin was cracked and peeling off in sheets, leaving me with red blotches that wouldn't heal. Then I requested that my doctor put me on on 20mg instead of 40 and my skin has been perfect ever since. Maybe you should try a lower dosage and see if you get better results.

[Martha5]

I've just finished my second round of accutane, and I'm a little worried about future birth deffects. I know that it cause defects while on the drug, but what does it do in the future. Is there any chance that it could harm my furture children?
Thanks
Marth5

[Drksol]

I finished Accutane about 6 mo ago and my skin is now breaking out in an itchy rash on my legs, genital and stomach.  I had never had this problem, went to the dermatologist and got some hydrocortizone for it, but it just keeps fighting.  I think the Accutane played a major role in the development of this disorder.  I am still worried though because the skin still becomes inflammed, itches very bad, and the spots on my genitals have black scab like centers, he said it was most likely a form of psoriasis, but I worry about the possibility of scabies.

[Margiewriter]

Please DO NOT TAKE ACCUTANE.
  My son is now 21yr. old and is suffering from severe depression since using accutane when he was 18. My son was never a depressed or sad person until after using this medication for acne. If I had known how dangerous this drug was I would have never allowed him to take it. It seems we get caught up on the effects that acne may have on a teenager, but never realize that something like this could happen from an FDA approved drug.
It has been a night mare.  He has been self medicating with xanax and has devolped an addiction to the drug.  
He was an avid lefty baseball pitcher with a flourishing career but developed this hollow empty feeling after being prescribed accutane 40mg. daily for 9 months.
This is an extremely dangerous drug and many people have committed suicide from this drug.

PLEASE DO NOT USE ACCUTANE!!!!!!!!Please check out this website for information on the side affects of this DANGEROUS DRUG:
  www.house.gov/stupak/accutane.htm

ALSO INFORM THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION OF ANY SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS DRUG
800-FDA-1088

I can reached at ***@****