Is Accutane Right for Me?

If you live in Long Beach and you have acne, you know that not only is this an unsightly skin disease, but in severe cases can even be painful. Although there are over-the-counter medications for acne that help some people, yours may be a case where more intervention is needed, and the person to consult is a dermatologist. Dermatologists in Long Beach specialize in acne treatments that are doctor supervised and effective for relieving acne. One that is popular is the medication called Accutane. Although you must be carefully monitored while taking this drug, it has been used with great success in treating difficult acne breakouts on the skin.

Once you find a dermatologist that can offer you the skin treatment that you want, the benefits as well as the drawbacks to using Accutane with them. Accutane is a Vitamin-A derived medication that is used to not only treat severe cases of acne but also some forms of cancer. It requires a doctor's prescription for its use, and is taken in a pill form. Accutane can help people with severe inflammatory acne for clearer skin with regular use over a period of months. There may be minor side effects such as mild joint pain, headaches or dry lips. However, when you find a dermatologist he or she can inform you that Accutane does have some serious side effects as well, including birth defects if the mother takes the medication. As a result, it is heavily regulated by the federal government.

Dermatologists in Long Beach will tell you that you must have a visit with your doctor for every thirty days that you take Accutane. You also must be registered with the iPledge registry through the Food and Drug Administration. Your prescription for the medicine must be picked up from the pharmacy within seven days of your visit to the doctor, and if it is not picked up you get dropped from the registry and have to re-register for a fee. If you are a woman of childbearing years you also have to take a pregnancy test prior to getting a prescription for the medication and must be on two separate and effective methods of birth control while taking Accutane. You will also need a negative pregnancy test each time you get a refill for the medicine from your doctor, and you cannot donate blood while taking Accutane.

Accutane may be right for you but only through a medically prescribed treatment in dermatology. Long Beach residents can find a physician by using an online search engine with a keyword of dermatology. Long Beach physicians can then help you determine if Accutane would be beneficial for your condition.

Susan Slobac writes about trends in dermatologists in Long Beach & dermatology Long Beach.