Accutane vs Claravis
 | Accutane |  | Claravis |  |
| This medication is used to treat severe cystic acne (also known as nodular acne) that has not responded to other treatment (e.g., benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin applied to the skin or tetracycline or minocycline taken by mouth). It belongs to a class of drugs known as retinoids. It works by decreasing facial oil (sebum) production. High amounts of sebum can lead to severe acne. If left untreated, severe acne may cause permanent scarring. | This medication is used to treat severe cystic acne (also known as nodular acne) that has not responded to other treatment (e.g., benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin applied to the skin or tetracycline or minocycline taken by mouth). It belongs to a class of drugs known as retinoids. It works by decreasing facial oil (sebum) production. High amounts of sebum can lead to severe acne. If left untreated, severe acne may cause permanent scarring. | |||
Alternatives
Reviews
| Add Accutane review I took Accutane 30 years ago when I was in my early 20's. I had gone to more than one dermatologist and had tried several oral and topical antibiotics, but when I stopped using them, the cysts came back and my skin was always worse than it was to start with. While I was on Accutane, my skin was an unholy mess. My face really broke out and then turned into a dry, flaking, peeling mess. (I can remember being approached by strangers who assumed I had been burned in fire.) But after I stopped taking it, my skin was flawless. Now, thirty years later, my skin is still clear and I have minimal scarring. Cystic acne runs in my family, and several of my mother's sisters are scarred to the point of disfigurement and still have breakouts. I struggled with acne from the time I hit puberty (age 13) until age 24. I had managed to get it under control during my college years but when I hit 24 my face broke out like crazy and nothing I did would make the acne go away. I finally broke down and went to a dermatologist who put me on accutane for 7 months. I'm currently on the last month of my accutane and so far it has been a blessing. My face is completely cleared up and I break out maybe once a month vs a couple times a day before I started accutane. The biggest side effects I've had are dry/chapped lips and sensitivity to products. I've been using aquafor daily and switched to Mario Badescu products that don't irritate my skin. In month 5 of the treatment I began experiencing dry skin and nose dryness (although no nose bleeding). I bought bio oil to rub on my skin for the dryness (and has helped a lot with acne scars) and put aquafor on the inside of my nose. While all of the side effects are annoying, they are totally worth the beautiful skin I now have. I highly recommend this product. | Add Claravis review I am a 26 year old female that has experienced deep, painful cystic acne since age 13. I had no problem dealing with the inconvience or unattractiveness of my acne until this last year when my skin became so sensitive to the touch that putting sunscreen on my back was excruciatingly painful. I had up till this point tried every topical ointment, cleanser and oral antibiotic. I tried every diet alteration in which I eliminated dairy and wheat. But I reached a point when I realized it’s all genetics and out of my control and I think that’s what’s important to remember, acne can’t be controlled, there is no rhythm or reason, it just is. After outweighing the side effects I started taking Claravis as a last resort. I started on 30mg, twice daily and immediately started feeling a difference in my skin smoothness within two days but I also immediately felt the moisture being extracted from my skin. I drank four liters of water on my second day of treatment. My skin on my back and face began shedding large amounts of skin within the third and fourth day, and my lips despite constant application of Vaseline peeled and split. Eating and smiling became extremely painful. I am a rock climber and yogi, and immediately experienced joint pain in my fingers and had to back off training and practice. At this point on day eight my doctor dropped my dose down to 30mg once daily because the side effects were becoming worse than the acne itself. DO NOT drink alcohol on this medication, alcohol is a diuretic which makes you more dehydrated, it also messes with glucose levels, and puts more strain on your liver. I began hallucinating after half a bottle of beer. Not recommended. I also recommend not picking or popping anything, zits and cysts are still going to happen, so don’t add insult to injury, aka more acne to already growing side effects. I am on day nine and trying to be patient as I am still painfully breaking out, dealing with split swollen lip I was not really nervous to start Claravis but more eager than ever to try it! I have had acne since high school and although it wasn't the worst acne, I still suffered from self esteem issues because of it. I tried just about everything like everyone else. I had enough when I was papering for my wedding and I couldn't handle acne and what could possibly show up on my wedding day, so I went on Claravis. I got the same side effects like everyone else (dry lips & skin) but that was about it! I always made sure I ate breakfast and then took the pill so I didn't get sick and kept SPF on while in the sun. No issues! It did take a little longer for me to see results- about month 4 my skin was perfect!! I hit a stage Iike they say (month 3) when it gets worse before it gets better..I was very frustrated but I knew it would work, just to be patient. I used to have to blot my face with an oil sheet an hour after putting makeup on, now I can go an entire day without my makeup being messed up or oily. I can go more than a day without washing my hair and it still looks good! I'm extremely thankful for this product and recommend it to anyone that is as frustrated as I was. It's a pain to get your blood drawn and a urine test every month but so unbelievably worth it. I had no mood swings, no aches and pains, no weight gain and had great results!! | |||
