Whether or not to take Accutane (or Isotretinoin) is no small decision, as it has some serious side effects that come along with taking it. Although countless personal and medical trials have been done on it since its release in the early 1980s, there are a lot of side effects that you should be aware of before starting on this drug. Here we will start with some of the short-term side effects.

Accutane’s most common side effect is dry lips, almost always described as “painful and persistent.” Can be treated with lip balms and products like Aquaphor, but these do not actually make the dryness go away, just abates it for a short while. Besides dry lips, there’s also extremely dry skin, which can last beyond the time the drugs are taken for some patients. This dry skin has been characterized as “½ inch chunks falling off at a time,” which was sometimes helped by moisturizers, but not all the time. All patients describe extreme caution when it comes to exposure to the sun, as Accutane causes skin fragility and thinness, therefore sunburns develop much more easily and severely. Hair loss is another common but not as serious side-effect. However, this particular reaction seems to be more prevalent in men than in women.

Other frequent side effects include extreme fatigue, headaches, and brain fog.

The longer-term side effects of Accutane can be more subtle but other times far more serious. Many users of this drug report having continual dry eyes after they stop taking it. Some describe this as painful at worst and annoying at best. The more serious side effects include damage to the intestinal lining, leading to Irritable Bowel Syndrome or even Crohn's Disease. Besides the possibility of an inflamed intestinal disease, there are other factors like joint and body aches, which can vary from mild discomfort to being nearly in constant pain.

Among the more serious side effects of taking Accutane, mental health is often affected. Patients have often reported some sort of depression, anxiety, or wild mood swings related to Accutane and a smaller percentage even report more serious mental health issues. It is always recommended that you talk to your doctor or healthcare professional if these symptoms occur with you.

A lot of people turn to Accutane when they think they don’t have any other choice. Unfortunately, many dermatologists are all too happy to prescribe it so patients will receive quick results. But oftentimes, these results come at a cost. We talk about many of the side effects here in this blog, but have barely mentioned all of them, some of which include long term fertility issues and horrible problems with pregnancy if it occurs while taking the drug. Most often, doctors will prescribe termination as becoming pregnant on this drug causes huge problems for the fetus.

Accutane is a serious solution to a dire problem, but it is NOT the only solution. In fact, it is one that we most often recommend is not even necessary.

You may have tried everything you can think of; chemical exfoliation, drugstore acne remedies, facials, you name it. And nothing worked. That doesn’t mean that you simply have to turn to drugs like Accutane. It is a not the easy way out.

Far more beneficial to your well being would be to find a skin care professional who deals with mostly acne. Dermatologists can see acne as a frivolous problem that can be treated easily with drugs, but that is not the case! You want to be more than a chart in a doctor’s long list of patients. Find someone who has time to actually take a deep look at your skin and find a viable solution without drugs. Not only is it possible, but it is much better for your long term health than seeing someone who immediately tries to put you on drugs.

Believe it or not, acne can be treated topically, with products on the skin. We know this because that’s exactly what we do everyday. In the same amount of time it would take to get clear with Accutane, we can also get your skin clear, but without any of the nasty side effects of serious drugs (perhaps some dry skin, but that’s it, and easily fixable!)

Acne affects so many aspects of our daily lives. If you have acne, chances are your self-esteem is down the drain and you just want to stay inside, sometimes not even wanting to spend time with friends and family because it is so bad. That is not good! It makes life harder when it shouldn’t be.

That’s why our main goal here at Skintherapy to help people with acne get better. The best way to do that is to let us guide you with the right products and routine so that your skin gets clear and STAYS clear.

That’s our promise to you.
Look into booking an appointment here today and you won’t be disappointed.

In today’s day and age, people and teenagers alike tend to gravitate toward quick fixes and easy cures. The only problem with that is acne can’t be cured with a pill or antibiotic. Those solutions are usually only temporary and can cause health problems if used long-term.
 
Many doctors and dermatologists prescribe drugs like Lymecycline and Doxycycline, which work temporarily, but once the last round of drugs have been consumed, acne comes back. It’s not advisable to consistently take drugs like these for long periods of time as they can cause antibiotic resistance and other health issues. These antibiotics kill excess bacteria on the skin, but they do not reach the underlying cause of acne. They also cause uncomfortable side effects like upset stomach, dizziness, and can increase sun sensitivity. And yet, this is the solution that some people choose simply because they don’t see another way.
 
The root cause of acne is that acne sufferer’s skin cells shed far more than the average person’s, especially when it comes to excessively oily skin like that of a teenager’s. Someone who does not have acne sheds skins cells typically once per day. A person with acne will shed skin cells up to 7 times per day. And the cause of this shedding? It stems from hereditary factors. If you have acne, it comes from your genes and as you can imagine, those are hard to alter. Drugs like Accutane, antibiotics, and even birth control are only short-term solutions. Solutions whose side-effects can be dangerous in the long-term, not work efficiently for the entire duration of their consumption, and if they do work, only work for short periods of time.
 
What most people don’t realize is that their acne can be cleared using methods of lifestyle change and consistently applying the correct products in the right amounts with the best ingredients.
 
Acne is embarrassing and can cause lack of confidence and motivation. Not only does it impact daily life, but it is also painful to deal with. The scars it can leave behind seem like a permanent reminder of not being good enough. But acne is no one’s fault. If you are reading this, you have found a new way to deal with it and a way to achieve clear skin you never thought was possible.
 
Our acne experts are knowledgeable in the actual source of acne and the processes that work for clearing it. We start with a one on one consultation where we look at your skin and advise lifestyle changes that could be affecting the skin like foods, hair products, and makeup. Then we offer product recommendations that will work best to clear the skin. We prepare a detailed routine for each individual that we see so that you know exactly what to do and how to use the products the most effectively. Once your daily routine is established, we are able to help the process with bi-weekly appointments to review your skin’s progress and help it along with chemical peels and other therapies to ensure your success and stop the advancement of blackheads and whiteheads before they have the chance to start.
 
This process was designed and perfected by Skincare Specialist and Master Esthetician Jil Goorman over the last eight years. The difference between seeing a doctor for your acne and visiting our clinic is that we have the time to spend with clients to truly understand their skin and what it takes to improve it.
 
Each case is different and yours is no exception. Drugs are not the only answer when it comes to treating acne. No one has to suffer this condition alone, futilely attempting to treat the mystery that acne can seem like at times. Skintherapy is here to help clear your skin and keep it that way, no matter what age you are. Check out our website for more info at http://utahacneclinic.com.

Think about all the new experiences that happen in your teens; driving, dating, college, friends, jobs. Teens teeter on the line of independence and discipline essentially until the day they move out on their own. It can be a tumultuous time for teenagers. And on top of that all that, there’s frequently another struggle.

Acne is primarily caused by genes and hormones. Once those teen hormones start kicking in, the skin doesn’t stand a chance. Breakouts, zits, and blackheads affect as much as 80% of people between the ages of 11 to 30 and can take even longer to clear up. What can you do to help your teen?

Food can be a big trigger for unwanted breakouts, so we’ll go over some of the most common triggers here:

1. Milk
Milk is chock full of calcium, minerals, lactose, and hormones and growth factors. It’s those last two ingredients that really mess with a person’s own hormones and that can lead to acne.

2. Peanuts and Peanut Butter
Peanuts are high in androgens, which are another type of hormone that affects acne in a bad way.

3. Soy (tofu, soy milk, edamame)
As delicious and seemingly healthy as these items are, they wreak havoc on acne-prone skin due the many of the same reasons listed above. The estrogen hormones in soy cause skin to freak out and break out.

4. Whey, protein shakes, or protein bars
These products typically contain iodides, biotin, or a combination of both. Both of these ingredients have been proven to make acne worse and it is best to avoid them as much as possible.

5. Iodides such as Iodized Salt
While some iodized salt is good for your thyroid, too much can cause skin inflammation. For this reason, don’t remove it from the diet completely, just be aware that too much may lead to a breakout.

The reason these foods made the top of the list is due to their potency in the hormone department. Teens are so susceptible to breakouts because of wildly fluctuating hormones. Adding more hormones to their system via food is just a recipe for disaster.

Also keep in mind that we’re not necessarily saying teens can never eat these foods ever, just that it is best to have them in moderate portions so as not to increase the likelihood of skin flare-ups. Patience and moderation are key when it comes to making the lifestyle changes necessary to have a positive effect on acne, so bear in mind that these changes don’t happen overnight. But as with anything good in life, with a little persistence and daily effort, change can be made for the better. Remember this if you are just starting out your journey to healing acne, or if you know someone who is. Skincare is a journey, not just a destination. And we’re here to help you along the way.
Thank you for visiting our blog! For the latest info on skin care and acne treatment, click here. For new clients, please visit our Acne Services page to learn more about who we are and what we do. And to book your appointment now, click here.

Do you struggle with acne? Every year, thousands of people invest in a variety of acne treatments including over-the-counter products, prescription creams, antibiotics, and even Accutane. According to this study done in 2016 by the Society for Investigative Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology Association, Statistic Brain Research Institute, the total annual spending on acne treatments in the U.S. was $3,020,000,000!

This is what the top acne prescription treatments by annual sales looked like…

If people are spending this much money on acne treatments every year, why are they not seeing better success rates with clearing their acne?

I can personally attest that 90% of the people who come into my acne clinic have already tried clearing their acne with oral antibiotics or some form of Clindamycin and Tretinoin.
Beyond that, around 50% have tried Accutane more than once. We know that acne can be challenging to treat and that's why so many acne sufferers are still frustrated and discouraged when it comes to finding an acne treatment that really delivers results and helps them feel better about their skin.

As a Master Esthetician, I have a good idea why these patients are not getting their acne cleared. I know what works for people and what doesn’t, based on years of treating acne in a completely different manner than your average Dermatologist does. What I have to say is by no means me throwing your medical doctor under the bus---this is just what I have discovered through years of research and development.

Your dermatologist is incredibly busy. Most dermatologists are scheduled out three to six months in advance, with only enough time to see an individual a few times a year. They don't just treat acne--they diagnose and treat more than 3,000 different diseases. These diseases include skin cancer, eczema, psoriasis, and nail infections. If we look at the 3,000 different diseases these doctors treat, some are even life threatening. But acne is different. Yes, acne is a hassle and embarrassing to most, but it is not life threatening. Doctors tend to think of it as mere cosmetic misfortune.
Many people are under the impression that acne needs to be treated by making a visit to their doctor or dermatologist, where they will get on some antibiotics and get their acne under control.
The truth is, acne treatments have made significant progress and almost any type of acne can be treated with some patience and an individualized treatment plan.

What I’m here to tell you is, you don’t need to turn to antibiotics or Accutane to clear your painful and discouraging acne. With a simple appointment, we can help you turn your acne into clear, beautiful skin you can be proud of.

At my office, we take the time to really understand your skin so we can recommend a home care plan that works best for you. Unlike the typical dermatologist visit, we make time to see you frequently and provide the fastest skin clearing regimen possible. With carefully designed products that are hand selected for your acne, we’re confident your skin will get clear and stay clear.

So come see us today and let’s get started!