What is Accutane® Like?

Accutane® is a pill, making it particularly simple for teenagers uninterested in creams and complex skincare regimens to adhere to. ZENA Medical physicians commonly prescribe 40mg twice a week—2 pills per week instead of 7—which is a low enough dose to avoid the side effects like dry or red skin while still clearing up your skin. We’ve been prescribing low-dose Accutane® since the 90s, well before the practice gained popularity in Europe in the 2000s. So we have extensive evidence that we can achieve our patients’ goals to be acne-free.

Because Accutane® can have a harmful impact on a growing fetus, there are pregnancy testing requirements for some of our patients. This is not usually prohibitive, as most of our teenage patients are not planning families just yet. There is no negative effect on the reproductive system itself, nor will it impact future fertility. The only danger is to a growing fetus. So as long as our female patients prevent pregnancy if they’re sexually active, the medication is entirely safe.

What Results Can I Expect with Accutane®?

Whether you suffer from mild-to-moderate acne or deep cystic acne, Accutane® is proven to improve your skin. Patients on average experience their peak improvement around 8-12 weeks, though you may experience a noticeable reduction in acne within 2 weeks of taking your first dose of Accutane®. At ZENA Medical, we are confident we can help you achieve acne-free skin after 3 months, and we have years of treating patients to back up these remarkable results. 

We recommend you consistently nourish your lips and skin with moisturizer while on Accutane® to maintain a healthy balance to your complexion. Our 4-pronged approach—topical treatments, surgical extractions, laser procedures, and low-dose Accutane®—is your failsafe method to achieve a clear, acne-free complexion within just a few weeks.