Oily skin and runaway acne are the curse of adolescence but what can GPs do to help?
Oily skin and runaway acne are the curse of adolescence but what can GPs do to help?
For severe cases of acne, isotretinoin (Roaccutane) can be prescribed for six to 12 months.
However, if the drug is used during pregnancy there is an extremely high risk of having a baby that is severely deformed.
It is very important that teenagers are aware that isotretinoin is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy, says Associate Professor Anne Howard, head of dermatology at Western Hospital Footscray.
Side effects of isotretinoin include dry skin, eczema around the hands and arms and photosensitivity.
After stopping the medication patients will see improvements for about two years.
“[It is] common to get a little bit of acne but hopefully it will be controllable with other measures,” says Professor Howard.
In this video, Professor Howard answers the following questions:
- What are the side effects of isotretinoin and how can a GP help manage them?
- Are there any problems with sudden cessation of isotretinoin?
- How long is a patient usually on isotretinoin?
- What should a patient expect once the isotretinoin is stopped?
