Accutane has helped many but can have side-effects

Zit.  Even just the sound of the word makes you cringe, doesn’t it?  Well, if you suffer from acne and facial blemishes, you understand why some young people are desperate to try anything that will help to get rid of pimples and acne.

Health Canada has recently issued warnings after concerns about serious side-effects related to Accutane (or isotretinoin).  The reports of serious adverse effects included Stevens-Johnson syndome (with a couple cases resulting in death), erytheme multiforme, and toxic epidermal necrolysis.  Shockingly, there are even links between Accutane and suicide.  These are very rare cases, but alarming nonetheless considering the minor nature of the original problem that the medication is being prescribed for.

From a naturopathic perspective, skin is an emunctory – a route of elimination from the body.  Therefore, skin problems always have an element of toxicity that is associated with it.  Some toxicity could be reated to hormones or even food sensitivity.  Although skin must be treated externally, it will never resolve without treating the body internally.  Just treating the surface of the skin does not solve the cause of the problem.  Even worse, it may create more serious damage.