Advice

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for Roaccutane treatment, and what alternatives are there?

Roaccutane (Accutane) is appropriate for moderate to severe acne, and should be considered as a last resort after you have tried topical agents. We also offer prescriptive skin care and skin peels which have proved to be very effective in treating acne and other skin diseases.

What are the risks and side effects of Roaccutane?

Roaccutane (Accutane) can have some serious side effects such as damage to internal organs and depression. This is why it is critically important to undertake a course of Roaccutane (Accutane) only under the professional supervision of an experienced Dermatologist. Roaccutane (isotretinoin) can also cause birth defects. Therefore, it is a requirement that during the 5 – 7 months that you’re taking Roaccutane (Accutane), you do not become pregnant.
Treatment with Roaccutane (isotretinoin) does not affect your fertility. One month after you have stopped treatment, Roaccutane (isotretinoin) will not longer be present in your body, and will have no effect on your ability to have healthy children in the future.
To learn more about adverse side effects, precautions during and after treatment, see our section on Roaccutane (Accutane) Client Information. There are less serious and more common side effects: skin may become red and dry during the course of the treatment and, often, acne becomes a little worse before improvement occurs.

How long is the course of treatment?

A course of Roaccutane generally lasts 5-7 months.

How long will the results last?

The purpose of treatment with Roaccutane is to potentially clear acne long-term. Whilst this is the case for many patients, others may experience as little acne again but this is usually not as severe as it was before. Some patients – a small percentage – may need a second course of treatment.

How old do I have to be to be treated with Roaccutane?

We treat patients who are 18 years old+ but would consider, at our discretion, patients who are 17 years old so long as they have parental consent, and attend all appointments with a parent or guardian. Younger than 17 and we advise patients to go through the NHS, via their GP.

What are the contraindications for Roaccutane?

• Women who are, or who might be, pregnant
• Women who are breast-feeding
• Impaired liver function
• People with high levels of fat in their blood
• Hypervitaminosis A – the presence of too much vitamin A in the body, symptoms of which include: irritability, fatigue, skin changes, hair loss, headache, stomach ache.

Anyone with the below conditions must proceed with caution:
• A history of depression
• Diabetes
• Dry-eye syndrome
• Impaired kidney function
• Allergies to peanuts, soya, or the sugar sorbitol as some brands of Roaccutane (isotretinoin) may contain these ingredients

How much does Roaccutane/Accutane/Isotretinoin treatment cost?

The cost of your Roaccutane (Accutane) treatment is a fixed price. Prices, which are all inclusive of your initial consultation, blood tests, regular assessments, pregnancy tests (if applicable), taxes and charges, are £1,200 for men and £1,600 for women. The treatment price does NOT include the cost of Roaccutane (Accutane), which must be purchased from a pharmacy via prescription. The dosage prescribed to you will depend partially on your body weight. A rough guide as to the cost (as at May 2020) of Roaccutane (Accutane) based on body weight is approximately £50 per stone of body weight for Roche branded Roaccutane and £37 per stone of body weight for generic Isotretinoin over the course of treatment. For example, a 10 stone client would therefore expect to pay £500 (Roaccutane) or £360 (Isotretinoin) over the course of 5 – 7 months to the pharmacy for the Roaccutane medication.

If I go with botonics am I guaranteed to be prescribed Roaccutane?

Whether or not you are accepted under care by our Roaccutane Dermatology Specialist is entirely at the prescriber’s discretion.

Can you just sell me the Roaccutane?

We are not a pharmacy and do not dispense Roaccutane. Our service is the assessment, management and prescription of appropriate medications. The prescriptions still need to be filled by a registered pharmacy.

How soon can I be seen and start the Roaccutane treatment?

We should be able to see you for a free consultation within a week or two, and once you have completed the necessary tests/screenings you will be able to start your treatment. Click here to book your free consultation.
Please follow this link for our Roaccutane consultation appointment availability

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Summary of treatment

Procedure time 5 - 7 months
Duration of results Years to permanent relief

Risks & Complications

Roaccutane can cause severe and long lasting damage to a patient’s health, which is why blood tests are critical and why the dosage must be prescribed by an experienced doctor. For women, Roaccutane causes birth defects so they must not become pregnant while taking the medication and for several months after finishing it. The medication can cause changes in mood, and causes dryness to the membranes (skin, mouth, eyes, lips, etc.) and sensitivity to light. It can also cause serious health issues such as a spike in cholesterol, drop in Gamma GTs indicating you've developed a neutropenia, etc. Therefore, the dose must be balanced to keep these side effects bearable during the 5 - 7 month treatment cycle. Because of these risks and inconveniences, Roaccutane is a treatment of last resort when a patient has exhausted other options such as over the counter treatments, oral and topical antibiotics. The key advantage of Roaccutane is that it has an extremely high success rate in resolving acne that cannot be helped in any other way. Patients who complete the course tend to enjoy benefits lasting from several years to the rest of their lives.