Accutane Lawsuits
A man named Andrew McCarrell was recently awarded $25 million in damages from Roche Industries as a result of side effects associated with his Accutane use and the medical problems that followed. The Huffington Post reports: Accutane Lawsuit.
Unfortunately, this lawsuit does not come as a surprise to many professionals in the skincare industry.
Accutane (or isotretinoin), a prescription medication for acne based in a large dose of synthetic Vitamin A. It was once dished out to many patients as a wonder drug capable of clearing skin where other medications had failed to be effective. However, many medical side effects have been discovered and reported making it more difficult than ever to get a prescription. You now even have to go through a series of physical and psychiatric exams to be eligible for an Accutane prescription. These are followed by several release and consent forms requiring your signature, and if you happen to be a minor, the signature of your parents as well.
Because Accutane is synthetic Vitamin A – it is not tolerated by the body the way a natural Vitamin A or retinoid is and can place a lot of undue stress on internal organs. Tretinoin is another synthetic Vitamin A treatment, although less potent. I want to stress the difference between synthetic and natural Vitamin A treatments. Natural Vitamin A is very beneficial for treating acne, as well as many other skin conditions. It works best when combined with dietary or lifestyle adjustments, because unsightly skin conditions are a symptom of internal imbalance in the body. Here is a bit more information on Accutane and it’s possible health risks:
Accutane Side Effects
AOCD: Accutane
Its important to note that Accutane is a DRUG. Any drug will come with potentially harmful side effects and health threats. My professional skin care philosophy is anti-drug, but there are many estheticians and dermatologists who promote them. The best advice I can give is to educate yourself as much as possible before making any decisions on drug related skincare.
Acne is an awful thing to go through. Many times, it is hormonal and temporary. Other times it can be a sign of a systemic inflammatory imbalance that needs to be addressed both topically and internally. But before going to prescriptive extremes, consider all your options in treatment.
Here are some of the leading acne treatments available today:
- acupuncture
- homeopathy and nutritional counseling
- gentle fasting (under a professional’s supervision)
- vegan diet
- green powder supplementation (like Vitamineral Green)
- allergy testing
- Salycilic or Jessner peels
- Purifying facials
- Blue and Red LED treatments
- topical natural retinoids (Vitamin A)
- topical anti-inflammatories
- stem cells
If you’d like more information on Holistic Acne treatments, just ASK!
Feeling very inspired…
