Girls in Serbia are using acne medication to 'reduce their noses': A pharmacist reveals the truth and explains the consequences
Recently, claims have increasingly appeared on social media that 'acne medication can reduce the nose'.
TL;DR
- Isotretinoin is a prescription medication for severe or treatment-resistant acne, not a cosmetic product.
- It works by reducing sebaceous gland activity, normalizing skin keratinization, and reducing inflammation.
- The perceived 'nose reduction' is an optical illusion due to decreased oiliness, not a change in the nose's structure.
- Significant risks include dry skin, lips, and eyes, sun sensitivity, muscle pain, potential effects on blood lipids and liver enzymes, and mood changes.
- Isotretinoin is highly teratogenic, posing severe risks to fetal development, requiring reliable contraception for women of reproductive age.
- Patients must be fully informed of risks and undergo regular medical and laboratory monitoring.
- Online information about potent medications like isotretinoin should be critically evaluated, and medical advice should be sought from pharmacists or dermatologists.