Accutane for Acne in Adolescent Girls

Accutane is an excellent acne medicine but a potent teratogen that adversely affects the fetus. Despite skilled counseling, 28% of young women using accutane did not use contraception during their accutane treatment for acne. An additional 23% had contraceptive failure and got pregnant. Only 30% of the entire group used contraception properly.

COMMENT : This is a good example of the difference between having and applying knowledge. Because accutane is so risky, responsible dermatologists use it for severe acne in girls only when all else fails.

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