Historically the drug with the trade name Accutane has been a prescription medication given to teens to help control the outbreak of acne.  Especially for teens, where appearance takes on a much stronger theme in their lives, there is concern on how one looks. Unfortunately some of the side effects of the prescribed medications can cause adverse reactions such as:

•    signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Accutane and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
•    depressed mood, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, crying spells, aggression or agitation, changes in behavior, hallucinations, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
•    sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
•    blurred vision, sudden and severe headache or pain behind your eyes, sometimes with vomiting;
•    hearing problems, hearing loss, or ringing in your ears;
•    seizure (convulsions);
•    severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
•    loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
•    severe diarrhea, rectal bleeding, black, bloody, or tarry stools;
•    fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, purple spots under your skin, easy bruising or bleeding; or
•    joint stiffness, bone pain or fracture.

Less serious Accutane side effects may include:

•    discomfort with contact lenses;
•    joint pain, back pain;
•    feeling dizzy, drowsy, or nervous;
•    dryness of the lips, mouth, nose, or skin; or
•    cracking or peeling skin, itching, rash, changes in your fingernails or toenails.

   Note that all of these are the recorded potential adverse reactions.

   One natural product to use for the teen, and less expensive with few adverse side effects is Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia). Tea Tree was originally used in Australia by the Aborigines as a topical antiseptic for the treatment of cuts, abrasions, athlete's foot, burns and insect bites.  It was obtained by steaming the leaves of the tree which resulted in the release of the terpenes which are responsible for it's antiseptic properties.

   Over the last two decades it has become a recommended treatment for acne vulgaris and continues to expand world wide as an effective, natural low cost medication for acne treatments, without the use of harmful pharmaceuticals and their associated high costs.

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