Accutane DOES cause growth plate closure

critpanda

critpanda

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Isotretinoin is a Vitamin A derivate and a retinoid ( Vitamin A analogue ).

Vitamin A analogues are known to affect your bone and cartilage metabolism, and several case reports and series have documented premature epiphyseal closure in patients treated with iso or related retinoids. In isolated adolescent cases, patients on acne-dose isotretinoin developed growth arrest and fused growth plates, most often in the knee. For example, a 15-year-old boy on isotretinoin (~1 mg/kg/day for 4.5 months) stopped growing.

Similarly, a 16-year-old on ~0.5–0.75 mg/kg/day for 6 months developed knee pain; MRI and imaging showed irregularity and ossification of the growth plate (epiphysiodesis) in femur and tibia.

The FDA has received dozens of reports: one review found 41 global cases of isotretinoin-linked epiphyseal closure in patients <18 years, in that survey, 9 reported cases ranged from 0.5 mg/kg/day (few months) to 3.5 mg/kg/day (years)

ReferenceAge/SexIsotretinoin Dose & DurationFindings
Tran et al. (2007) (poster)15/M~1 mg/kg/day for 4.5 monthsCessation of growth; knee X-ray showed fused distal femur/proximal tibia plates.
Luthi et al. (2012)16/M~6 months (0.5–0.75 mg/kg/day)MRI: irregular knee growth plates with edema; diagnosed retinoid‐induced epiphysiodesis. Symptoms (knee pain) resolved after stopping drug, though a thumbprint lesion remained.
Delgado et al. (2023) (NB survivors)9–16 (NB survivors)6.5–7.6 years (cumulative ∼8500 mg)Pediatric cancer context: On MRI, 3/20 had physeal bony bridges and 9/20 metaphyseal tongues; associated with short stature. (All treated with high-dose isotretinoin plus chemo/radiation.)
Multiple case seriesvariable (often high-dose)Neuroblastoma series found ~1.4% incidence of growth plate arrest (3/216 patients); others reported knee valgus deformities from asymmetric plate fusion.


Beyond case reports, epidemiologic data are sparse. A recent large retrospective cohort presented at AAD 2024 compared adult height in ~11,000 acne patients treated with isotretinoin (<=18 years old) vs. ~35,000 treated with doxycycline. On average, there was no reduction in adult height among isotretinoin users; in fact, the isotretinoin group was slightly taller than the control group. The authors concluded there was “evidence against an association between isotretinoin and premature epiphyseal closure” in pediatric acne patients

No prospective longitudinal trials have specifically followed growth rates during acne therapy. One small cross-sectional study (n≈30) reported on pediatric gh levels during iso: GH and IGF-1 levels were unchanged. A rat study found high-dose all-trans RA (10 days) markedly reduced circulating GH, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3; these rats had shorter bones, narrowed growth plates, and early bone marrow mineralization

Leachman et al. (1999) - A controlled study of young adult males (17–25 y) on isotretinoin (1 mg/kg for 6 months) vs untreated controls found a modest but significant bone density loss at the hip. Four of 28 treated men lost >9% at the hip. The authors warned this small loss, although modest, hinted at retinoid-induced osteoporosis requiring further study.

Acitretin (etretinate): Used in psoriasis, it is a potent retinoid with bone effects. In rats, high-dose acitretin over weeks caused degenerative changes in the growth platew Onder et al. (2020) gave juvenile rats 3–10 mg/kg/day acitretin for 4 weeks; histology showed epiphyseal degeneration and reduced plate thickness (though differences were not always statistically significant. This confirms that systemic retinoids can disturb growth cartilage. In humans, long-term acitretin is known to cause diffuse skeletal hyperostosis (excess bone growth) and bridging in adults, underscoring its strong effect on bone remodeling.

It seems the overall risk is a highly rare spontaneous closure - read the studies and come to your own conclusion.
 
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dnr
 
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so blast tret
 
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Beyond case reports, epidemiologic data are sparse. A recent large retrospective cohort presented at AAD 2024 compared adult height in ~11,000 acne patients treated with isotretinoin (<=18 years old) vs. ~35,000 treated with doxycycline. On average, there was no reduction in adult height among isotretinoin users; in fact, the isotretinoin group was slightly taller than the control group. The authors concluded there was “evidence against an association between isotretinoin and premature epiphyseal closure” in pediatric acne patients
Isn't this study more relevant than the others tho? It's more recent, looks directly at height and has a massive sample size
 
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Can’t be bothered with your ChatGPT slop. Seriously, one of the fucking studies your post cited, assuming it’s real (can’t check cause on mobile), is talking about isotretinoin in conjunction with chemotherapy, like we’re meant to assume the latter doesn’t do anything for height and so we should attribute the entire presence of short stature among said individuals to isotretinoin use? JFL
Moreover, the MOST recent and the largest study regarding isotretinoin use showed the control group to be taller than the experimental after isotretinoin use, implying that you are wrong; isotretinoin does not stunt growth.
 
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Yes it’s hella risky. If parents started managing their kids acne the moment they spotted a pimple, accutane rates would drop like crazy. Accutane is really only necessary if you don’t manage your acne until it’s too late.

If you’re getting acne post puberty as a man just nuke that shit with accutane though.

Girls should be taking spinoloractone or whatever they call it cuz it’s typically hormonal for them post puberty.
 
Also sides are brutal, I couldn’t even take 40mg/day at 150 pounds I was so fucked up.
 
Yes it’s hella risky. If parents started managing their kids acne the moment they spotted a pimple, accutane rates would drop like crazy. Accutane is really only necessary if you don’t manage your acne until it’s too late.

If you’re getting acne post puberty as a man just nuke that shit with accutane though.

Girls should be taking spinoloractone or whatever they call it cuz it’s typically hormonal for them post puberty.
what the fucking does this pseudoscientifical bullshit mean? first of all it's normal for teens to have some random pimples, and secondly how does "managing" acne early will stop it from becoming more severe? "Managing" it how? Teens can literally go from not having a single pimple to having full blown cystic acne in a week, jfl at your retarded theory
 
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In the vast majority of cases, more severe acne can be prevented by catching mild acne early and managing it with topical medications.

Going from no acne to full blown cystic acne within a short timeframe is almost unheard of and not the norm.

Yes, avoiding the treatment of early “normal” pimples can lead to worse breakouts down the line as bacteria spreads across the face, early management is key but often not practiced in males and poorer societies/ethnic groups overall.
 
Id rather stay 5’10 with no acne right now than 5’11 with acne until im 25.

accutane is a miracle
 
In the vast majority of cases, more severe acne can be prevented by catching mild acne early and managing it with topical medications.

Going from no acne to full blown cystic acne within a short timeframe is almost unheard of and not the norm.

Yes, avoiding the treatment of early “normal” pimples can lead to worse breakouts down the line as bacteria spreads across the face, early management is key but often not practiced in males and poorer societies/ethnic groups overall.
@johncel27
Bro used an AI-generated response :feelskek:
Fuck this forum bro :feelswhy:
 
Also wtf who called my response pseudoscientific that’s hella retarded
 
Isotretinoin is a Vitamin A derivate and a retinoid ( Vitamin A analogue ).

Vitamin A analogues are known to affect your bone and cartilage metabolism, and several case reports and series have documented premature epiphyseal closure in patients treated with iso or related retinoids. In isolated adolescent cases, patients on acne-dose isotretinoin developed growth arrest and fused growth plates, most often in the knee. For example, a 15-year-old boy on isotretinoin (~1 mg/kg/day for 4.5 months) stopped growing.

Similarly, a 16-year-old on ~0.5–0.75 mg/kg/day for 6 months developed knee pain; MRI and imaging showed irregularity and ossification of the growth plate (epiphysiodesis) in femur and tibia.

The FDA has received dozens of reports: one review found 41 global cases of isotretinoin-linked epiphyseal closure in patients <18 years, in that survey, 9 reported cases ranged from 0.5 mg/kg/day (few months) to 3.5 mg/kg/day (years)

ReferenceAge/SexIsotretinoin Dose & DurationFindings
Tran et al. (2007) (poster)15/M~1 mg/kg/day for 4.5 monthsCessation of growth; knee X-ray showed fused distal femur/proximal tibia plates.
Luthi et al. (2012)16/M~6 months (0.5–0.75 mg/kg/day)MRI: irregular knee growth plates with edema; diagnosed retinoid‐induced epiphysiodesis. Symptoms (knee pain) resolved after stopping drug, though a thumbprint lesion remained.
Delgado et al. (2023) (NB survivors)9–16 (NB survivors)6.5–7.6 years (cumulative ∼8500 mg)Pediatric cancer context: On MRI, 3/20 had physeal bony bridges and 9/20 metaphyseal tongues; associated with short stature. (All treated with high-dose isotretinoin plus chemo/radiation.)
Multiple case seriesvariable (often high-dose)Neuroblastoma series found ~1.4% incidence of growth plate arrest (3/216 patients); others reported knee valgus deformities from asymmetric plate fusion.


Beyond case reports, epidemiologic data are sparse. A recent large retrospective cohort presented at AAD 2024 compared adult height in ~11,000 acne patients treated with isotretinoin (<=18 years old) vs. ~35,000 treated with doxycycline. On average, there was no reduction in adult height among isotretinoin users; in fact, the isotretinoin group was slightly taller than the control group. The authors concluded there was “evidence against an association between isotretinoin and premature epiphyseal closure” in pediatric acne patients

No prospective longitudinal trials have specifically followed growth rates during acne therapy. One small cross-sectional study (n≈30) reported on pediatric gh levels during iso: GH and IGF-1 levels were unchanged. A rat study found high-dose all-trans RA (10 days) markedly reduced circulating GH, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3; these rats had shorter bones, narrowed growth plates, and early bone marrow mineralization

Leachman et al. (1999) - A controlled study of young adult males (17–25 y) on isotretinoin (1 mg/kg for 6 months) vs untreated controls found a modest but significant bone density loss at the hip. Four of 28 treated men lost >9% at the hip. The authors warned this small loss, although modest, hinted at retinoid-induced osteoporosis requiring further study.

Acitretin (etretinate): Used in psoriasis, it is a potent retinoid with bone effects. In rats, high-dose acitretin over weeks caused degenerative changes in the growth platew Onder et al. (2020) gave juvenile rats 3–10 mg/kg/day acitretin for 4 weeks; histology showed epiphyseal degeneration and reduced plate thickness (though differences were not always statistically significant. This confirms that systemic retinoids can disturb growth cartilage. In humans, long-term acitretin is known to cause diffuse skeletal hyperostosis (excess bone growth) and bridging in adults, underscoring its strong effect on bone remodeling.

It seems the overall risk is a highly rare spontaneous closure - read the studies and coto your own conclusion.
dnr but does tret also cause growth plate closure
 
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