mXN3L
a cope a day keeps the rope away
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Does Accutane/isotretinoin close growth plates?
Short answer: no, but in extreme cases yes.
So first where does the question even originated from?
The idea that accutane might affect height comes from rare reports and anecdotal cases of growth plate changes in children taking very high doses for cancer which are far higher than acne doses. Some people also mention personal or online stories of slowed growth or stopped growth during the taking of accutane.
Angela Duvalyan et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 Aug.
Premature epiphyseal growth plate arrest after isotretinoin therapy
The study looked at children with high risk neuroblastoma treated with very high doses of isotretinoin and reported a few cases of premature growth plate closure showing that this risk occurs only with high doses in young children not with typical doses you may implement
Even with the one case reports we need to notice something they almost all have in common the kids were very young and received very high or long-term doses far beyond what is used for acne
And now for the biggest evidence what would happen to you if you've taken accutane during your puberty while not being too young and the dose being reasonable?
An Retrospective cohort from 2025 followed over 1,400 teens who took Accutane compared to those treated with antibiotics they found that while accutane could slightly slow growth during treatment it did not affect final adult height in other words for teens going through puberty taking accutane at typical acne doses doesn’t stunt your height even temporary changes in hormones like igf1 during treatment didn’t show lower adult height so the real data shows that as long as you’re not taking extremely high doses or very young your growth is safe
Conclusion:
All the “Data” about Accutane stunting your height is just fearmongering the only people who had problems were tiny kids on crazy high doses not normal teens taking normal acne treatment dosages stop worrying about stuff that doesn’t actually happen
credits: @_sox9 tt
Short answer: no, but in extreme cases yes.
So first where does the question even originated from?
The idea that accutane might affect height comes from rare reports and anecdotal cases of growth plate changes in children taking very high doses for cancer which are far higher than acne doses. Some people also mention personal or online stories of slowed growth or stopped growth during the taking of accutane.
Angela Duvalyan et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 Aug.
Premature epiphyseal growth plate arrest after isotretinoin therapy
The study looked at children with high risk neuroblastoma treated with very high doses of isotretinoin and reported a few cases of premature growth plate closure showing that this risk occurs only with high doses in young children not with typical doses you may implement
Even with the one case reports we need to notice something they almost all have in common the kids were very young and received very high or long-term doses far beyond what is used for acne
And now for the biggest evidence what would happen to you if you've taken accutane during your puberty while not being too young and the dose being reasonable?
An Retrospective cohort from 2025 followed over 1,400 teens who took Accutane compared to those treated with antibiotics they found that while accutane could slightly slow growth during treatment it did not affect final adult height in other words for teens going through puberty taking accutane at typical acne doses doesn’t stunt your height even temporary changes in hormones like igf1 during treatment didn’t show lower adult height so the real data shows that as long as you’re not taking extremely high doses or very young your growth is safe
Conclusion:
All the “Data” about Accutane stunting your height is just fearmongering the only people who had problems were tiny kids on crazy high doses not normal teens taking normal acne treatment dosages stop worrying about stuff that doesn’t actually happen
credits: @_sox9 tt
