What is Accutane and how does it work? Dermatologist, Dr. Richard Thomas talks about the powerful but sometimes controversial treatment Accutane (Isotretinoin) and the possible mechanisms involved in acne formation. A must watch video for those with moderate to severe acne. What causes acne, and how does Accutane stop acne from occurring? Dr. Thomas reminds us that despite great advances in our understanding of acne and increase in treatment safety and efficacy, we still don’t have a perfect understanding of the detailed mechanisms of acne and how isotretinoin acts on it. Our understanding of acne itself has changed over the years. We now understand inflammation as a critical process in acne. What we do know, however, is that isotretinoin is a powerful and effective drug for treating moderate to severe acne. If you are interested in the Accutane controversy, or the pros and cons of this treatment, please watch this video where Dr. Richard Thomas addresses this directly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWAlDX2iSJA