Dermatologist Advises Caution on Topical Isotretinoin for Acne Treatment
Dr. John Barbieri, Director of the advanced acne therapeutics clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, advises against the use of topical isotretinoin for acne treatment, particularly for teenagers. Despite its marketing as an alternative to oral isotretinoin, clinical trials indicate that topical isotretinoin does not outperform other established topical retinoids like adapalene or tretinoin. Furthermore, topical isotretinoin is not an FDA-licensed product in the United States and must be compounded. This compounding process introduces potential risks due to less regulated quality controls compared to products available through regular pharmacies. Dr. Barbieri emphasizes that there is no scenario where he would consider topical isotretinoin superior to other over-the-counter (OTC) options. 
