Effects of Isotretinoin on Smell

Isotretinoin is a common medicine used to treat moderate to severe acne. It often causes dryness of the skin and the inside of the nose. Because a normal sense of smell depends on a healthy nasal lining, this dryness may affect how well a person can smell.

This study will examine whether isotretinoin treatment changes the sense of smell in adults with acne. Before starting isotretinoin, participants will complete a standardized smell test and two short questionnaires about nasal symptoms and quality of life: the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). After at least 4 weeks of treatment, the same smell test and questionnaires will be repeated.

By comparing results before and after treatment, the study will test the hypothesis that isotretinoin has a negative effect on olfactory function and may reduce patients' ability to smell.