What medication is known to cause drying out and thinning of the skin?

Accutane, also known as isotretinoin, is specifically designed to treat severe acne by reducing the size and output of sebaceous glands in the skin. One of the well-known side effects of Accutane is that it causes drying out and thinning of the skin. This occurs because the medication decreases oil production, which can lead to a reduction in moisture levels in the skin, resulting in dryness and a potential thinning effect.

While retinol is a derivative of vitamin A used primarily for anti-aging and skin revitalization, it can also cause dryness but not to the extreme extent seen with Accutane. Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid that can temporarily improve the appearance of the skin by reducing inflammation, but it is not primarily associated with widespread dryness or thinning. Benzoyl peroxide is commonly used for acne treatment and may cause dryness as a side effect, but it operates quite differently from Accutane, and its drying effect is typically less severe.