Psoriasis treatment: Oral retinoids
Why do dermatologists prescribe an oral retinoid to treat psoriasis?
Acitretin can:
Slow rapidly growing skin cells
Reduce redness and swelling
It has been shown to effectively treat:
Guttate psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis
Pustular psoriasis on the hands and feet
Pustular psoriasis that causes extensive pus-filled blisters on the body
Erythrodermic psoriasis
Patients with severe psoriasis who test positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
Unlike other medicine for severe psoriasis, oral retinoids do NOT suppress the immune system. For this reason, dermatologists prescribe this medicine to HIV-positive patients who need strong psoriasis medicine.
Safety and effectiveness
Rapid and impressive results are often seen in patients who have pustular psoriasis.
If you have plaque psoriasis, acitretin tends to be less effective than other psoriasis medicines that work throughout the body, such as methotrexate or cyclosporine. However, some patients see good results. It often takes months to see the full effects when treating plaque psoriasis.
To improve results and lower the amount of acitretin you need, your dermatologist may include phototherapy in your psoriasis treatment plan.
Acitretin and pregnancy
If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, you should NOT:
Handle the medicine
Breathe dust from the capsules
An oral retinoid can be very effective for treating a child who has severe psoriasis. A benefit of taking an oral retinoid is that it does NOT suppress the immune system. Suppressing the immune system makes it easier for you to get infections and diseases.
How to use an oral retinoid to treat psoriasis
Acitretin is a pill that you take a pill once a day.
Eat a meal and drink milk with acitretin
You want to take acitretin:
After eating your main meal of the day
AND
With a glass of milk or after eating some fatty food. Your body needs fat to absorb this medicine.
Possible side effects
When you first take acitretin, you may notice that the psoriasis worsens. Continue to take the medicine. Most patients start seeing some improvement after about two weeks. It can take up to 12 weeks though.
The most common side effects tend to occur on the skin, hair, nails, and tissue inside the mouth, nose, or eyes. These include:
Lips: Red and swollen with cracks in the corners or your mouth
Dryness: This can affect your eyes, nasal passages, or mouth
Chapped or peeling skin
Hair loss
Brittle nails
Burning or sticky feeling on your skin
Other side effects include unhealthy cholesterol levels, small clusters of bumps appearing around your fingernails or toenails, reduced color vision, difficulty seeing at night, and pain in your muscles or joints. In rare cases, excessive growth or thickening of bone can occur. Other serious bone problems are possible.
Don't donate blood on acitretin
You should NOT donate blood while taking acitretin and for 3 years after you stop taking it. If a pregnant woman receives your blood, her baby could be born with serious birth defects.
One of the most serious side effects is the possibility of severe birth defects. For this reason, women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should NOT take acitretin.
To prevent birth defects, women should wait three years after taking acitretin before trying to become pregnant.
To reduce the risk of possible side effects, dermatologists carefully select their patients, prescribe the lowest possible dose, and monitor each patient.
To help your dermatologist decide if you can take acitretin, be sure to tell your dermatologist about all of your medical conditions and medicines, even if it seems unimportant.
What to discuss with your dermatologist
You should tell your dermatologist if you:
Experience any side effect
Do not see results after taking all of the medicine as prescribed
Have questions or concerns
Become pregnant or plan to become pregnant within three years
Images
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References
Hugh J, Van Voorhees A S, et al. “From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: The risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with psoriasis and the potential impact of current therapies.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Jan;7091):168-77.
Lebwohl M et al. Translating Evidence into Practice: Psoriasis Guidelines. Symposium presented at: American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting 2014. August 7-9, 2014; Chicago.
Menter A, Korman NJ, et al. “Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis Section 4. Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with traditional systemic agents.” J Am Acad Dermatol2009;61:451-85.