Acitretin

Acitretin is an oral retinoid medication indicated for the treatment of severe, recalcitrant skin disorders of keratinization that are unresponsive to conventional therapies. It is primarily used in the management of chronic, difficult-to-treat psoriasis and other severe dermatologic conditions associated with abnormal keratinization.

✅ Approved & Common Indications

🌿 Severe Psoriasis

Indicated for the treatment of severe forms of psoriasis, particularly:

• Erythrodermic psoriasis
• Pustular psoriasis
• Extensive plaque psoriasis
  It reduces the abnormal proliferation of skin cells and helps normalize keratinization, decreasing scaling, redness, and thickness of psoriatic plaques.

🌿 Disorders of Keratinization

Approved for the management of severe keratinization disorders when other treatments have failed, including:

• Ichthyosis (severe, congenital, or acquired forms)
• Pityriasis rubra pilaris
• Darier’s disease (keratosis follicularis)
• Palmoplantar keratoderma
• Severe actinic keratosis (off-label, in select cases)

🌿 Adjunct in Combination Therapy

May be used in combination with phototherapy (PUVA or UVB) or other systemic agents for enhanced therapeutic effects in managing severe, resistant psoriasis and keratinization disorders.