Table of Contents
- Skin irritation and burning
- Staining of clothes, hair, fabrics, plastics, and other household products
Patients should not use anthralin on the face. Fair-skinned people should generally avoid it.
Triethanolamine (CuraStain) is a chemical that can neutralize anthralin and help reduce irritation from short-contact anthralin treatment. It should be applied 1 or 2 minutes before washing off the anthralin. It is then reapplied after drying the skin.
Washing stained items with hypochlorite (Clorox) detergents can help remove stains. Many people use disposable gloves while applying the treatment to avoid staining their hands.
Application. Apply anthralin only to the psoriasis plaques. Rub in the cream well, and wipe off any excess. Wash off only with lukewarm water, not soap. Using hot water will trigger the staining action. A technique called short-contact anthralin therapy (SCAT), also called minute therapy, is useful for local areas of psoriasis. In such cases, anthralin is applied for only 10 minutes to an hour.
Topical Retinoids
Retinoids are related to vitamin A. They are used for various skin disorders. Tazarotene (Tazorac) was the first topical retinoid found to be effective for mild-to-moderate psoriasis. It is available in cream or gel form.
Unlike steroids, retinoids do not cause thinning of the skin or tolerance to the drug. Only a very small amount is needed on each lesion. Retinoid gel can be used on the scalp and nails, but it is not recommended for the genital areas or around the eyes. The gel should be used on only 20% of the body at any time; the cream can be used on up to 35% of the body.
Combining topical retinoids with other psoriasis treatments, such as topical steroids, works better than using the drug by itself.
Side Effects. Tazarotene may cause dryness and irritation of healthy skin. Applying zinc oxide and moisturizer around the treated area can protect healthy skin.
At levels high enough to be effective for treating psoriasis, tazarotene can cause severe skin irritation on treated areas. This medicine is usually used in combination with other treatments, allowing patients to use a lower dose. Mixing the drug in equal amounts with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) at first, and then gradually increasing the amount of tazarotene may help the skin areas become less sensitive. The skin can become very red while it is actually improving.
Vitamin A derivatives (drugs related to vitamin A) have been associated with birth defects and should not be used by women who are pregnant, who wish to conceive, or who are nursing.
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Review Date: 10/21/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
