Acitretin: What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know

When you’re dealing with stubborn skin conditions like severe psoriasis, acitretin, a synthetic retinoid derived from vitamin A used to regulate skin cell growth. Also known as Soriatane, it’s not a cream or lotion—it’s a pill that works from the inside out to reset how your skin cells grow and shed. Unlike topical treatments that only cover the surface, acitretin targets the root cause: skin cells multiplying too fast and piling up into thick, scaly plaques.

It’s not for everyone. retinoid medication, a class of drugs based on vitamin A derivatives that influence cell differentiation and growth like acitretin are strong. Doctors usually only prescribe it when other treatments—like light therapy or topical steroids—have failed. It’s most commonly used for plaque psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, and sometimes severe eczema or ichthyosis. But because it stays in your body for months, even years, after you stop taking it, women of childbearing age must avoid pregnancy for at least three years after stopping treatment. That’s not a suggestion—it’s a strict medical rule.

Acitretin doesn’t just affect your skin. It can dry out your lips, eyes, and nasal passages. Some people get muscle aches, elevated cholesterol, or liver enzyme changes. That’s why blood tests are part of the process. You’ll need regular checkups to make sure your body is handling it. And while it’s not an immunosuppressant, it does interact with other drugs. If you’re on methotrexate, for example, your doctor will need to monitor you closely. It’s also not something you can buy over the counter or order online without a prescription. It’s tightly controlled for a reason.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of articles—it’s a real-world guide to how acitretin fits into the bigger picture of skin health. You’ll see how it compares to other systemic treatments, what patients actually experience long-term, how it affects fertility and liver function, and why some people stop taking it even when it works. There’s no fluff. Just clear, practical info from people who’ve been through it and doctors who’ve seen the results.