This clinical review outlines a practical approach to the use of acitretin in the treatment of psoriasis. Acitretin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. It is an oral retinoid and is the only systemic agent that is not clinically immunosuppressive; it works primarily by enhancing differentiation and maturation of cells. Side effects associated with this medication are usually mild and manageable; serious adverse events are rare. Therefore, it can be used for long-term maintenance therapy or in combination with other topical or systemic agents and phototherapy.
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