Oral Retinoids in Dermatology

In 1981, oral retinoids were recognized as a significant advancement in dermatology, particularly for treating severe skin conditions like psoriasis, ichthyosis, and cystic acne. Retinoids such as acitretin (AR) and 13-cis retinoic acid were effective in inducing morphological and functional changes in the skin, with dose-dependent effects. While retinoids showed promise in experimental models and had a profound impact on skin, they were not curative and were best used as long-term, low-dose treatments for severe genetic disorders or as short-term adjuncts to other therapies. Side effects included dryness, increased skin fragility, hair loss in up to 50% of long-term users, and elevated serum triglycerides. Retinoids also had the potential to cause systemic toxicity when combined with certain topically applied drugs. Despite these concerns, retinoids were valuable in enhancing the effectiveness of other treatments and offered considerable advantages in managing difficult skin disorders, but required careful dosage and patient management due to their potent nature and potential side effects. The document did not specify the number of participants in the studies it referenced.