Health Boards
Tue-13-12-2016, 14:02 PM
Hi Nicci and welcome to the club and to the Acitretin Gang 
.
Unfortunately this stuff does have a nasty habit of making you worse before it starts to work. I've been on the stuff since April, starting on 25mg, going up to 30mg and then dropping back down to 25mg. I was fortunate with the itching mine stopped fairly quickly but then the dreaded side effects kicked in. Dry lips were the first smartly followed by sticky palms then peeling hands and peeling feet. The sticky palms receded about a month ago, the peeling hands a month previous to that. As for the peeling feet they are still shedding and I still have dry lips.
For the itching you could try a non drowsy anti histamine and use a good moisturizer. I use Cetraben first thing and Dermol just before bed. A good quality unprocessed virgin coconut oil is the forums go to and yes it is good but not as easy to apply when you are half comatose in the dark getting ready for work. For the dry lips, tons of lip balm. I use Nivea Hydro care.
So yes thus stuff does work but it is a very slow burner, must people take 6 to 12 weeks before they see any improvements. As for the side effects, everybody is so different so it is very difficult to predict how your body will react over the coming monthsIf
If you have any worries though I would suggest contacting your Dermy. In the meantime if you have any questions please ask, I will do my best to give an honest answer as soon as I can
JohnB
.Unfortunately this stuff does have a nasty habit of making you worse before it starts to work. I've been on the stuff since April, starting on 25mg, going up to 30mg and then dropping back down to 25mg. I was fortunate with the itching mine stopped fairly quickly but then the dreaded side effects kicked in. Dry lips were the first smartly followed by sticky palms then peeling hands and peeling feet. The sticky palms receded about a month ago, the peeling hands a month previous to that. As for the peeling feet they are still shedding and I still have dry lips.
For the itching you could try a non drowsy anti histamine and use a good moisturizer. I use Cetraben first thing and Dermol just before bed. A good quality unprocessed virgin coconut oil is the forums go to and yes it is good but not as easy to apply when you are half comatose in the dark getting ready for work. For the dry lips, tons of lip balm. I use Nivea Hydro care.
So yes thus stuff does work but it is a very slow burner, must people take 6 to 12 weeks before they see any improvements. As for the side effects, everybody is so different so it is very difficult to predict how your body will react over the coming monthsIf
If you have any worries though I would suggest contacting your Dermy. In the meantime if you have any questions please ask, I will do my best to give an honest answer as soon as I can
JohnB