Newly diagnosed and about to start Acitretin

[jiml]

Hello. I have just been diagnosed with psoriasis at 50, prescribed Acitretin: pick the medicine up tomorrow as it wasn't in stock today and I am worrying about the side effects. I have psoriasis really badly on my scalp, all over my face bar my chin (it is red and blotchy and then goes deep red and blotchy and my eyelids peel constantly), both arms, less prominent on my chest and back and a dozen or so plaques on my legs. I literally woke up on 08 March with sore  red eyes and by 21 March I was covered. I am worried about the fact Acitretin can make the rash worse: I feel that if it does get worse  I won't be able to cope with it. I am using protopic on my face and diprosalyic acid on my body as well...will those topical ointments help to stop my psoriasis worsening when I start the Acitretin? 
Does anyone have any experience about whether the worse it is to start with the worse it gets? 
I am due to go on holiday for a short break on 21 May to Cyprus, booked before this happened, but am wondering if this is a good idea..the dermatologist was very laid back and said go if you want to but he also did not mention much about the medication making things worse initially. Does anyone think it might be advisable not to go?
I have already had two weeks off sick whilst waiting for a diagnosis because commuting in to London in the cold weather was unbearable and people were staring at me as my face peeled (and someone on the train asked if I had scarlet fever). I only started my job 6 months ago and am dreading taking more time off but equally am concerned about working if it makes my psoriasis even worse. Sorry to be so negative but I am really concerned and welcome any advice from others who have experienced Acitretin. Oh and really worried about hair loss...it has already got thinner with the scalp psoriasis.

Hi and try not to worry ....there is every chance you will get a good result with the acetretin several members use it and have done well on it
See johnb's journal for his experience plus I'm sure he will tell you himself how it works for him [Group Specific]

Kelly did a thread about her experience here Acitrecin - Week 4 onwards

Kat's Journal from here [Group Specific]

I haven't been on acetretin but do follow the posts and it seems a good drug ...so my advice is not to stress about taking it ...as that won't help ..give it a good try.
There is no quick fix, whatever you get can take a while to get into your system and start to work....I wish I could say it will work overnight, but that is unlikely.....but we are all different and react differently to drugs...I hope it will work speedily for you and give you clearance

I will follow your thread with great interest
Jim