Newly diagnosed and about to start Acitretin

[Kentpatient]

Right now then, where do I start??
Acitretin. I could tell you it is all sweetness and light but here you will only get honest feedback from people that have been there.
Yes there are an awful lot of side effects to Acitretin but as with all medication everybody is different. How it will effect you is anybody's guess. All I can do is tell you my experience.

I started off on 25mg for about 12 weeks, but because the clearance was slow they upped it to 30mg. Eventually I had to stop as I was suffering from headaches and my description of them have them cause to stop the medication and send me for a head CT. Fortunately all the tests came back clear (although Mrs John was surprised they actually found a brain). So after several months with nothing and my Ps returning it was decided that I should give Acitretin a second chance and was restarted on 10mg, but it had no effect. So it was increased to 25mg and that is where I am now. As for side effects, on both occasions dry lips started at around the 3 week mark. Another couple of weeks my hands started peeling, the following week my feet feeling left out decided to join the party. I have to be honest and the hands and feet don't look pretty, but I am more than happy to put up with the side effects at the moment. Although the Ps is still obvious it doesn't itch and I don't have to vaccuum my bedroom ever day.
I would strongly suggest you give it a go and here is the but it can be a very slow burner. I was way beyond 12 weeks before I saw any real reduction in redness thickness and scaling. I have heard of people getting sure stantial clearance in a couple of weeks. It just goes to back up the everybody is different mantra.

As for your holiday I would implore you to go. The sunshine on bare skin will help a lot. I would be careful of what sunscreen to use. Only use a factor 30 and check on a small patch that it doesn't irritate you.

I'm more than happy to offer more help if you need it, but I may not be able to reply promptly.

I  really do hope you find a friend in Acitretin, it is one of the lesser of several evils.

Enjoy your holiday and don't forget our stick of rock
JohnB

Thank you JohnB
It's helpful to hear your experience especially as you've done it twice. I am giving it a go I only hope things don't get worse as they are pretty bad now especially my face. I will go away, especially as my best friend has pledged not to drink either while we are away and your advice about sunscreen is noted. 
Can I ask if you also used topical treatments at the same time? My dermatologist said to keep using protopic and diprosalic steroid ointment. But they don't help much anyway so I wondered if it makes a difference to to how the Acitretin works?

 Yes stick of rock on my list...if I can fit it in alongside all the lotions and potions I seem to have to travel with now. 
Thanks again.