Flare up on Acitretin

[jiml]

I'm freaking out fellow flakers!!  After almost a year of clear skin I noticed a few new spots today. Granted they are really small and maybe only six or eight total but I'm at a loss as to why. My stress is at an all time low and I'm eating and drinking the same bad stuff I always do.   I want to put a stop to this pronto, without topical steroids.   HELP!!  And please don't say it's from eating a nightshade or drinking. I have been eating and drinking all of the wrong things for a year with zero flare ups.

Oh dear Kelly , try not to freak out, hopefully it's just a little blip and may well go away by itself, freaking out is probably the worst thing you could do, try to stay calm and focus on the good times of the last year.
But meantime have a word with your dermatologist, didn't you say some time ago you were on a reduced dose, maybe upping the dose for a short period may cause the spots to fade again.
Fred is right about maybe trying dovonex which is not a steroid ointment ( which I know you don't want to use again) it is a vitamin D derived cream which may be all you need. I would never advocate diet adjustment , as it's something I couldn't do myself

Firstly though you do need to stay calm it will help

Nobody knows for sure what causes these flares but be aware they may happen... and as soon as it happens talk to your dermatologist and enquire about a short term raising the dose of acetretin

Good luck Kelly