Dry lips on Acitretin

[elyl]

I've been on Acitretin for about 2 years and my psoriasis has never been better.  The worst side-effect I am experiencing, and it has become almost an obsession for me, is my dry lips.  It's not even so much that they are dry, it's as if the skin cells are overproducing.  I have taken to trimming the excess dry skin cells carefully with a small pair of scissors, but an hour or two later, it needs done again.

I have tried every kind of lip balm, even "Acnibex" which is supposedly specifically for the dry lips caused by retinoids, but nothing brings them under control.

How is everyone else dealing with this?  It's getting to the point that I feel like giving up on the Acitretin, even though I know the psoriasis would come back.

[Fred]

I think this is a common problem with Acitrtin and a lot of users have mentioned it.

I've not used Acitrtin myself but for dry lips I use Vaseline or Coconut Oil.

Welcome to Psoriasis Club by the way.

[D Foster]

Hi welcome to the forum.
I had a bit of a problem with my lips but I used Vaseline ,my main problem was my nails ..
Take care .

[elyl]

Vaseline, Camphor, Hydrocortisone Balm, Vitamin E lipbalm, Acnibex... just listing everything I've tried

I understand the dry lips are a symptom of Vitaminosis A, with retinoids almost being like a high dose of vitamin A.  One way to reverse Hypervitaminosis A is with large doses of Vitamin E and/or Lecithin.  I tried this, and for about two weeks I had normal lips, but despite keeping up the vitamin doses, my lips reverted to their previous state.

[Fred]

Vaseline, Camphor, Hydrocortisone Balm, Vitamin E lipbalm, Acnibex... just listing everything I've tried

Could be worth trying a good quality virgin coconut oil then as it's not on your list.

[jiml]

Hi elyl and to the club

I'm afraid Acetretin is something I have no experience of, so can't help but just wanted to say hi

[JohnB]

Hi elyl and welcome to the club and to the Acitretin gang   . Yup I'm with you on the dry lips thing they are a bloody nuisance. I've been on Acitretin since April and have the dry lips. I just use Nivea and put up with it. But I can understand why you are thinking of ditching Acitretin. Are the dry lips your only side effect?
JohnB

[elyl]

Hi elyl and welcome to the club and to the Acitretin gang   . Yup I'm with you on the dry lips thing they are a bloody nuisance. I've been on Acitretin since April and have the dry lips. I just use Nivea and put up with it. But I can understand why you are thinking of ditching Acitretin. Are the dry lips your only side effect?
JohnB

No, I also have hairloss (I'm pushing 40, so I can deal with that... would shave it off if I didn't have psoriasis on my scalp!), strange greasy skin on my face (almost like it's sticky, rather than greasy), and dry eyes and my nose dries out easily too.  All bearable apart from the lips.

[JohnB]

Hi elyl and welcome to the club and to the Acitretin gang   . Yup I'm with you on the dry lips thing they are a bloody nuisance. I've been on Acitretin since April and have the dry lips. I just use Nivea and put up with it. But I can understand why you are thinking of ditching Acitretin. Are the dry lips your only side effect?
JohnB

No, I also have hairloss (I'm pushing 40, so I can deal with that... would shave it off if I didn't have psoriasis on my scalp!), strange greasy skin on my face (almost like it's sticky, rather than greasy), and dry eyes and my nose dries out easily too.  All bearable apart from the lips.

Mmmm hair loss probably isn't a good one  . I think I've managed to dodge that one.  I get the sticky skin thing but it comes and goes. It has been so bad in the past that a party trick of mine was to lift a sheet of  paper up with the palm of my hand. The worst  thing with me is the peeling feet. Now that can be amusing peeling big hunks of of skin of the soles of your feet   . Not a pretty sight mind  .

Feel free to join in on the off topic section the bar is generally open but the stock levels may be a bit low if Jim has been slacking after New Years