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Introduction to dermatological treatment
Published in Richard Ashton, Barbara Leppard, Differential Diagnosis in Dermatology, 2021
Richard Ashton, Barbara Leppard
This is a synthetic anthracene derivative which can be very effective in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis. The major problems with dithranol are: Irritation and burning of normal skin.Brown discoloration of the skin and a mauve/purple staining of the patient's clothes which will not wash out.
Paper 4
Published in Aalia Khan, Ramsey Jabbour, Almas Rehman, nMRCGP Applied Knowledge Test Study Guide, 2021
Aalia Khan, Ramsey Jabbour, Almas Rehman
Psoriasis usually improves in pregnancy and a flare-up may be experienced post partum. First-line treatment includes emollients, topical mild and moderately potent steroids and dithranol, which are all safe in pregnancy. Second-line, systemic treatment which is safest is UVB followed by ciclosporin (both only to be initiated in secondary care). Manufacturers of calcipotriol advise avoidance. UVA is teratogenic. Methotrexate should be avoided 3 months pre-conceptually by both men and women. Retinoids should be avoided for 2 years by women who want to conceive. Reference: Weatherhead S et al. Management of psoriasis in pregnancy. BMJ. 2007; 334: 1218–20.
Psoriasis and lichen planus
Published in Rashmi Sarkar, Anupam Das, Sumit Sethi, Concise Dermatology, 2021
Anthralin (dithranol) is a potent reducing agent that has marked therapeutic activity in psoriasis. It is generally used in ascending concentrations, starting at 0.1% or 0.05% and rising to 5.0%. Dithranol often irritates and burns the skin and care must be taken to match the concentration used to the individual patient’s tolerance. It also causes a distinctive brown–purple staining of clothes (Figure 9.13), towels, and skin. Apart from the irritation and staining, dithranol has no serious side effects.
Pharmacotherapeutic management of psoriasis in adolescents and children
Published in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2019
S. D’Adamio, D. Silvaggio, A. Massaro, P. Lombardo, L. Bianchi, M. Talamonti, M. Galluzzo
Dithranol has an antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activity. Its particular mechanism is not fully understood [30]. Anthralin is a safe and effective treatment but can stain clothes and irritate local skin, being actually misused preferring newer and more comfortable compounds. The concentrations depend on the areas to treat, being lower for more sensitive areas [31]. Numerous studies evaluated a different strategy of application to limit irritation and staining keeping a good efficacy rate, the so-called short-contact therapy, in this case, the concentrations used are higher and the anthralin is left on for short periods of time (10–30 min) before washing off [32–35].
Perspectives on the pharmacological management of psoriasis in pediatric and adolescent patients
Published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 2021
Emmanuel Mahé, Maud Amy De La Bretêque, Céline Phan
Although its mechanism of action remains unknown, dithranol has antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects. It may be applied as a short-contact therapy (for 10 to 60 minutes) under careful parental supervision. The treatment is effective in 70% to 80% of cases. Dithranol can be considered as a safe long‐term treatment because it is not known to cause carcinogenicity or systemic toxicity. The main side effects are skin irritation and staining of the skin and clothes [1,3,36,37].
Solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carrier-based nanotherapeutics for the treatment of psoriasis
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2021
Dithranol is an anthracycline derivative and effective toward psoriasis to a great extent. It functions by releasing reactive oxygen species and is mainly applied on scalp [55]. Yet, it has been found to be less effective than vitamin D as well as suffers from limitations, such as skin irritation and staining [56].