Dermatological disorders, treatment with retinoids

Dermatological disorders treatment with retinoids Diabetes mellitus treatment of non-insulin-dependent cases... 

Etretinate, a synthetic aromatic retinoid, has been used as an investigational drug in many thousands of patients throughout the world for various dermatologic disorders it is commercially available by prescription in several European countries for treatment of psoriasis and some disorders of keratinization. As with isotretinoin, the side effects manifested during therapy with etretinate are predominantly mucocutaneous. 

Important Treatment Modalities. Common ways of dealing with dermatological problems are topical treatments (such as ointments and creams) and oral treatments (drugs taken by mouth). Any bodily injury, irritation, or trauma that eliminates water, lipids, or protein from the epidermis compromises its function. Restoration of the normal epidermal barrier can often be accomplished using mild soaps and emollient creams or lotions. The often-cited dermatologic adage is If it is dry, wet it if it is wet, dry it. Consequently, wet compresses are a frequendy used remedy. A multitude of other topical treatments are available, from antibiotic, antiviral, or steroid ointments applied to treat infectious diseases or eczema to vitamin D derivative creams for psoriasis and retinoid creams for acne. Drugs can also be taken orally to treat a variety of conditions such as acne and autoimmune disorders. 

The results of this study, in which a synthetic retinoid was found to have a profound beneficial effect in the treatment of disorders of keratinization, should be of importance to areas other than dermatology. For instance, preneoplastic squamous metaplasia of tracheo-bronchial and urinary bladder epithelia may be other keratinizing disorders of man that could be successfully treated with the synthetic retinoids, as suggested by Sporn . Finally, patients with these cutaneous diseases, which have responded to 13-cis retinoic acid, may provide useful information in the evaluation of newer and potentially more potent and less toxic synthetic retinoids. 

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