Acitretin belongs to a group of medicines called ‘Retinoids- chemical compound related to vitamin A’. It is used to treat severe skin problems where the skin has become thick and may be scaly.

These skin problems include psoriasis (skin disease characterized by dry red patches covered with scales), ichthyosis (congenital diseases in which the skin is dry and scaly like a fish) and keratosis follicularis (hereditary condition marked by dark crusted patches, also known as Darier’s disease). It acts by making the skin grow more normally. Acitretin is normally used while under the care of a specialist dermatologist (skin doctor).