Anthralin is a topical medication used to treat psoriasis and other skin conditions. The medication comes in cream, paste or ointment form and is intended for external use on affected areas of the skin and scalp. Anthralin works by slowing down the rate at which skin cells grow. Generally, the medication is used until the affected area of the skin has been treated.
The most common side effects of anthralin are irritation and redness or staining of the treated area of the skin. An allergic reaction is a rare, but serious, side effect. Other serious side effects include skin rash, soreness of the skin and the spread of lesions. A patient suffering serious side effects or common side effects that persist should talk to a doctor immediately.
It is important that a patient follows his or her doctor’s directions when using anthralin. The medication might be prescribed in one of two different methods of application: short contact or overnight. Short contact is when a patient leaves the medication on for between 10 and 30 minutes, then washes it off. Overnight application requires the patient to wear the medication overnight, washing it off the next morning.
Applying anthralin is the same in both short contact and overnight treatment. For skin treatment, the skin should be washed and completely dried, and then the medication should be applied. If normal areas of the skin get irritated as a result of the medication, the patient can use petroleum jelly as protection. With scalp treatment, the medication is applied after the scalp and hair have been shampooed and washed to remove scales. If there are no affected areas on the hands that need to be treated, the patient should wear gloves when applying anthralin.
Generally, to wash the medication off the skin or scalp, the patient should use cool to lukewarm water to rinse the area and then use soap or shampoo. This method of washing can vary with the form of anthralin being used. In any case, the patient should take care to completely remove the medication from all areas of contact.
There are areas in which the medication should not be applied, including the eyes, nose and mouth. Other places to avoid are in skin folds or creases, such as between toes and fingers. In addition, it should not be used on the face or in genital areas. Anthralin should not be used if the patient has inflamed areas that are blistered or raw.
