Anthralin for psoriasis

Examples

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Ointment, cream, or stick forms

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Micanol	anthralin

For short-term therapy, anthralin is applied to the skin or scalp for 20 to 60 minutes once a day, then washed or shampooed off.

Treatment usually starts with a product that contains a small amount of the medication. The amount is increased every few days as long as your symptoms are improving and you are not having side effects. If a lower-concentration product is used, it can be left on the skin longer (often overnight) and washed off in the morning.

Anthralin can be used in combination with coal tar and ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy (Ingram regimen). It can also be combined with corticosteroids or calcipotriene.

How It Works

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Anthralin limits the growth of skin cells.

Why It Is Used

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Anthralin is used to treat large, scaly patches of psoriasis on the arms, legs, or torso that have not cleared up with other treatment.

How Well It Works

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Used alone, anthralin can be effective over a period of a few weeks.

Anthralin is likely to be effective in 2 to 3 weeks when combined with ultraviolet (UV) light therapy (the Ingram regimen).¹

Side Effects

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Side effects of anthralin include:

• Irritation and discoloration of the skin that is not affected by psoriasis. (Take care to apply the product only to the skin affected by psoriasis, not to normal skin.)
• A purple-brown stain on the skin. The discolored skin may go away within 3 weeks after you stop using the drug.
• A deep red-brown color of the skin, which develops from the inflammation of psoriasis. It may take weeks or months to go away.
• White hair turning pink when anthralin is used on the scalp.

Newer forms of anthralin have made staining less of a problem.¹

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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Anthralin may permanently stain fabrics, showers, countertops, sinks, and other materials.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. Stern DK, Lebwohl MG (2005). Papulosquamous eruptions. In RE Rakel, ET Bope, eds., Conn's Current Therapy, pp. 906–914. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.

Credits

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Author	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Author	Ralph Poore
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
Last Updated	January 6, 2006