second-line treatment

Last reviewed 01/2018

These include:

  • oral retinoids (synthetic vitamin A derivatives) - these have a normalising effect on epidermal growth. Oral retinoids may however worsen Netherton's syndrome (1) and cause erosions in bullous ichthyosis erythroderma (2)
    • however isotretinoin has been used to successfully treat ichyosis vulgaris, X-linked ichthyosis, epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and lamellar ichthyosis (3)
  • PUVA phototherapy and cyclosporin A have been used in Netherton's syndrome. However the results have been mixed

Reference:

  • (1) Judge MR, Morgan G, Harper JI. A clinical and immunological study of Netherton's syndrome. Br J Dermatol 1994; 121:615-21.
  • (2) Prescriber 2000; 11 (20):97-101.
  • (3) Dermatology in Practice 2007;15(4):26-28.