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Short answer Starting alitretinoin: what to know Common questions Related questions Sources**Alitretinoin is a vitamin A type retinoid that in the United States is prescribed as a skin gel to treat the lesions of Kaposi sarcoma, while an oral version used in some other countries treats severe chronic hand eczema.**
Which use applies to you depends entirely on the form you were given. The 0.1% gel is FDA approved only for cutaneous lesions of Kaposi sarcoma, and it treats the spots you put it on rather than the underlying HIV infection or disease elsewhere in the body. Oral alitretinoin capsules are licensed in the UK and parts of Europe for chronic hand eczema that has not cleared with strong topical steroids, but they are not approved in the US. Both forms can cause birth defects, so anyone who can become pregnant needs reliable contraception and pregnancy testing arranged with the prescriber. Response to the gel is usually gradual, so keep applying as directed and bring photos or notes to your dermatologist, oncologist, or HIV clinician at follow up visits.
Starting alitretinoin: what to know
Common questions
What is Alitretinoin used for?
Alitretinoin is a retinoid, meaning a vitamin A derivative, and the form matters. In the United States it is available as a 0.1% topical gel approved to treat skin lesions of Kaposi sarcoma, a cancer most often linked to advanced HIV. You apply the gel directly to the lesions, and it acts on that skin rather than treating HIV or disease inside the body. Oral alitretinoin capsules are used in the UK and Europe for severe chronic hand eczema that has not responded to strong topical steroids, but that oral form is not FDA approved in the US. Both forms can cause serious birth defects, so pregnancy must be prevented during treatment.