Anthralin is a medicine applied to the skin of people with psoriasis. It controls the extra-rapid growth of skin cells. It is not a cortisone, but a strong medicine that can cause the skin to become sore and irritated. Anthralin does not start to work until it has been used for several weeks. One of the advantages of anthralin over cortisone ointments is that once the psoriasis goes away, it stays away for a longer period of time.

Drawbacks

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Anthralin tends to irritate the skin and can make it very red and sore. Careful attention to details of treatment will help you to get the benefits of anthralin treatment while avoiding skin irritation. Anthralin causes temporary brownish staining of the skin. This stain is mild and fades away when anthralin is stopped. Anthralin stains clothes permanently.

References

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The Skin Site http://www.skinsite.com Pharmacologic agents