Retinoids are prescribed for a variety of common skin conditions, including wrinkles, sun spots, warts, wounds and severe acne.

Other disorders that may be treated with retinoids include:

• Psoriasis. Common, chronic condition marked by frequent episodes in which the skin becomes itchy and red and develops thick, dry, silvery scales.
  
  
• Psoriatic arthritis. A form of arthritis that develops as a complication of the skin disorder psoriasis.
  
  
• Cancers. Retinoids can be used to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (cancer of the T cells, often confined to the skin, but able to spread to other regions) by interfering with the growth of tumor cells. They can also be used to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of cancer characterized by the abnormal growth of blood vessels that develop into skin lesions or occur internally), which commonly affects AIDS patients.
  
  
• Lichen planus. A relatively common skin disease that appears as shiny, reddish-purplish, flat-topped bumps with an angular shape.
  
  
• Follicular disorders. Disorders of the tiny sacs beneath the skin that produce hairs. These may include folliculitis (infection of hair follicles that occurs on the skin or scalp and resembles acne pimples or crusty sores), rosacea (a skin disorder leading to redness and pimples on the nose, forehead, cheekbones and chin) and hidradenitis suppurativa (chronic disease marked by clogging of the apocrine sweat glands found on certain parts of the body).
  
  
• Disorders of keratinization (the process by which skin is replaced following sores or ulcers), such as:
  
  
• • Keratosis follicularis (Darier disease). A rare, hereditary condition marked by dark, crusted patches that sometimes contain pus.
    
    
  • Actinic keratoses. Small, rough spots on skin that has been chronically exposed to the sun.
    
    
  • Pityriasis rubra pilaris. Rare skin condition characterized a group of unusual eruptions that cause red, scaly patches containing dry, plugged pores.
    
    
  • Ichthyosis. A condition in which the skin becomes very dry, rough and scaly.