ABSTRACT
Most patients undergoing topical retinoid therapy experience “retinoid dermatitis,” a type of irritant contact dermatitis characterized by erythema, scaling, dryness, burning, and pruritis (Webster et al., 2001; Leyden et al., 2001; Leyden and Grove, 2001). Although these symptoms are sometimes considered unpleasant, the relationship of this irritation to retinoid pharmacology and therapeutic benefi t has been a topic of debate. Similarities between nonspecifi c irritant contact dermatitis and retinoid dermatitis raise questions about the specifi city of retinoid-induced cutaneous changes. However, newer evidence suggests that some of these effects are, in fact, receptormediated and specifi c to topical retinoids.
