Michael Stierstorfer MD
Diplomate, American Board
of Dermatology

 

 

Therapeutic Uses Of Vitamin A & Vitamin A Derivatives


 Article Highlights

  • Vitamin A supplementation is used to treat vitamin A deficiency and also is often recommended for 6 to 24 month old children with measles and for hospitalized children over 6 months of age.
  • Several vitamin A-derived medications are commonly used to treat acne, psoriasis and a number of other medical conditions.

  1. Vitamin A deficiency. Pre-formed vitamin A and beta-carotene may be used to treat vitamin A deficiency. In the U.S., vitamin A deficiency most commonly is found in malnourished individuals, including but not limited to individuals with chronic malabsorption due to Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, pancreatic disease and alcoholism. Consult your physician.
  2. Ill children. Vitamin A supplementation is recommended in children age 6 months to 24 months with measles and in hospitalized children over age 6 months. Consult your physician.
  3. Vitamin A and cancer prevention. The vitamin A derivative acitretin (brand name: Soriatane®), a prescription oral medication, is used in organ transplant recipients to prevent skin cancer. Acitretin also is used to help control a number of other types of cancer.
  4. Vitamin A and acne. The vitamin A derivatives tretinoin (brand name: Retin A®) and tazarotene (brand name: Tazorac®), prescription medications, are excellent topical treatments for acne. The vitamin A derivative isotretinoin (brand names: Accutane®, Sotret®, Amnesteem®, Claravis®) is a powerful oral prescription medication for the treatment of severe acne. Click here to see Practical Guide to Accutane Side Effects.
  5. Vitamin A and psoriasis. Acitretin (brand name: Soriatane) also is an excellent oral treatment, and the vitamin A derivative tazarotene (brand name: Tazorac®), an effective topical treatment for psoriasis.
  6. Vitamin A and other skin diseases. Some types of icthyosis and Darier’s disease may be treated with acitretin (brand: Soriatane®) or isotretinoin (brand names: Accutane®, Sotret®, Amnesteem®, Claravis®).
  7. Vitamin A and other disease states. In cirrhosis, other causes of steatorrhea, severe biliary obstruction, after total gastrectomy, and various infections, where absorption, mobilization or storage of vitamin A is affected, vitamin A supplementation may be necessary. Consult your physician.

Taking or considering Accutane? Learn more about Accutane side effects and their management.

FDA precaution: avoid supplemental vitamin A while taking Accutane. ebA* (*everything but "A") Multivitamin Supplement contains no vitamin A.