Treatment of erythrokeratodermia variabilis with oral synthetic retinoids.

A thirty-one year old man and his ten year old daughter with the diagnosis of erythrokeratodermia variabilis, previously unresponsive to various topical agents and medication, were treated for seven weeks with oral retinoic acids. The response had been very good, particularly in the father. This is consistent with previous results obtained by other investigators in dermatosis characterized by accelerated or pathological keratinization, and perhaps enhances the possibility that the synthetic retinoids will be the future therapy of choice in controlling these conditions.