What is Calcipotriene?
Calcipotriene is a synthetic analog of vitamin D3 used to treat psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition. In psoriasis, skin cells undergo rapid turnover, meaning skin cells are produced at a faster rate than normal. This results in thick, raised, scaly plaques that appear on various parts of the body. Calcipotriene works by slowing down skin cell growth, helping to remove scales and flattening the thick plaques caused by psoriasis.
While there’s no cure for psoriasis, treatments like Calcipotriene can improve your symptoms and help prevent the formation of new plaques.
How does Calcipotriene work?
Psoriasis occurs due to an overproduction of keratinocytes (skin cells), resulting in thick, scaly patches on the skin. Calcipotriene, as a synthetic form of vitamin D3, binds to the vitamin D receptors in your skin cells. This, in turn, helps to reduce keratinocyte production and promote normal skin cell growth. This helps lessen inflammation, removes scales, and slows the growth of new skin cells.[1]
Is Calcipotriene a steroid?
No, Calcipotriene isn’t a steroid; it’s a synthetic vitamin D3 analog. Psoriasis is often treated with both topical steroids and vitamin D3 analogs, which can lead to confusion as they are sometimes thought to be similar. While both treatments are effective and produce similar results, the way they work is different. So if one treatment doesn’t work for you, you can always try the other.
Will I get side effects with Calcipotriene?
Yes, you might get side effects with Calcipotriene, including:
- Skin irritation
- Itching
- Burning sensation
- Redness
- Skin rash
- Worsened psoriasis
- Inflammation
The side effects should be mild and only last a short while until your skin adjusts to the treatment.
What doses of Calcipotriene are there?
Calcipotriene comes in a dose of 0.005%. The typical dose is a thin layer applied once daily.
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