Low levels of these natural stress hormones can cause severe side effects. Children are at higher risk for adrenal insufficiency in such cases than older people are. Corticosteroids should not be used during pregnancy or when nursing. Eventually in most cases, resistance to these drugs develops or the disease recurs after treatment is stopped. The drug can cause sun sensitivity and increases the risk for sunburn for up to 24 hours after use.
Preparations have a strong smell and can stain clothing and irritate the skin.
If the medication is ingested, poison control should be called immediately. It appears to benefit patients with psoriasis by slowing skin cell reproduction. Remissions can last up to months. The most effective anthralin form is a hard paste, although patients find it difficult to use the paste version compared to ointment and cream preparations, although the latter offer fewer benefits. Anthralin is recommended only for chronic or inactive psoriasis, not for acute or inflamed eruptions.