Introduction
This page includes a list of systemic medicines used for the inflammatory skin diseases, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria.
For further information, refer to the individual treatment pages listed below.
Some of these medications are considered immune suppressants, especially those marked with an asterisk (*). Immune suppressants increase the risk of acquiring infection and may increase the severity of an infection.
Psoriasis
Common systemic treatments for psoriasis
Less common treatments for psoriasis
Biologics for psoriasis
Biologics for psoriasis include:
- Infliximab (Remicade®)
- Etanercept (Enbrel®)
- Adalimumab (Humira®)
- Ustekinumab (Stelara®)
- Secukinumb (Cosentxy®)
- Ixekizumab (Taltz®)
- Brodalumab (Siliq®)
- Guselkumab (Tremfya®)
- Tildrakizumab (ILUMYA®)
- Efalizumab (Raptiva®—withdrawn from the market in 2009)
- Alefacept (Amevive®—withdrawn from the market in 2011).
Moderate and severe psoriasis suitable for systemic therapy
Atopic dermatitis
Common systemic treatments for eczema
- Systemic steroids (eg, prednisone or prednisolone) *
- Methotrexate
- Azathioprine*
Less common treatments for eczema
Biologics for eczema
Severe atopic dermatitis suitable for systemic therapy
Urticaria
Common systemic treatments for urticaria
Biologics for urticaria
- Omalizumab (Xolair®)
Urticaria