What are some common medications used to treat skin diseases, including topical and oral options?
Common medications for treating skin conditions include both topical and oral drugs. Topical treatments are applied directly to the skin and include antibacterials like mupirocin and clindamycin, which help prevent infections. Antifungal agents such as clotrimazole and ketoconazole treat fungal infections like ringworm. Benzoyl peroxide is used for acne, while coal tar can help with psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Corticosteroids, available in various forms, treat eczema and other inflammatory conditions. Nonsteroidal ointments like crisaborole and tacrolimus are also used for eczema. Retinoids, derived from vitamin A, are effective for acne treatment. Salicylic acid is commonly found in products for acne and warts. Oral medications include antibiotics like dicloxacillin and tetracycline for bacterial infections, antifungal agents like fluconazole for severe fungal infections, and antiviral agents like acyclovir for herpes-related conditions. Oral corticosteroids like prednisone are used for autoimmune-related skin conditions. Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine treat severe psoriasis and eczema. Biologics, a newer class of drugs, target specific parts of the immune system to treat conditions like psoriasis. Enzyme inhibitors and JAK inhibitors are also used to reduce inflammation in various skin conditions. Lastly, oral retinoids like acitretin are used for severe psoriasis but come with significant side effects.