58 research outputs found
Topical immunomodulators in dermatology
Topical immunomodulators are agents that regulate the local immune
response of the skin. They are now emerging as the therapy of choice
for several immune-mediated dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis,
contact allergic dermatitis, alopecia areata, psoriasis, vitiligo,
connective tissue disorders such as morphea and lupus erythematosus,
disorders of keratinization and several benign and malignant skin
tumours, because of their comparable efficacy, ease of application and
greater safety than their systemic counterparts. They can be used on a
domiciliary basis for longer periods without aggressive monitoring. In
this article, we have discussed the mechanism of action, common
indications and side-effects of the commonly used topical
immunomodulators, excluding topical steroids. Moreover, newer agents,
which are still in the experimental stages, have also been described. A
MEDLINE search was undertaken using the key words "topical
immunomodulators, dermatology" and related articles were also searched.
In addition, a manual search for many Indian articles, which are not
indexed, was also carried out. Wherever possible, the full article was
reviewed. If the full article could not be traced, the abstract was
used
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