Systemic therapy

Medications may need to be given systemically in skin diseases that are severe or extensive. Bacterial or viral infections may not respond to local topical therapy. Spirochetal, rickettsial, deep fungal and mycobacterial infections must be treated by systemic administration of proper therapeutic agents.

Systemic administration of corticosteroids, anti-neoplastic agents (methotrexate, cutaneous lymphoma protocols) and other drugs are required for many generalized skin diseases.