Deprescribing in dermatology: a systematic review of current dermatological guidelines

The term "deprescribing" refers to the systematic process of identifying, tapering, and discontinuing individually ineffective and/or potentially harmful drugs. Considering various aspects, the present review addresses the concept of "deprescribing" in the context of recommendations for use of systemic drugs contained in current dermatological guidelines. Overall, 16 sets of guidelines developed under the auspices of the German Society of Dermatology (DDG) were reviewed. Our analysis shows that many guidelines contain no or insufficient information in terms of deprescribing systemic drugs. We therefore propose that future guidelines and guideline updates should include standardized recommendations for discontinuation or dose adjustment of systemic therapies.