New drugs in pediatric dermatology

A number of important therapeutic agents have recently become available for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory skin diseases. Five of these drugs, calcipotriol, EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics), interferon-alpha 2a, cyclosporine, and acyclovir, are reviewed. Calcipotriol, a vitamin D analogue, has been shown to be useful but not curative in chronic stable plaque psoriasis in adults. Its use in children is being studied. EMLA is proving to be useful in the prevention of pain prior to minor procedures. The use of interferon-alpha 2a promises to be highly effective in the treatment of the complications of vascular lesions. Cyclosporine is a powerful immunomodulating agent. It has been used in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Adverse effects limit its widespread use as a systemic agent. Topical cyclosporine has limited efficacy due to its poor penetration. Acyclovir has revolutionized the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, particularly in reducing the morbidity and mortality of neonatal herpes. Whether it is indicated in varicella infection in normal children is questionable.