Dermatologic therapy with immunosuppressive agents.

The use of powerful immunosuppressive agents such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and azathioprine in the treatment of serious skin diseases is a relatively recent development whose efficacy is borne out in many studies. Using an immunosuppressant often makes possible an appreciable reduction in dosage of steroid necessary to control disease and, in turn, a reduction in incidence of serious side effects of protracted steroid therapy.