Therapeutic options for cutaneous lupus erythematosus: recent advances and future prospects

Introduction: Treatment and prevention are of critical importance in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), as the disease can have a devastating effect on patient well-being and quality of life.Areas Covered: We conducted a selective search of the PubMed database for articles published between December 2010 and November 2015. This review encompasses both non-pharmaceutical (photoprotection, smoking cessation, drug withdrawal, and vitamin D replacement) and pharmaceutical (topicals, antimalarials, immunosuppressives, biologics, etc.) interventions used in the treatment of CLE.Expert Commentary: Recent work has expanded our understanding of established therapies as well as introduced new treatments for consideration, though existing medications still prove inadequate for a subset of patients. Changes in trial design may help to alleviate this issue.