The development of 20th century dermatologic drugs

Abstract

The purpose of medicine is to cure or to alleviate suffering. Until this century, the essence of dermatology resided in the realm of morphology. Early contributors largely confined their activities to the classification of skin diseases and to the elaboration of clinical dermatologic entities based on morphologic features. Today, professional colleagues and patients alike find it convenient to consult physicians who are not only able to recognize but also effectively treat many skin diseases. In the last 50 years, there have been significant scientific discoveries in the field of therapeutics that have revolutionized the practice of dermatology. This article primarily concerns itself with the development of therapeutic agents in which dermatologists were involved. Most of these advances resulted from academic and clinical research, some from old-fashioned armchair research from untrained investigators who thought a problem through and came up with logical answers. Other advances resulted from hunch, chance, or serendipity.