Abstract
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is 2–3 times more common than systemic lupus erythematosus, is an entity frequently encountered by dermatologists. While most patients will respond well to standard therapies, including photoprotection, topical steroids and antimalarials, a minority of patients have refractory disease that is challenging to treat. There is a paucity of data in the literature to aid the clinician in determining which therapies to employ in treating these difficult patients. This review will discuss the available therapies, the data supporting their use and the authors’ own experience, in order to help guide the practitioner and to highlight the need for more clinical research in the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.