Systemic Treatments

Systemic drugs are administered into the body, and the medication is distributed by body fluids. Systemic drugs can be given orally (by mouth) or parenterally (by injection).

Oral drugs (tablets, capsule, liquids) travel down the esophagus to the stomach and eventually the intestines, where the medication is absorbed by the bloodstream and distributed throughout the body.

Parenteral drugs are injected through the skin directly into body tissues. Medications can be injected intramuscularly (IM), into the muscle tissue; intravenously (IV), into the vein; and subcutaneously, under the skin.

Dermatological drugs can also be administered intralesionally -- directly into a skin lesion. Intralesional injection can be thought of as a midpoint between systemic and topical therapy. It delivers high concentrations of medication to a specific site without significant systemic effects.

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