Hydroxychloroquine in Dermatology and Beyond: Recent Update.

Hydroxychloroquine is one of the most frequently used drugs in dermatology with a wide variety of uses due to its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, photoprotective, and metabolic actions and low side effect profile. Demonstration of its antiviral action has led to renewed interest by physicians worldwide during the ongoing coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Like its immunomodulatory action, its antiviral activity is also due to its ability to alkalinize the intracytoplasmic milieu, leading to disordered viral entry/fusion and deranged viral protein synthesis. However, randomized controlled trials are the need of the hour to conclusively determine its clinical efficacy in such infections. A review of the multitude of mechanisms of action, updated screening and monitoring guidelines, drug interactions, side effects, and its use in special populations is described.