Antimalarial agents are medications used to treat malaria, an infection with a single-celled parasite, and several other conditions, including those associated with skin disorders. Scientists are not exactly sure how these drugs effectively treat skin conditions, but believe that they inhibit skin reactions to ultraviolet light, suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation. It is also believed that antimalarials may work by binding to the genetic material in cells, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Numerous antimalarial agents are used to treat malaria, a disease that occurs in tropical areas and is extremely rare in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved antimalarial agents to treat one dermatologic condition, lupus erythematosus. However, physicians may also prescribe them for other skin-related disorders, including dermatomyositis, sarcoidosis and solar urticaria. Three antimalarial agents currently are used to treat dermatologic disorders: chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and quinacrine (which is not widely available in the United States).