Eight New Skin Treatments Just Got FDA Approval—Here's What That Means for You

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved eight new dermatology treatments in 2025, marking a significant shift toward more personalized and targeted approaches for skin conditions. These approvals include breakthrough medications for chronic hand eczema, pediatric psoriasis, bullous pemphigoid, and other challenging skin disorders that have long lacked effective treatment options.

What Makes These New Treatments Different?

Unlike previous approaches that treated skin conditions as isolated problems, these new medications recognize dermatologic diseases as complex, immune-related conditions requiring tailored solutions. "2025 feels like a year where our field collectively decided to stop treating dermatologic diseases as isolated problems and more as complex, immunologic, systemic, and diverse conditions that deserve tailored approaches," said Joe K. Tung, MD, MBA, FAAD, medical director at UPMC Falk Dermatology.

Which Conditions Got New Treatment Options?

The eight FDA approvals covered a wide range of skin conditions, offering hope for patients who previously had limited therapeutic choices. Here are the key treatments that received approval:

• Chronic Hand Eczema: Delgocitinib (Anzupgo) became the first FDA-approved treatment specifically designed for adults with moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema, a condition so underrecognized it doesn't even have its own diagnosis code in the United States
• Pediatric Psoriasis: Guselkumab (Tremfya) became the first IL-23 inhibitor approved for children as young as 6 years old with plaque psoriasis, with 56% of patients achieving significant skin clearance compared to 16% on placebo
• Atopic Dermatitis in Young Children: Both roflumilast cream and ruxolitinib cream received expanded approvals for children aged 2 to 5 years, providing steroid-free options for managing eczema in sensitive areas like the face and eyelids
• Bullous Pemphigoid: Dupilumab (Dupixent) became the first targeted medicine for this blistering skin condition, with 18.3% of patients achieving sustained remission compared to 6.1% on placebo

The chronic hand eczema approval represents a particularly significant breakthrough. Dr. Tung called this "a major breakthrough in a disease that has long been underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated," noting that the clinical trials used a novel scale specifically designed for chronic hand eczema rather than repurposing endpoints from other skin conditions.

What Does This Mean for Families With Young Children?

Parents dealing with childhood eczema now have more options that don't rely on steroids for long-term management. Veena Vanchinathan, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist, emphasized the importance of these developments: "Access to non-steroidal topical options in younger children with atopic dermatitis is one of the most meaningful shifts this year."

These steroid-sparing medications allow doctors to manage flares more confidently and safely, particularly in sensitive areas where parents worry about steroid side effects. However, Dr. Vanchinathan noted she's "particularly looking forward to pediatric studies that measure itch, sleep, and quality of life in diverse skin tones, since the clinical appearance of atopic dermatitis can vary dependent on skin type."

For conditions like bullous pemphigoid, which primarily affects older adults, having a steroid-sparing option is especially valuable given the complex medical histories many elderly patients have. However, access remains a concern, as Dr. Vanchinathan pointed out: "For this approval to truly change care, insurers will need to streamline access and minimize delays."

The approval of remibrutinib (Rhapsido) for chronic spontaneous urticaria also provides new hope for patients dealing with unpredictable hives. "Chronic spontaneous urticaria can be disruptive in ways that aren't always visible - sleepless nights, anxiety, and unpredictable flare-ups that can impact professional and personal activities," Dr. Vanchinathan explained.