Your Skin's Big Year Ahead: What's Coming in Dermatology for 2026

Dermatology is entering a revolutionary year with targeted therapies, gene-modifying treatments, and innovative devices advancing through late-stage clinical trials, promising to reshape how we treat everything from eczema to hair loss. The pipeline for 2026 reflects both precision medicine breakthroughs and patient-centered strategies that address long-standing unmet medical needs.

What New Eczema Treatments Are Coming This Year?

Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, remains a hotbed of innovation with multiple targeted therapies showing strong results. The field is moving beyond traditional approaches with treatments that target specific immune pathways responsible for the condition's hallmark inflammation and itching.

• IL-22 Inhibition: CGB-500 from CAGE Bio reported strong phase 2b efficacy results, positioning interleukin-22 blocking as a viable strategy for eczema treatment
• OX40L Blockade: Amlitelimab from Sanofi demonstrated positive phase 3 results by targeting T-cell costimulation pathways
• Dual Pathway Targeting: BBT001 from Bambusa Therapeutics blocks both IL-4Rα and IL-31 pathways simultaneously, aiming to tackle both itching and inflammation
• Oral Convenience: SYX-5219 from Sitryx cleared for investigational new drug (IND) status, highlighting the shift toward convenient systemic options

"Topicals are essential in proper patient care. We want to give you highly effective topical products so you can reserve systemic drugs for those cases where localized treatment is not practical," said Nitin Joshi, PhD, CEO and cofounder of CAGE Bio.

Meanwhile, a breakthrough in microbiome-friendly eczema care emerged with Hypothesis launching the first skin care brand to earn MyMicrobiome's new eczema certification. Their products use TPZ-01, a patented enzyme that specifically targets Staphylococcus aureus bacteria while preserving the balance of the skin microbiome.

How Are Hair Loss Treatments Advancing?

Both alopecia areata (AA) and androgenetic alopecia (AGA) are seeing expanded treatment arsenals with targeted immune modulation approaches. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted fast track designation to two promising alopecia areata therapies: bempikibart from Q32 Bio and rezpegaldesleukin from Nektar Therapeutics.

"The fast track designation granted by the FDA recognizes the seriousness of AA and the significant current unmet medical need while underscoring bempikibart's potential as a novel, differentiated therapy for patients needing new options," said Jodie Morrison, CEO of Q32 Bio.

Oral JAK inhibitors continue leading the charge with upadacitinib from AbbVie and ritlecitinib from Pfizer showing strong efficacy in pivotal phase 3 trials. Baricitinib demonstrated significant hair regrowth in adolescents, addressing a particularly challenging patient population where nearly half of severe cases start before adulthood.

What's New for Psoriasis Management?

Psoriasis treatment is experiencing a paradigm shift with multiple novel agents targeting cytokine, tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), and phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) pathways. Zasocitinib from Takeda showed strong phase 3 efficacy in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with the company planning to submit a New Drug Application in 2026.

TYK2 inhibitors are particularly exciting because they avoid JAK1/2/3 inhibition, offering a safer systemic profile. Deucravacitinib from Bristol Myers Squibb is showing sustained efficacy in phase 3 trials, including in challenging body areas like the scalp, palms, and soles.

"TYK2 inhibitors have really changed the landscape in terms of our management of patients with psoriasis. These medications provide meaningful response rates for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris, including in difficult-to-treat regions such as the scalp, palms, and soles," said Benjamin Lockshin, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of Clinical Trials Center at US Dermatology Partners.

Perhaps most intriguingly, ORKA-001 from Oruka Therapeutics is moving toward yearly dosing, highlighting the potential for unprecedented convenience in long-term disease control.

What About Rare Skin Conditions?

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) pipelines are emphasizing immune and complement pathways with promising results. Brivekimig from Sanofi and povorcitinib from Incyte showed sustained efficacy through 24-week phase 2a studies.

"HS remains a challenging and often debilitating condition, and many patients are in need of new, well-tolerated, and effective therapies that address prominent signs and symptoms of the disease, including inflammatory lesions and pain," said Pablo J. Cagnoni, MD, president and head of research and development at Incyte.

The FDA also saw significant regulatory activity in December 2025, including Vanda Pharmaceuticals submitting a Biologics License Application for imsidolimab in generalized pustular psoriasis, where phase 3 studies showed 53% of patients achieving clear skin versus 13% on placebo.

As dermatology embraces personalized artificial intelligence-driven skincare plans and holistic approaches combining nutrition and stress management, 2026 promises to be a transformative year for skin health. The convergence of precision medicine, microbiome science, and patient convenience is creating unprecedented opportunities for effective, durable treatment options across the spectrum of skin conditions.