Dermatology Times October 2026 Recap

Dermatology Times is looking back on the top stories in dermatology from the month of October.

From major data presented at EADV 2026 and new FDA actions to advances across psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, rare disease, and aesthetics, October brought another busy month of dermatology news.

Here’s what you may have missed from Dermatology Times and NP/PA Connect this October.

🚨 Clearances, Approvals, Updates, and Recommendations

New approvals, FDA decisions, clinical guidance, and regulatory milestones shaped the month.

FDA Approves Pritelivir for Refractory Mucocutaneous HSV

The FDA approved pritelivir (HOVILPRI) for mucocutaneous HSV lesions refractory to standard antiviral treatment in immunocompromised adults, introducing the first FDA-approved HSV therapy with a novel mechanism of action in nearly 30 years.

→ Read the full story

AAD, HS Foundation Issue First Joint Hidradenitis Suppurativa Guidelines

The American Academy of Dermatology and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation released their first joint guidelines of care for HS, featuring 37 evidence-based recommendations and strong recommendations for several biologic therapies in moderate to severe disease.

→ Read the full story

FDA Accepts IND for Injectable rhPDGF-BB in Under-Eye Hollowing

The FDA accepted an investigational new drug application for a phase 2b study of injectable recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB in infraorbital hollowing, advancing investigation of a regenerative alternative to traditional volume replacement.

→ Read the full story

🧬 Big Studies and Big Data

October delivered new clinical trial results across inflammatory skin disease, psoriasis, rare disease, and emerging therapeutic targets.

ORKA-001 Achieves 61% Complete Skin Clearance in Psoriasis

Week 16 results from the phase 2b EVERLAST-B trial showed that 61% of patients receiving high-dose ORKA-001 achieved PASI 100, supporting plans to advance the extended half-life IL-23p19 monoclonal antibody into phase 3 development.

→ Read the full story

Lutikizumab Meets Primary End Point in Phase 3 HS Trial

Lutikizumab met its primary end point and all 8 ranked secondary end points in the phase 3 INTREPID trial, demonstrating significant improvements in HiSCR75 response, pain, and disease flares among adults and adolescents with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

→ Read the full story

ATI-052 Shows Rapid Improvements in Atopic Dermatitis

Phase 1b proof-of-concept findings showed rapid improvements in disease severity and pruritus with the investigational TSLP/IL-4Rα bispecific antibody ATI-052 in patients with severe atopic dermatitis, with no grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events reported.

→ Read the full story

🌍 EADV 2026 Spotlight

Dermatology Times was on site in Vienna, Austria, for the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress, covering late-breaking data, emerging therapeutic targets, and expert perspectives across the dermatology landscape.

Zasocitinib Demonstrates Superior Skin Clearance vs Deucravacitinib

Phase 3 LATITUDE Atlas findings showed that once-daily zasocitinib 30 mg achieved significantly higher rates of PASI 100, PASI 90, and sPGA 0 at week 16 compared with deucravacitinib in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

→ Read the full story

Nemolizumab Maintains Deep Skin and Itch Responses Through 3 Years

Long-term ARCADIA data demonstrated sustained improvements in skin clearance and itch through 3 years of nemolizumab treatment, adding to the growing evidence supporting long-term disease control in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

→ Read the full story

Emerging Therapies Take Center Stage at EADV

Late-breaking findings highlighted new and emerging approaches across dermatology, including daxdilimab in discoid lupus erythematosus, BO-112 in basal cell carcinoma, long-term psoriasis therapies, and novel targets in inflammatory skin disease.

→ Explore our EADV 2026 coverage

💙 Eczema Awareness Month

Throughout October, Dermatology Times recognized Eczema Awareness Month with expert conversations examining the evolving treatment landscape, persistent misconceptions, and the need for more individualized approaches to care.

Moving Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Eczema Care

Scott Stratman, MD, discussed the growing range of eczema treatment options and how precision medicine may eventually help clinicians better match individual patients with effective therapies.

→ Read the full story

Beyond Dry Skin: Rethinking Common Eczema Misconceptions

Celina Feldman, MD, challenged persistent misconceptions about eczema and emphasized the disease’s broader effects on sleep, mental health, treatment adherence, and quality of life.

→ Read the full story

→ Explore our complete Eczema Awareness Month coverage

📱 Social Media Mythbusters

This month, Dermatology Times continued its Social Media Mythbusters series by taking a closer look at viral beauty and dermatology claims circulating online.

“Botox in a Bottle”

Can topical peptide serums really mimic injectable neuromodulators? We examined what the evidence says about Argireline and other products marketed as topical Botox alternatives.

Can Castor Oil Really Grow Hair?

Castor oil remains a popular social media remedy for thicker and longer hair, but evidence supporting its ability to directly stimulate hair growth remains limited.

Can Face Taping Really Prevent Wrinkles?

Face taping promises smoother skin and fewer wrinkles without injectables, but any visible improvement is likely temporary rather than evidence of long-term wrinkle prevention.

→ Catch up on October’s Social Media Mythbusters

💡 Expert Insights

Clinical perspectives, practical takeaways, and conversations with dermatology leaders.

A Clear Road Map for Severe Alopecia Areata

Experts discussed a Delphi consensus statement supporting earlier treatment of severe alopecia areata and prioritizing JAK inhibitors as first-line systemic therapy for adults with severe disease.

→ Read the full story

Whole-Patient Care in Pediatric Dermatology: Lessons From SPD 2026

Coverage from the Society for Pediatric Dermatology meeting highlighted advances spanning textured hair care, vitiligo, vascular anomalies, mental health, genetics, and multidisciplinary pediatric care.

→ Read the full story

Nonsteroidal Topicals Guide Special-Site Psoriasis Treatment Decisions

Tina Bhutani-Jacques, MD, explored how disease location, treatment history, and patient preferences can help guide topical treatment decisions across challenging plaque psoriasis cases.

→ Read the full story

🍂 Looking Ahead

As October comes to a close, Dermatology Times continues to follow the latest regulatory decisions, clinical trial readouts, and expert perspectives shaping dermatology practice.

Next month, coverage continues with new developments across medical and aesthetic dermatology, along with insights from the 2026 DermNexus NP/PA Congress.

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