6 Dermatology Headlines You Missed in August 2026

August of 2026 proved to be another eventful month for the field of dermatology, with the field being pushed forward on multiple fronts by clinicians and researchers alike. From regulatory milestones to late-breaking data from clinical trials, the field witnessed a steady stream of developments underscoring just how quickly standards for patient care continue to shift and evolve.

Additionally, with conference previews and thoughtful podcast conversations on equity and representation in the field, August provided plenty for practicing dermatologists to keep pace with. Here, the HCPLive team summarizes the top 6 news headlines covered in August, spanning recent findings on upadacitinib in alopecia areata, a notable US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for dermatomyositis, and a summary of the 2026 LEADderm Conference:

FDA Approves First Oral Treatment of Dermatomyositis in Adult Patients

Brepocitinib (Lisraya) tablets for the treatment of dermatomyositis in adults were approved in August by the FDA, adding a once-daily oral Janus kinase (JAK/TYK2) inhibitor specifically studied among this patient population. The agency granted this drug Orphan Drug and Priority Review designations ahead of this decision. Dermatomyositis had previously been a condition commonly managed with treatments designed for other conditions, so the approval by the FDA provides specialists with an agent assessed specifically among this population.

UP-AA: Upadacitinib Attains Primary Endpoint in New Alopecia Areata Data

In the two phase 3 replicate randomized clinical trials, UP-AA1 and UP-AA2, upadacitinib (Rinvoq) was shown to have significantly outperformed placebo in its attainment of a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score of 20 or less at the 24-week mark in adults and adolescents with severe alopecia areata. As a result, it met the trial’s primary efficacy endpoint at both the 15-mg and 30-mg doses. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes were found to have improved significantly on AA-Symptom Impact Scale and Skindex-16 alopecia areata emotion/functioning domains.

Conference Preview: 2026 LEADderm Conference in Newport Beach, CA

Founded and chaired by Jennifer Soung, MD, the LEADderm conference of 2026 took place from August 29–30, 2026, at the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach, California. The meeting was designed to bring together dermatologists, nurse practitioners, physician associates, and industry partners. It involved 2 days of session presentations centered on community, leadership, and diversity in dermatology, as well as several unique opportunities for those in dermatology to get involved in the investment side of the field.

Skin of Color Savvy: Advice on Diagnosing Psoriasis in Diverse Skin Tones

Jennifer Soung, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of clinical research at Southern California Dermatology in Santa Ana, California, spoke alongside Mona Shahriari, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University, in the latest episode of Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color, a podcast hosted by Skin of Color Society (SOCS) leaders and produced by HCPLive. The pair highlighted several key points related to diagnosing and treating psoriasis in those with diverse skin tones, noting its requirement of a different visual approach and a deeper conversation about burden.

Skin of Color Savvy: Mentorship in Dermatology—Building the Next Generation of Leaders

In another August episode of Skin of Color Savvy, Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, spoke with guest host Jessica Mercer, MD, co-managing owner of Georgia Dermatology Partners near Atlanta, Georgia, about the ways in which mentorship shapes careers and improves care for individuals with skin of color. Alexis had previously mentored Mercer since early in her career. The pair noted mentorship provides guidance, support, and inspiration most clinicians rely on.

The Medical Sisterhood: The Pressure of Representation, With Tiffany Mayo, MD

Mona Shahriari, MD, spoke with Tiffany Mayo, MD, associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in the latest episode of The Medical Sisterhood podcast about what they both called the pressure of representation resulting from becoming a leader in medicine. Mayo, known for her specialization in alopecia and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also discussed setting boundaries and staying authentic as a woman of color.