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Medications
PubMed · December 1, 2026
Researchers found that a medication called bimekizumab (brand name Bimzelx) helped people with moderate to severe psoriasis — a skin condition causing red, scaly patches — achieve complete clearance in especially difficult areas like the scalp, nails, and palms and soles of the feet. Compared to several other treatments, bimekizumab led to higher rates of complete clearing in these areas, and those results held up over four years of treatment. This appears to be a new option showing strong and lasting results for psoriasis in areas that are often hard to treat.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether bimekizumab might work better than the patient's current treatment for clearing up psoriasis on the scalp, nails, or hands and feet.
What's New
PubMed · December 1, 2026
Researchers found that a medication called vunakizumab helped people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis — a skin condition causing thick, scaly patches — see significant skin clearing as early as 4 weeks into treatment, regardless of how long they had psoriasis or how severe it was when they started. By the one-year mark, people who switched from a dummy treatment to vunakizumab caught up to those who had been on it all along, suggesting the medication can still work well even when started later. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · December 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with psoriasis who are obese may not respond as well to certain biologic medications — powerful treatments that target the immune system to clear skin — compared to people who are not obese. The difference was most noticeable with two specific types of biologics (those targeting proteins called IL-17 and IL-12/23), while other types did not show the same pattern, though the evidence is still limited. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 5, 2026
Researchers found that guselkumab, a medication given by injection under the skin, worked significantly better than a placebo (an inactive treatment) for Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis — a skin condition that causes thick, scaly, inflamed patches. Over 82% of patients who received guselkumab showed major skin clearing after 16 weeks, compared to just 2% of those who received the placebo, which suggests the medication may be a strong option for people with more serious forms of the condition. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a traditional Chinese herb called Tripterygium, when combined with other treatments, may help reduce the severity of psoriasis skin plaques better than using it alone — with one combination, Tripterygium glycoside paired with a drug called acitretin, showing the most promising results. However, the combined treatments also came with some side effects, so the balance of benefits and risks is something worth discussing with a doctor. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that a new biosimilar medication called BAT2306 — a close copy of the brand-name psoriasis drug Cosentyx (secukinumab) — works just as well and is just as safe as the original. Researchers compared the two medications in people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, which is a skin condition that causes thick, scaly patches, and found that patients who switched from Cosentyx to BAT2306 had similar results to those who stayed on Cosentyx. This represents a potential new option in the same class as Cosentyx, which could give people with psoriasis access to a comparable treatment.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that a generic version of apremilast — an oral pill used to treat psoriasis — worked the same way in the body as the original brand-name version, whether people took it with food or on an empty stomach. This matters because if a generic version absorbs and behaves identically to the original, it could potentially offer people with psoriasis a more affordable option in the future. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · September 1, 2026
A study found that a medication called icotrokinra — a once-daily pill that works by blocking a protein in the immune system called IL-23, which plays a role in causing psoriasis — helped clear or nearly clear skin in people with psoriasis affecting sensitive areas like the scalp, genitals, and hands or feet. Researchers found that these improvements held steady over a full year of treatment, with clearance rates ranging from about 54% to 90% depending on the body area. This appears to be a new treatment option, as icotrokinra is not yet widely available, and the study found no major safety concerns over the year-long period.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain factors may help predict how well people with psoriasis respond to biologic treatments — a type of medication that targets the immune system to clear skin. People who were older, had higher body weight, had other health conditions, or had psoriasis in tricky areas like the scalp or nails were less likely to achieve full skin clearance, while people with a family history of psoriasis were more likely to respond well. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · September 1, 2026
Researchers found that treating psoriasis early — within the first year of it appearing — may help prevent lasting chemical "marks" from forming in skin cells that could make the disease more likely to flare up again later. These marks, called epigenetic changes, are like tiny switches in the skin's DNA that get stuck in the wrong position; in people who had psoriasis for five or more years, these stuck switches remained even after the medication cleared up their visible symptoms. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 22, 2026
Researchers found that a class of medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, where the gut becomes chronically inflamed — behaves differently in IBD patients compared to people with other inflammatory conditions like psoriasis. Specifically, levels of one drug, risankizumab, tended to build up over time in people with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, which could affect how well the medication works or how side effects might develop. This matters because nearly half of IBD patients don't respond well enough to these treatments, and understanding why drug levels vary from person to person could eventually help doctors find the right dose for each patient. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 22, 2026
Researchers found that sex hormones — like estrogen and testosterone — may play a meaningful role in how psoriasis behaves over time. For example, pregnancy (when estrogen is high) often seemed to calm psoriasis symptoms, while the postpartum period and menopause appeared to be times when flare-ups were more likely; in men with psoriasis, lower testosterone levels were frequently observed and may be linked to more severe disease. This matters because it could help explain why some people notice their skin condition changing during major life stages like pregnancy or menopause — though this is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 21, 2026
Researchers found that adalimumab (a medication sold as Humira) helped people with psoriatic arthritis — a condition where psoriasis is paired with joint inflammation — see meaningful improvements in both their joint symptoms and their skin. Across 17 studies involving more than 5,600 patients, those taking adalimumab were significantly more likely to experience clearer skin and less joint pain and swelling compared to those who did not take it. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 12, 2026
Researchers found that biosimilars — which are lower-cost versions of a brand-name biologic medication called ustekinumab, used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis — worked just as well and were just as safe as the original drug across multiple studies. This is a potentially meaningful finding because the high price of the original medication puts it out of reach for many people with psoriasis, and having affordable alternatives could help more patients get effective treatment. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 11, 2026
Researchers found that people with psoriasis who were treated with biologic therapies — a type of powerful medication that targets specific parts of the immune system — were about 46% less likely to develop psoriatic arthritis, a painful condition where inflammation spreads from the skin into the joints, compared to those on other treatments. This was true across more than 124,000 patients tracked over several years, and some biologics, particularly those targeting proteins called IL-17 and IL-23, seemed to offer even stronger protection than older biologic options. For someone with psoriasis, this is potentially meaningful because psoriatic arthritis can cause lasting joint damage, so the idea that a medication might help prevent that progression is noteworthy. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 10, 2026
Researchers found that two newer types of medications — JAK inhibitors and TYK2 inhibitors — may help some people with rare, severe forms of psoriasis that cause painful pus-filled blisters on the skin or hands and feet, conditions that are notoriously hard to treat. The review looked at results from 33 smaller studies and found that many patients saw improvements in their skin and quality of life, though results were mixed and not everyone responded well. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that guselkumab, an injectable medication that targets a specific part of the immune system, helped people with psoriatic arthritis — a condition where psoriasis is accompanied by joint pain and swelling — who had already tried another treatment that didn't work well enough. Compared to a placebo (a dummy treatment with no active ingredient), significantly more people taking guselkumab saw meaningful improvements in both their joint symptoms and their skin at 24 weeks. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · August 1, 2026
Researchers found that certain biologic medications — specifically ones that target a protein called IL-17, including brodalumab, bimekizumab, and ixekizumab — worked faster than other biologic options for people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with more patients seeing significant skin clearing within just 4 to 8 weeks. Other biologic medications in the study worked too, but tended to take longer to show results. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
The Lancet · July 29, 2026
Researchers found that psoriasis — a condition where the immune system causes inflamed, scaly patches on the skin — is more complex than just a skin problem, and is often linked to joint pain and swelling (called psoriatic arthritis) as part of a wider pattern in the body. This means that people with psoriasis may also experience issues beyond their skin, driven by the same underlying immune and genetic factors. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 14, 2026
Researchers found that a class of medications called JAK inhibitors — which work by calming overactive signals in the immune system — showed meaningful improvements in skin clearance for people with psoriasis, along with better quality of life and less itching. The large review looked at data from over 15,000 patients across dozens of studies, making it one of the most comprehensive looks at these treatments so far. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 6, 2026
Researchers found that methotrexate, a common medication for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, has long been thought to carry a serious risk of liver damage — but a review of decades of studies suggests that risk depends heavily on the individual patient rather than the drug itself. Things like obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, heavy alcohol use, or already having liver problems appear to raise the chances of liver trouble, while people without those risk factors may tolerate the medication much better. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 2, 2026
Researchers found that biosimilar versions of a psoriasis medication called ustekinumab (sold as Stelara) worked just as well as the original brand-name version for people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis — a skin condition that causes thick, scaly, inflamed patches. Biosimilars are copies of an existing medication, similar to how a generic drug works, and this finding matters because they may offer the same relief at a lower cost, potentially making treatment more accessible. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that a new medication called picankibart helped people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis — a skin condition causing thick, scaly, inflamed patches — achieve significant skin clearance. In the study, about 80% of patients taking the medication saw their psoriasis improve by 90% or more within 16 weeks, compared to just 2% of those taking a placebo (a dummy treatment with no active ingredient), and those improvements held up for a full year with doses given only once every 12 weeks. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that treating psoriasis early — within the first year of getting the condition — with a medication called secukinumab may help some people stay clear even after they stop taking it. About 44% of patients who stopped treatment at the one-year mark hadn't seen their psoriasis return a full year later, which is encouraging because it suggests early treatment might change how the disease behaves long-term. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 22, 2026
Researchers found that taking a supplement called nicotinamide riboside (NR) — a form of vitamin B3 — may help calm down a specific part of the immune system that's overactive in people with psoriasis, a skin condition where the immune system attacks healthy skin cells. In a small study, people with mild-to-moderate psoriasis who took NR twice daily for four weeks showed reduced activity in immune cells known to drive inflammation in psoriasis. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · June 20, 2026
A 2026 clinical update on light-based skin treatment confirms that a therapy called narrowband UVB phototherapy — which uses a specific type of ultraviolet light directed at the skin — remains a front-line option for people with psoriasis, among other skin conditions. It's valued because it works well, has a strong safety record, and tends to cost less than many newer treatments. The update also notes that this light therapy can be used alongside newer systemic treatments — meaning medications that work throughout the whole body — giving doctors more flexible options for patients.
What's New
JAMA · June 16, 2026
Researchers found that a diabetes medication like Ozempic or Victoza may also help people with psoriasis, a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches. The review, published in a well-known medical journal, suggests these medications could reduce skin inflammation, which is a key driver of psoriasis symptoms. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 9, 2026
Researchers found that people with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis who were treated with a newer class of biologic medications — called IL-23 inhibitors (drugs that calm an overactive immune signal linked to psoriasis) — had very few cases of tuberculosis (TB) being triggered or reactivated, even among patients who already had a dormant TB infection. Across 34 studies, only one patient showed signs of a dormant TB infection becoming active again while on one of these medications. This is reassuring news for patients and their doctors, especially in regions of the world where TB is more common. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that an oral pill called icotrokinra significantly reduced the severity of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis compared to a placebo (an inactive pill used for comparison). By week 16, about 73% of people taking it saw their psoriasis improve by at least 75%, versus only 11% on the placebo — and the rates of side effects were similar between the two groups, suggesting it was well tolerated. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed (Guideline Reviews) · June 1, 2026
According to the French Society of Dermatology's updated 2025 guidelines, doctors treating adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis — a skin condition causing thick, scaly, inflamed patches — should consider methotrexate, adalimumab, or ustekinumab as first-choice whole-body (systemic) treatments, meaning medications that work throughout the body rather than just on the skin. The guidelines also give specific direction for situations where a treatment isn't working well enough, when psoriasis affects the joints, or when a patient has other health conditions or is planning a pregnancy. This update matters because it replaces older 2019 guidance and reflects the latest available treatments, helping doctors make more informed decisions tailored to each patient's individual situation.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient should consider methotrexate, adalimumab, or ustekinumab as a first treatment option for the patient's moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.