Prescription and over-the-counter dermatology medications — how they work, what to expect, and what the trials actually showed.
Isotretinoin is a fixed-course oral retinoid for severe acne. Cumulative dosing, iPLEDGE, side effects, the depression question and how often acne comes back.
Dapsone gel treats red, inflamed acne without the irritation of a retinoid. How it works, the orange-staining issue, G6PD questions and side effects.
Adalimumab is an injected TNF-blocking biologic for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Dosing, TB screening, side effects, biosimilars and cost.
Trifarotene is a prescription retinoid cream for acne on the face, chest and back. How it works, side effects, cost and how it compares to tretinoin.
Apremilast is an oral psoriasis tablet that needs no routine blood tests. Dosing, the first-month diarrhea, weight loss and mood warnings.
How prescription azelaic acid 15% gel and foam treat rosacea bumps, how it differs from the 10% sold over the counter, side effects and cost.
Combined birth control pills treat acne by lowering active testosterone. Which pills work, the three-month timeline, clot risk and who should avoid them.
How brimonidine gel fades rosacea redness for about 12 hours, why rebound redness happens, who it suits, and how it compares to oxymetazoline.
Calcipotriene is a vitamin D cream or ointment for plaque psoriasis. How it works, the weekly limit, why it stings and what to combine it with.
Topical clindamycin treats inflamed acne. Why it must be paired with benzoyl peroxide, how fast it works, side effects and antibiotic resistance explained.
Clobetasol propionate is the strongest class of topical steroid. What it treats, the weekly and two-week limits, where it must not go, and thinning risk.
Crisaborole is a non-steroid ointment for mild to moderate eczema. How it works, why it stings, where it is used, cost and how it compares.
Cyclosporine is a fast, short-course oral immune suppressant for severe eczema and psoriasis, with blood pressure and kidney monitoring throughout.
Desonide 0.05% is a low-potency prescription steroid for the face, folds and young children. What it treats, how long to use it, and how it compares.
Deucravacitinib is a once-daily TYK2-blocking tablet for plaque psoriasis. Dosing, why it is not a JAK inhibitor, side effects, monitoring and cost.
Doxycycline is a short-course oral antibiotic for inflamed acne. Dosing, the food-pipe warning, sun sensitivity, why courses are limited and what to take alongside.
Dupilumab is an injected biologic for moderate to severe eczema. How it works, the eye and facial side effects, dosing, cost and prior authorization.
Dutasteride blocks both forms of the DHT enzyme. Off-label hair loss use, how it compares to finasteride, the long half-life and handling rules.
Finasteride is a daily tablet that lowers DHT in pattern hair loss. How it works, the unsettled side effect question, dosing and what to expect.
Fluconazole is an oral antifungal for yeast infections of the skin and mouth. Single and weekly dosing, its long interaction list, and how it compares.
Hydrocortisone is the mildest topical steroid. What it treats, how long to use it, face and child safety, skin thinning, and when it is the wrong drug.
Hydroquinone 4% is the prescription strength for melasma and dark marks. How to cycle courses, what ochronosis is, and why it now needs a prescription.
How ivermectin 1% cream treats the bumps and pustules of rosacea, what it will not do for redness, side effects, cost and how it compares.
Ketoconazole treats dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, tinea versicolor and ringworm. How to use the shampoo and cream, and why the tablet is not used.
Methotrexate is a once-weekly tablet or injection for severe psoriasis. Why the weekly schedule matters, folic acid, blood tests and pregnancy warnings.
Topical metronidazole treats the bumps and pustules of rosacea. Strengths, how to use it, what it does not fix, side effects and how it compares.
Minocycline is an oral antibiotic for inflamed acne. Dosing, blue-gray pigmentation, dizziness, lupus-like reactions, and why doxycycline usually comes first.
Mometasone is a mid-strength steroid cream for eczema, psoriasis and itchy rashes. Strengths, how long to use it, side effects and how it compares.
Mupirocin 2% ointment treats impetigo and small infected cuts. How to use it, why courses are short, and why it is not a general antibiotic ointment.
Low-dose oral minoxidil is an off-label tablet for hair loss. Dosing, extra body hair, ankle swelling, the cardiac cautions and how it compares.
How oxymetazoline 1% cream reduces rosacea redness for most of a day, what it does not treat, side effects, and how it compares to brimonidine.
Permethrin 5% cream is the standard scabies treatment. How to apply it, why the whole household is treated, and why itching lasts for weeks afterwards.
Pimecrolimus cream is a steroid-free eczema treatment for the face and folds. How it works, what the boxed warning means, side effects and cost.
Prednisone is a short-course steroid tablet for severe skin flares. How it works, dosing and tapering, rebound after stopping, and the real side effects.
Qbrexza is a once-daily medicated cloth for heavy underarm sweating. How to use it, why hand-washing matters, dry mouth, cost and the alternatives.
Risankizumab is an injected IL-23 blocking biologic for plaque psoriasis, given every 12 weeks. Dosing, TB screening, side effects and cost.
Zoryve is a once-daily steroid-free cream and foam for psoriasis, eczema and seborrheic dermatitis. How it works, what to expect, side effects and cost.
Opzelura is the first cream approved to repigment vitiligo. How it works, what results to expect, the boxed warning and area limits, side effects and cost.
Sarecycline is a narrow-spectrum oral antibiotic made for acne. Weight-based dosing, side effects, cost, and how it compares with doxycycline.
Spironolactone treats adult hormonal acne in women by blocking androgens. Dosing, the three-month timeline, potassium testing and pregnancy precautions.
Tacrolimus ointment is a non-steroid eczema treatment for the face and eyelids. How it works, the boxed warning explained, dosing, stinging and cost.
Tapinarof is a once-daily steroid-free cream for plaque psoriasis. How it works, the folliculitis rate, use on the face, cost and how it compares.
Tazarotene is a strong topical retinoid for acne, psoriasis and sun damage. Strengths, how to start, side effects, and why it is not used in pregnancy.
Terbinafine is the standard oral antifungal for nail and scalp fungus. Dosing, course length, liver testing, and why nails take a year to judge.
Minoxidil solution and foam for pattern hair loss. Why it sheds first, foam versus liquid, how long it takes and what happens when you stop.
Tretinoin is a prescription vitamin A cream for acne. How it works, how long it really takes, the purge explained, side effects and who should avoid it.
Triamcinolone acetonide is a mid-potency topical steroid for body rashes. Strengths, how long to use it, why it is not for the face, and thinning risk.
Valacyclovir treats cold sores, genital herpes and shingles. Dosing for each, why starting early decides whether it works, and daily suppression.
Clascoterone is the first topical hormone-blocking acne cream. How it works, why men can use it, side effects, cost and how it compares to spironolactone.