PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Medication class

Skin

Topical and oral medications for acne, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections, and other dermatological conditions.

Data updated 2026-05-15

41
Medications
27
With a generic
88%
Avg generic savings
1
In active shortage

Drug class assignments follow the FDA openFDA therapeutic classification, and clinical details are drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling (DailyMed). See the full sources below.

PlainMeds tracks 41 skin medications compiled from official FDA drug labels, including adapalene, apremilast, cyclosporine.

Skin medications are grouped here by the openFDA therapeutic classification and drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling. PlainMeds lists 41 in this class, 27 with a lower-cost generic available (averaging about 88% versus brand). Each drug page covers labeled uses, FAERS-reported side effects, interactions, recalls and NADAC pricing. This is educational information from public data, not medical advice.

What skin drugs cost

Highest NADAC acquisition cost per unit in this class, brand and generic

per unit

What this shows ustekinumab is the costliest in this class at $26795.00/unit; generics in the same class run a fraction of that.

Source CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC)

Generic availability vs other classes

66% of skin medications have a generic available, ranking #17 of 22 therapeutic classes (the typical class sits near 74%).

47% (lowest class) 100% (highest class)

Source: CMS NADAC generic-availability flags across all PlainMeds therapeutic classes. The dot is this class; the line is the cross-class median.

adapalene OTC

Differin

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apremilast

Otezla

Apremilast (Otezla/Otezla XR) is a medicine that can help adults and children manage psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

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azelaic acid

Finacea, Azelex

Azelaic acid gel is a topical medicine that helps treat rosacea.

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benzoyl peroxide OTC

Benzac, PanOxyl

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical medicine that fights germs on your skin.

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betamethasone

Diprosone, Luxiq

Betamethasone dipropionate cream is a strong steroid medicine used on the skin.

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brodalumab

Siliq

Siliq is a medicine used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

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calcipotriene

Dovonex

Calcipotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment is a medicine that contains a vitamin D-like drug and a steroid.

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calcipotriene/betamethasone

Enstilar, Taclonex

Calcipotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment is a medicine that combines a vitamin D-like drug and a steroid.

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clindamycin topical

Cleocin T, Clindagel

Clindamycin topical (Cleocin T) is a medicine you put on your skin to treat acne.

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clobetasol

Temovate, Clobex

Clobetasol ointment is a very strong steroid medicine used on the skin.

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crisaborole

Eucrisa

Eucrisa is a medicine used on the skin to treat eczema.

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cyclosporine

Neoral, Sandimmune, Restasis

Vevye eye drops contain cyclosporine.

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dapsone topical

Aczone

Aczone Gel is a topical medicine used to treat acne.

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desonide

DesOwen

Desonide cream is a low-strength steroid medicine.

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desoximetasone

Topicort

Desoximetasone is a steroid medicine that you put on your skin.

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erythromycin topical

Erygel

Erythromycin topical solution is a medicine that you put on your skin to treat acne.

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fluocinolone

Synalar, Derma-Smoothe

Fluocinolone is a topical steroid medicine.

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fluocinonide

Lidex, Vanos

Fluocinonide is a strong topical steroid medicine.

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fluorouracil topical

Efudex

Fluorouracil topical (Efudex) is a skin cream that treats certain skin conditions.

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guselkumab

Tremfya

Tremfya is a medicine that can help treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.

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halobetasol

Ultravate

Halobetasol Propionate Ointment is a strong steroid medicine used on the skin.

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hydrocortisone OTC

Cortef

Hydrocortisone cream helps relieve itching and skin problems.

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imiquimod

Aldara

Imiquimod cream helps your immune system fight certain skin problems.

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isotretinoin

Accutane, Absorica

Isotretinoin capsules are a strong medicine used to treat severe acne.

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ivermectin topical

Soolantra

Soolantra cream contains ivermectin and is used on the skin.

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ixekizumab

Taltz

Taltz is a medicine that can help treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

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ketoconazole OTC

Nizoral

Ketoconazole shampoo is an antifungal medicine.

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metronidazole topical

MetroGel

Metronidazole gel is a medicine that you put on your skin.

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minoxidil topical OTC

Rogaine

Minoxidil topical solution (Rogaine) is a medicine that helps regrow hair on your scalp.

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mometasone topical

Elocon

Mometasone Furoate Cream is a medicine that reduces skin inflammation and itching.

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mupirocin

Bactroban

Mupirocin cream is a topical antibiotic.

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permethrin OTC

Elimite, Nix

Permethrin cream rinse is a medicine that kills lice and their eggs.

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pimecrolimus

Elidel

Pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) is a medicine that can help with eczema.

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risankizumab

Skyrizi

Skyrizi is a medicine that can help reduce inflammation in your body.

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ruxolitinib topical

Opzelura

Opzelura is a cream that contains ruxolitinib.

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spironolactone (acne)

Aldactone

Spironolactone (Aldactone) is a medicine that helps remove extra fluid from your body and lower blood pressure.

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tacrolimus topical

Protopic

Tacrolimus extended-release capsules help prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant patients.

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tazarotene

Tazorac

Tazorac Cream contains tazarotene, a retinoid medicine.

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tretinoin

Retin-A

Tretinoin capsules help put acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) into remission.

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triamcinolone OTC

Kenalog, Aristocort

Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation and itching.

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ustekinumab

Stelara

Ustekinumab-aekn (Stelara) is a medicine that helps control inflammation in your body.

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Compare adapalene vs apremilast side-by-side →

Understanding the Skin Category

The Skin category currently lists 41 medications in this database, each drawn from FDA drug labels and grouped by therapeutic classification. Topical and oral medications for acne, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections, and other dermatological conditions. Clinical guidelines usually treat these medications as a reference set when weighing treatment options, switching strategies, or comparing safety profiles.

Within this category you'll find examples such as adapalene, apremilast, cyclosporine, alongside 38 other entries. Each drug page links to the same underlying FDA data, labeled uses, adverse events reported to FAERS, documented interactions, warnings, and, where available, NADAC acquisition pricing from CMS. Over-the-counter and prescription options can sit in the same category but follow different regulatory pathways: OTC products have simplified labeling aimed at self-care, while prescription drugs include detailed monographs meant for clinicians. That distinction matters when comparing dosing, monitoring requirements, and contraindications.

Browsing a category is a research starting point, not a treatment recommendation. Effectiveness, tolerability, and cost for any individual patient depend on the specific condition, comorbidities, other medications, genetics, and insurance coverage, none of which can be inferred from a category list alone. FAERS report counts, recall history, and shortage status all evolve as new data is reported to the FDA, so the relative standing of drugs in this class can shift month to month. This page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, a licensed clinician is the right source for personalized guidance.

Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL); openFDA therapeutic classification.

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Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.