Inflamm Bowel Dis

JAK inhibitors linked to notable acne risk in patients with IBD

March 10, 2026

A systematic review and meta‑analysis of 50 studies involving 9,902 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) found an overall acne incidence of 8.6% among those receiving JAK inhibitors. Rates were significantly higher (p<.0001) with upadacitinib (12.2%) compared with tofacitinib (2.6%) and filgotinib (2.3%; not approved in the U.S.), and pediatric patients showed a greater incidence than adults (12.2% vs. 7.4%; P=0.03). In randomized trials, JAK inhibitors were associated with increased the odds of acne compared with placebo (odds ratio, 2.43).

Clinical takeaway: When initiating JAK inhibitors for IBD, proactively counsel patients—especially younger adults—about the possibility of acne and consider early dermatology co‑management or topical therapies to maintain adherence.

Source:

Quraishi MN, et al. (2026, March 5). Inflamm Bowel Dis. Incidence of acne in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with Janus kinase inhibitors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41784155/