Like most drugs, Rinvoq can cause side effects. In the drug’s studies, acne was a common side effect. The exact reason Rinvoq and other JAK inhibitors cause acne isn’t known.
Doctors prescribe Rinvoq to treat certain inflammatory conditions in adults and some children. A few examples include psoriatic arthritis, moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, and moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.
Rinvoq is part of a group of drugs called janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.
Some common side effects of Rinvoq include nausea, cough, and upper respiratory infections. Acne is another common side effect, although it isn’t known why Rinvoq causes acne.
Read on to learn more about JAK inhibitors and acne and some treatment options for acne.

The exact way JAK inhibitors, like Rinvoq, cause acne isn’t known.
JAK inhibitors are a type of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). Rinvoq works by decreasing the activity of your immune system cells. This decrease in activity can reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of your condition.
Acne is a skin condition caused by oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt clogging or blocking your pores. Two types of acne exist, including noninflammatory and inflammatory. Subtypes include blackheads, cysts, and papules.
Acne with Rinvoq
Acne can affect almost anyone, but some people may be more likely to develop acne with Rinvoq, including:
- females*
- nonwhite people
- people with a history of acne
- younger people
In Rinvoq’s studies, acne was a common side effect of the drug. This side effect commonly occurred regardless of the condition people were taking the drug to treat.
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
First-line acne treatments often include medications applied to the skin. Topical retinoids, such as tretinoin (Retin-A) and benzoyl peroxide, may be helpful for many people.
In some cases, oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline (Monodox), may help treat acne. If oral antibiotics aren’t helpful, your doctor may recommend another oral medication, isotretinoin (Absorica).
Talk with your doctor about the right acne treatment options for you.
Doctors prescribe Rinvoq to treat certain inflammatory conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Like most drugs, Rinvoq can cause side effects. Acne is a common side effect of Rinvoq and other JAK inhibitors. The exact reason why Rinvoq causes acne isn’t known.
Acne treatment may include topical or oral medications. If you have questions about acne and Rinvoq, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.