Journal of Dermatopharmacy: Building a translational bridge between drug innovation, clinical care, and skin health

We are delighted to announce that, following extensive preparation, the inaugural issue of the Journal of Dermatopharmacy (JDP; ISSN: 3105-7713) is officially launched worldwide in August 2026. As the world’s first English-language, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to dermatopharmacy, the launch of JDP marks an important milestone for this emerging interdisciplinary field by providing a dedicated international forum for scholarly exchange.

The skin is not only the largest organ of the human body but also an important site of drug action. In recent years, the therapeutic landscape of skin diseases has undergone profound transformation—from conventional topical formulations to targeted therapies and biologics, and from advanced drug delivery systems to functional materials and innovative skin health products. The convergence of life sciences, pharmaceutical research and development, materials science, and precision medicine continues to expand the frontiers of the prevention, treatment, and management of skin diseases.

Yet, as the needs of skin health become increasingly complex, stronger connections are still needed among drug innovation, clinical treatment, and real-world applications in skin health. The mission of JDP extends beyond the publication of cutting-edge discoveries. We are committed to translating laboratory advances into integrated skin health solutions that are accessible in clinical practice and usable by patients—from target validation and formulation optimization to evidence of efficacy and medication strategies—thereby bridging gaps across the translational continuum.

The concept of dermatopharmacy was formally introduced in 2023 to integrate pharmaceutical sciences with clinical dermatology. It encompasses the entire knowledge continuum, from molecular drug design, formulation development, preclinical evaluation, and clinical trial standards to rational medication use and long-term clinical management. Through the increasing integration of dermatology, pharmaceutical sciences, materials science, and related disciplines, dermatopharmacy has rapidly evolved into a distinct interdisciplinary field. In response to this development and the growing global demand for academic exchange, the Dermatopharmacy Professional Committee, Chinese Medicine Education Association, was established in 2024, a preparatory meeting for the journal was convened in 2025, and JDP was launched in 2026 to fill the need for a dedicated English-language journal in this field.

To serve researchers across the diverse areas of dermatopharmacy, JDP has established six core sections.

2.1 Dermal delivery systems

As a cornerstone of dermatopharmacy, this section focuses on the full development continuum of conventional and emerging transdermal and topical drug delivery systems. Topics include, but are not limited to, liposomes, nanoparticles, microneedle arrays—including dissolving and hydrogel microneedles—stimuli-responsive delivery platforms, physical penetration-enhancement technologies such as iontophoresis, electroporation, and sonophoresis, and skin physiologically based pharmacokinetic models.

We welcome high-quality studies on formulation innovation, in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation, optimization of local skin targeting, and industrial translation, as well as expert consensus statements related to formulation development.

2.2 Clinical dermatopharmacy

This section focuses on frontline pharmaceutical practice and evidence-based research in the fields of dermatological diseases and sexually transmitted infections, covering medication therapy management, therapeutic drug monitoring, drug interactions, the mechanisms and monitoring of adverse drug reactions, data mining in real-world studies, and case reports on the off-label use of new drugs.

Expert consensus statements on pharmacotherapy for dermatological diseases are also welcome.

2.3 Dermatopharmacology and toxicology

This section focuses on the molecular mechanisms of drug action in skin tissues, the discovery and validation of novel therapeutic targets, cutaneous immunopharmacology, and safety evaluations involving phototoxicity, sensitization, irritation, and related adverse effects.

We particularly encourage translational studies grounded in molecular pathological mechanisms and welcome preclinical and early-phase clinical pharmacology data on emerging therapeutics, including small-molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and Janus kinase inhibitors. Innovative studies on natural products and traditional Chinese medicine formulations, including their underlying mechanisms of action, are also encouraged.

2.4 Functional cosmetics and medical aesthetics science

This section encompasses two closely related areas.

The first focuses on innovation in ingredients, formulation design, and efficacy and safety evaluation of cosmetics with skin-protective and reparative effects, as well as research on the skin microbiome, regulatory science, and relevant policies and regulations.

The second addresses key scientific questions in medical aesthetics, including, but not limited to, mechanistic studies and evaluations of clinical efficacy and safety involving injectable fillers (e.g., hyaluronic acid, poly-L-lactic acid, and calcium hydroxylapatite), biostimulators, botulinum toxin preparations, mesotherapy, chemical peels, and combination therapies using light-, electrical-, or acoustic-energy-based devices with pharmaceutical agents.

Covering the entire pathway from ingredient/material–skin interactions to clinical product validation, this section applies the scientific rigor of pharmaceutical research to the evaluation of efficacy claims and standards of use in cosmetics and medical aesthetics. It seeks to promote healthy, innovative, and high-quality development at the interfaces of pharmaceutical and cosmetic sciences and of medicine and engineering.

2.5 Functional materials science

This section publishes research on novel biomaterials, polymeric materials, inorganic nanomaterials, and composite materials for dermal drug delivery, wound repair, skin tissue engineering, and biosensing. We particularly welcome studies in emerging areas such as three-dimensional skin models and Organ-on-a-Chip technologies, especially skin-on-a-chip systems. The section also focuses on interdisciplinary research integrating pharmaceutical sciences, materials science, and artificial intelligence; biomaterials and alternative models; and guidelines and consensus statements on alternative models, including their interpretation. Through these areas of focus, the section aims to highlight the fundamental role of advanced materials in advancing therapeutic strategies and evaluation models for skin diseases.

2.6 Frontier communications

This section is designed for the rapid and concise communication of emerging developments in dermatopharmacy, including major research breakthroughs, important interim findings from landmark clinical trials, interpretations of major policies and regulations in China and abroad, and highlights from major international scientific conferences.

Through concise formats and timely publication, Frontier Communications aims to enhance the immediacy, information density, and decision-making relevance of the journal.

JDP will uphold strict, fair, and transparent peer-review principles and implement an efficient peer-review process. Our assessment of manuscripts will focus on scientific rigor, methodological robustness, and the importance of the research question. We recognize that, in scientific inquiry, asking the right question can ultimately be more valuable than obtaining an anticipated result.

As a fully open-access journal, all accepted articles will be made freely and immediately available to readers worldwide under Creative Commons licenses, maximizing the accessibility, dissemination, and reuse of published research.

Supported by the global distribution network of an established international publishing group, JDP will provide rapid online publication and efficient digital dissemination. We are also actively working with universities and research institutions worldwide to establish article processing charge (APC) waiver or discount agreements to reduce the financial burden on authors. During the journal’s launch period, all submissions are eligible for a full APC waiver upon acceptance.

The establishment and development of JDP are rooted in the rapidly growing academic ecosystem of dermatopharmacy in China. The journal is supported by Skin Disease Hospital of Tongji University (Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital), and by the Dermatopharmacy Professional Committee, Chinese Medicine Education Association.

A diverse editorial board comprising internationally recognized dermatologists, clinical pharmacists, formulation scientists, toxicologists, and experts from related disciplines will help ensure that the journal maintains both academic authority and a forward-looking scientific vision.

We envision JDP as an international platform connecting dermatologists, pharmacologists, experts in pharmaceutics, experts in traditional Chinese medicine and natural products, materials scientists, researchers in cosmetics and medical aesthetics, pharmaceutical industry R&D professionals, statisticians, clinical epidemiologists, and regulatory science experts. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to drive future innovation in skin health.

The value of a scientific journal lies not only in the papers it publishes but also in the field it helps to advance. The launch of JDP reflects our shared aspirations for the future of skin health science.

The future of dermatological medicine will require not only a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms but also the development of more precise, safer, and more effective therapeutic strategies and practical solutions for skin health. As JDP grows, we will continue to expand our international editorial board, pursue indexing in leading scholarly databases, promote greater diversity among our authors and submissions, support the development of early-career researchers, and steadily strengthen the journal’s academic influence.

We warmly invite dermatologists, clinical pharmacists, pharmaceutical engineers, materials scientists, R&D professionals in cosmetics and medical aesthetics, and public health policy researchers from around the world to submit high-quality research to JDP.

We particularly encourage the publication of interdisciplinary collaborative research, clinical data from multinational, multicenter studies, and methodologically rigorous, reproducible studies with negative findings, without prioritizing statistical significance.

Together, we aspire to establish JDP as a flagship journal advancing translational dermatopharmacy for skin health, accelerate the pathway from laboratory discovery to clinical practice and broader real-world application, and ultimately improve the health and well-being of patients with skin diseases worldwide.

Finally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all members of the editorial board, our reviewers, the publishing team, and the pioneering and visionary authors who have contributed to the launch of JDP. The journey ahead may be long and the challenges considerable, but sustained commitment and collective effort will carry us forward.

The skin is the body’s first barrier at its interface with the external environment, and JDP aspires to serve as an academic bridge between basic research and clinical practice, and between China and the world.

We look forward to embarking on this new journey in dermatopharmacy together.