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  <xs:element id="arqt_HengruiMember" abstract="true" name="HengruiMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_DeferredTaxAssetsRightOfUseLiability" abstract="false" name="DeferredTaxAssetsRightOfUseLiability" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_A2017EquityIncentivePlanMember" abstract="true" name="A2017EquityIncentivePlanMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_ClinicalTrialAccrualCurrent" abstract="false" name="ClinicalTrialAccrualCurrent" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_DebtInstrumentExitFeeExpirationPeriod" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentExitFeeExpirationPeriod" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_DebtInstrumentTrancheDomain" abstract="true" name="DebtInstrumentTrancheDomain" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_DebtInstrumentIncrementalAmountAvailableForBorrowing" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentIncrementalAmountAvailableForBorrowing" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_DebtInstrumentFinalFeePercentage" abstract="false" name="DebtInstrumentFinalFeePercentage" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:percentItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardBaseAmountOfCommonStockSharesAuthorized" abstract="false" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardBaseAmountOfCommonStockSharesAuthorized" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:sharesItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersMaximumSalesMilestonePayments" abstract="false" name="ResearchAndDevelopmentArrangementContractToPerformForOthersMaximumSalesMilestonePayments" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="credit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_FourthEquityPublicOfferingMember" abstract="true" name="FourthEquityPublicOfferingMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpensePermanentDifferencesAmount" abstract="false" name="EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpensePermanentDifferencesAmount" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_CollaborativeArrangementNumeratorForDeterminingAdditionalConsideration" abstract="false" name="CollaborativeArrangementNumeratorForDeterminingAdditionalConsideration" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_StockIssuedDuringPeriodLapseOfRepurchaseRightsRelatedToCommonStockIssuedPursuantToEarlyExercisesShares" abstract="false" name="StockIssuedDuringPeriodLapseOfRepurchaseRightsRelatedToCommonStockIssuedPursuantToEarlyExercisesShares" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:sharesItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_HawkeyeMember" abstract="true" name="HawkeyeMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentInExchangeForIssuanceOfCommonStock" abstract="false" name="AcquiredInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentInExchangeForIssuanceOfCommonStock" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_DebtInstrumentTrancheAxis" abstract="true" name="DebtInstrumentTrancheAxis" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:dimensionItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_LeaseDescriptionDomain" abstract="true" name="LeaseDescriptionDomain" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_TrancheBTermLoanMember" abstract="true" name="TrancheBTermLoanMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_StatesOutsideOfCaliforniaMember" abstract="true" name="StatesOutsideOfCaliforniaMember" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="dtr-types:domainItemType"/>
  <xs:element id="arqt_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderAtTheMarketOfferingNetOfIssuanceCosts" abstract="false" name="ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderAtTheMarketOfferingNetOfIssuanceCosts" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType"/>
</xs:schema>
