A scientific review published in the journal Pharmaceutics examined evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists—including medicines such as semaglutide and liraglutide—could potentially help patients with conditions including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne inversa and difficult-to-heal wounds.

The researchers stress that GLP-1 drugs are not currently approved as standard treatments for these skin diseases, and larger clinical trials are still needed to confirm their effectiveness.

Interest in the possible dermatological effects of these medicines began after doctors noticed that some patients receiving GLP-1 therapies for diabetes and obesity also experienced improvements in inflammatory skin symptoms, particularly psoriasis.

"Initially, these were isolated clinical observations in patients with psoriasis. Over time, researchers began to wonder whether specific biological mechanisms, not just the improvement in overall health associated with weight loss, might be responsible for this effect," said Dr Małgorzata Ponikowska from the University Centre of General Dermatology and Oncodermatology at Wrocław Medical University.

Scientists later discovered that GLP-1 receptors are found not only in organs involved in metabolism, such as the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, but also on cells of the immune system. This suggests that the drugs may directly influence the immune responses that drive chronic skin inflammation.

Conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and acne inversa differ in their symptoms and course, but they share a common feature: long-term immune system activation that causes persistent inflammation and tissue damage.

"The anti-inflammatory effects of these drugs seem most promising. Growing evidence shows that they can modulate the immune response, not just affect metabolism. This is particularly interesting in diseases where chronic inflammation is a key driver of the disease process," Ponikowska said.

The strongest evidence so far concerns psoriasis, a condition affecting around 2-3% of the population that is increasingly recognised as a disease affecting the entire body rather than only the skin. People with psoriasis are also more likely to develop obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Studies reviewed by the Polish researchers found that patients using liraglutide and semaglutide experienced improvements in psoriasis severity. However, scientists say it remains unclear how much of the benefit comes from direct effects on the immune system and how much is linked to weight loss and improved metabolic health.

Researchers are also investigating whether GLP-1 drugs could help people with atopic dermatitis, which is associated with a weakened skin barrier and abnormal immune responses. Although clinical evidence remains limited, early studies suggest the medicines may influence disease-related immune processes and support tissue repair.

The review also highlights a possible role for GLP-1 receptor agonists in wound healing. Researchers have observed improvements in blood vessel function, tissue blood supply and regeneration processes, which could be particularly important for people with diabetes, who often struggle with chronic wounds.

"There is increasing talk that the effects of these drugs may also include supporting regenerative processes. This is particularly important in patients with diabetes, for whom chronic wounds constitute a serious clinical problem," Ponikowska said.

If confirmed in clinical trials, the findings could expand the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists beyond metabolism and into the treatment of diseases driven by chronic immune activation.

"Today we know that psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are not solely skin diseases. The chronic inflammation that accompanies them can affect the functioning of the entire body and increase the risk of developing other conditions, especially metabolic and cardiovascular diseases," Ponikowska concluded. (PAP)

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