Could GLP-1 receptor agonists offer new benefits for inflammatory skin conditions, and what adverse reactions should dermatologists be aware of?
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may offer therapeutic benefits for inflammatory skin conditions while also being linked to a range of suspected dermatological adverse reactions, according to an analysis of UK pharmacovigilance data and the published literature.
Presented at the recent British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) 2026 Annual Meeting in Manchester, UK, the study examined the dermatological effects of semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide. Researchers analyzed reports of skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Yellow Card scheme up to May 2025, alongside evidence identified through a systematic literature review.
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The pharmacovigilance analysis identified 1,369 suspected reports of skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders, including 755 associated with tirzepatide, 410 with semaglutide, and 204 with liraglutide. Rash, alopecia, and pruritus were among the most frequently reported reactions.
Presenting the findings at the Annual Meeting, Dr Arash Fattahi (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK) explained that the study was prompted by an observation made during a psoriasis clinic.
“Last year, I was in a psoriasis clinic when a patient mentioned that he had started taking a weight-loss medication and had noticed that his psoriasis had improved quite significantly. He felt the two might be connected, and that really piqued my interest.”
Therapeutic benefits
The literature review found that the strongest evidence for the potential therapeutic benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists was in psoriasis. Studies reported reductions in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores ranging from 19% to 98%, alongside improvements in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores.
Interestingly, the improvements may not be attributable solely to weight loss.
“The benefits appear to be both weight dependent and weight independent,” Fattahi noted. “Improvements have also been observed before patients have lost any significant weight, suggesting that GLP-1 receptor agonists may have a direct effect.”
Current research suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists may modulate inflammatory pathways involving interleukin (IL)-17, IL-23, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, which are also targeted by biologic therapies used to treat inflammatory skin diseases.
“These are pathways that people familiar with biologic therapies will recognize, so it should perhaps not be surprising that these treatments may have an effect,” Fattahi explained.
While the evidence is strongest in psoriasis, similar potential benefits were also observed in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), with improvements noted in disease severity and quality of life. However, the available evidence remains more limited.
Cutaneous adverse effects
Alongside these potential benefits, the analysis identified a range of suspected dermatological adverse reactions, with alopecia among the most frequently reported. The highest number of alopecia reports was associated with tirzepatide (n=140), despite it being the most recently introduced of the three treatments, followed by semaglutide (n=91) and liraglutide (n=19).
Commenting on the finding, Dr Fattahi suggested that the hair loss may primarily represent telogen effluvium associated with rapid weight loss. However a reduced nutritional intake may also contribute, as some patients may develop deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin B12 and zinc.
Other reported reactions included injection-site rash, pruritus, urticaria, and angioedema, as well as some less common rarer immune-mediated reactions such as DRESS, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, erythema multiformebullous pemphigoid, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis.
However, Fattahi stressed that pharmacovigilance reports can identify potential safety signals but cannot confirm that a treatment caused a particular reaction.
“There were not enough reports to draw firm conclusions,” he said. “It is also important to remember that these are only reports, and none of these associations has been confirmed. We therefore have to treat them as potential signals rather than established findings.”
Clinical implications
Discussing the potential clinical impact of the findings, Fattahi emphasized that further evidence is needed before GLP-1 receptor agonists could be considered treatments for inflammatory skin disease.
“We are clearly not yet at the stage where we have enough evidence to prescribe GLP-1 receptor agonists purely for a skin condition,” he said. “However, what we have seen so far is promising and may help guide further research in this area.”
The findings may have more immediate implications for recognizing and managing potential cutaneous adverse reactions. When a patient presents with alopecia after recently starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist, clinicians should consider a possible association and investigate treatment-related and nutritional factors.
Looking ahead
Overall, the results highlight the potential need for a balanced clinical approach. Although GLP-1 receptor agonists may offer therapeutic potential for inflammatory skin conditions through immunomodulatory mechanisms, patients may require structured monitoring for cutaneous adverse reactions, particularly alopecia, injection-site reactions, and rare immune-mediated conditions.
Looking ahead, the researchers are exploring the development of a registry to collect further real-world evidence and await the results of larger randomized controlled trials. These findings will be important in determining the therapeutic potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists in inflammatory skin disease and further clarifying their dermatological safety profile.
→ Abstract: Fattahi A & Salako K. O03 Dermatological adverse reactions and therapeutic potential of semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide: analysis of UK pharmacovigilance data and literature review. British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 195, Issue Supplement_1, June 2026.
This content has been developed by Touch Medical Media for touchDERMATOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Fattahi. It is not affiliated with the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Touch Medical Media.
Disclosures: Arash Fattahi has nothing to disclose in relation to this piece.
Cite: BAD 2026: Review explores the dermatological effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists. touchDERMATOLOGY. July XX, 2026.
Editor: Gina Furnival
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