Why Dermatologists Are Looking at GLP-1s for Psoriasis

A psoriasis diagnosis can often feel like a constant balancing act. You’re trying to understand why flares happen, which habits help or hurt, and which treatments actually deliver long-term relief. Some days everything feels predictable, and other days it feels like your skin has an agenda of its own.

But there’s a new twist in the conversation. Dermatologists say it’s no longer just about what to avoid, it’s also about what you can add to support how your body functions overall. And surprisingly, that addition is GLP-1 medication.

Featured Experts

• Dr. Karan Lal is a board-certified dermatologist in Scottsdale, AZ
• Brenda Dintiman, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Vienna, VA

“Psoriasis is a symptom of this cardiometabolic syndrome in my eyes,” says Scottsdale, AZ dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal. He explains that inflammation, metabolic imbalance and skin activity are deeply connected. “Even patients that are not obese that go on GLP-1s, and that they might be slightly overweight, benefit with their psoriasis.”

Vienna, VA dermatologist Brenda Dintiman, MD has seen similar results. “Psoriasis patients with obesity and diabetes can benefit greatly with combining GLP-1 drugs with their existing biologic treatment,” she says. “The hope is that decreasing inflammation in the body and weight loss will decrease their risk of having cardiac events that can be life threatening.”

How GLP-1s Help with Psoriasis

These medications are often talked about for their impact on appetite and energy levels, but dermatologists say they can also help create a calmer environment inside the body, which matters when you’re living with a chronic inflammatory condition like psoriasis.

Research has even shown the presence of GLP-1 receptors in psoriatic skin. “There was a study that showed that there were GLP-1 receptors in patients that had psoriasis in their skin,” said Dr. Lal. “It shows these medications have a direct role beyond just weight loss.”

A Combination Approach

Still, GLP-1s are not meant to replace psoriasis medications. They work best alongside them. “I have not yet tapered people off of their biologic and kept them just on the GLP for maintenance therapy,” Dr. Lal says. “There’s two separate things going on.”

Dr. Dintiman agrees: “GLP-1 drugs and biologics can have a dual benefit for psoriasis patients addressing their skin, joints, inflammation in the body, insulin resistance and even alcohol use resulting in a more complete holistic way of treating patients.”

The GLP-1 + Biologic Pairing

For psoriasis patients interested in exploring this approach, access may be easier than expected. According to Dr. Lal, Eli Lilly offers a dedicated savings program that allows eligible patients on ixekizumab (Taltz) to obtain tirzepatide at a much lower cost. “They can actually have access to tirzepatide for under $30,” he says. “It’s a special program that is available through dermatologists.”

This makes the combination of biologic support and GLP-1 therapy more attainable for the right patients, especially as the dual approach continues to be studied. Early signals are encouraging, and dermatologists are paying close attention to how these medications work together.

“It’s another great step in treating psoriasis patients,” Dr. Dintiman says, “They help the skin, produce less strain on the joints due to weight loss and can address that psoriasis causes inflammation and risk of cardiac disease.”