GLP-1 drugs improve hidradenitis suppurativa severity through weight loss and anti-inflammatory mechanisms | Research

The takeaway

Early studies of liraglutide and semaglutide in hidradenitis suppurativa patients show improved disease severity and quality of life through combined weight loss, reduced mechanical stress, and anti-inflammatory effects.

New HS treatment frontier
GLP-1 drugs improve hidradenitis suppurativa through dual action: reducing obesity-driven mechanical stress and providing direct anti-inflammatory effects

What the researchers found

Liraglutide and semaglutide: improved HS disease severity and quality of life in early studies. Mechanisms: weight loss (reduced mechanical stress) + anti-inflammatory effects. Obesity increases HS prevalence and severity.

Why it matters

HS is severely debilitating with limited treatment options. GLP-1 drugs could address the underlying obesity driver while providing direct anti-inflammatory benefits—a dual-action approach currently unavailable.

How the study worked

Narrative review of GLP-1RA evidence in hidradenitis suppurativa.

What this study cannot tell us

Review of early/limited studies. No RCTs for HS specifically. Small sample sizes. Cannot separate weight loss from anti-inflammatory contributions.

How to read the evidence

Review of early clinical observations. Promising but limited evidence.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

HS joins the growing list of inflammatory conditions where GLP-1 drugs show benefit—reinforcing the concept that GLP-1 anti-inflammatory effects have broad therapeutic applications beyond metabolic disease.

Questions still open

Will RCTs confirm GLP-1 efficacy for HS?
Is the HS benefit primarily from weight loss or direct anti-inflammatory effects?
Should GLP-1 drugs be added to biologics for severe HS?

Common questions

Can weight loss drugs help hidradenitis suppurativa?

Early evidence suggests GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide can improve HS symptoms. They work in two ways: (1) weight loss reduces the friction and sweating in skin folds that trigger HS flares, and (2) GLP-1 drugs have direct anti-inflammatory effects that may calm the immune overactivity driving HS.

What is hidradenitis suppurativa?

HS is a chronic inflammatory skin condition causing painful, draining bumps and tunnels under the skin, typically in armpits, groin, and under breasts. It is strongly linked to obesity and has limited treatment options. GLP-1 drugs represent a promising new approach by targeting both obesity and inflammation.

Read the original research

Obesity in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists the New Frontier?

American journal of clinical dermatology, 26(2), 175-182

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Strong, Jennifer; Driscoll, Marcia S. (2025). Obesity in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists the New Frontier?. American journal of clinical dermatology, 26(2), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-024-00911-x