Weight-loss injections may ease symptoms of a common skin condition, new research suggests.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic condition that can cause abscesses and scarring and affects about one in 100 people.
Treatment with semaglutide (the key ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) was found to significantly reduce painful flares.
Obese patients with varying levels of HS were given a weekly injection at a low average dose of 0.8 mg for approximately eight months.
In addition to helping you lose weight, top-selling weight-loss drugs have been found to reduce your chances of heart attacks and strokes, as well as other diseases.
Researchers monitored changes in body mass index (BMI), weight, flare frequency, pain, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a score used to assess the overall impact of symptoms.
They also looked at biochemical markers, including blood sugar levels and C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of inflammation.
Typically, flare-ups reduce from once every 8.5 weeks to once every three months, according to findings presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress.
Quality of life also improved significantly, as reflected by a reduction in the DLQI score from an average of 13/30 to 9/30.
Notably, one-third of patients achieved a DLQI score reduction of four points or more, equaling or exceeding minimally important differences for this index.
Dr Daniel Lyons, lead researcher at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, said the findings show that modal dosing can offer substantial benefits in the management of HS.
He said: ‘While the drug’s role in promoting weight loss is well established, what is particularly exciting is its potential to also reduce the frequency of HS flares, contributing to the remarkable improvements seen in patients’ quality of life.
‘The results are very encouraging and could represent a major advance in the treatment of HS.’
Improvements in skin health are the latest in a long list of benefits linked to these drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, which mimic a hormone that helps people feel fuller for longer and lowers blood sugar levels.
In addition to helping you lose weight, it has been found to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease and even slow down the aging process.
Wegovy and Ozempic work by stimulating the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1 that is naturally released from the intestines after meals.
Scientists believe these widespread health benefits are due to its ability to reduce inflammation levels, which are seen in many chronic diseases.
The exact cause of HS is unknown, but the condition is more common in women and appears near hair follicles where sweat glands are present, such as around the breasts and armpits.
The condition tends to start with blackheads, pus-filled spots, and firm, pea-sized bumps that develop in one spot and rupture.
Researchers hope to build on the results of this trial, which included 30 patients, to include a larger number of patients.
Dr Lyons added: “Ultimately, we hope our preliminary data will encourage dermatologists to consider weight loss medication as an adjunct to existing treatments for HS and inspire further research in this area aimed at improving outcomes for people living with this challenging condition.”