Can Ozempic Treat Psoriasis?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable medication that’s FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s also used to lower the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and complications from kidney disease in people with Type 2 diabetes. 

Ozempic is also being prescribed “off-label” to treat other medical conditions, including surprising ones like psoriasis. But how can a medication like semaglutide help your skin? Here’s what the research shows about Ozempic and psoriasis.

Can Ozempic treat psoriasis?

Ozempic (semaglutide) isn’t FDA-approved to treat psoriasis. But there’s some evidence that Ozempic may help improve psoriasis symptoms. 

Researchers first noticed that people with psoriasis who were taking Ozempic to treat Type 2 diabetes were reporting improvements in their psoriasis symptoms. Other studies with larger groups of people showed similar results.

But these studies only showed a link between Ozempic and psoriasis. They couldn’t directly show that Ozempic was the reason for the improvements in people’s skin. 

So far, small clinical trials have shown that Ozempic can improve psoriasis symptoms. But these trials weren’t large enough to show if it works for most people. Also, the people in these trials had both psoriasis and Type 2 diabetes. So, it’s not clear if Ozempic can offer the same benefit to people who have psoriasis but not Type 2 diabetes.

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Larger clinical trials are needed to help answer these questions. 

How does Ozempic work for psoriasis treatment?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes skin inflammation. Ozempic is best known for regulating blood sugar. But it can also help lower inflammation. This could help control psoriasis.

Researchers believe Ozempic lowers inflammation by: 

• Stopping the release of inflammatory substances called cytokines

• Lowering the activity of immune cells that also cause inflammation

• Lowering inflammation caused by fat cells

It’s also possible that the weight loss caused by Ozempic may also contribute to improved psoriasis in some people. Many people with psoriasis are also considered overweight or obese. And some studies show that weight loss can help improve psoriasis symptoms.

How effective is Ozempic at treating psoriasis?

It’s not clear how well Ozempic works to treat psoriasis. There are only a few small clinical trials looking at Ozempic for the treatment of psoriasis. 

In one of these trials, people had big improvements in their psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) scores. These scores measure how many symptoms people experience over time and how those symptoms affect their daily lives. 

In another study, people taking Ozempic to treat Type 2 diabetes saw their PASI and DLQI scores improve by 98% and 95%, respectively. 

These results are encouraging, but more research is needed to know if Ozempic really works well for psoriasis treatment.

Who can use Ozempic for psoriasis?

Experts are still trying to figure out who may benefit from Ozempic as a psoriasis treatment. 

So far, most of the research has looked at people who have both Type 2 diabetes and psoriasis. If you’re thinking about taking Ozempic for diabetes, it may also help ease some of your psoriasis symptoms. It’s not yet clear if it works the same for people who don’t have diabetes.

In general, Ozempic is safe for most people. But you can’t take Ozempic if you: 

• Have a history of certain types of thyroid cancer, or thyroid cancer runs in your family

• Have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)

• Have a history of pancreatitis

• Are pregnant

What are the risks of taking Ozempic to treat psoriasis?

Like any medication, Ozempic can cause side effects. The most common side effects you might experience from using semaglutide include:

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Heartburn

Rarely, Ozempic can also cause:

• Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)

• Thyroid cancer

• Gallbladder problems

• Kidney problems

• Allergic reactions

It’s not clear if taking Ozempic for psoriasis can lead to other side effects or increase the risks of other medical problems. 

Can you combine Ozempic with other psoriasis treatments?

Yes, you can combine Ozempic with other psoriasis treatments. In fact, since Ozempic isn’t FDA-approved to treat psoriasis, it should be used along with other psoriasis treatments.

Your healthcare team may recommend Ozempic if you also have Type 2 diabetes and your psoriasis isn’t responding well to other treatments. 

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Written by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA

Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

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