Aesthetic nurse prescriber Anna Baker discusses multi-modality approaches to addressing tissue changes with glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide therapies
Current literature suggests that medical aesthetic practitioners are noticing an increase in demand from patients seeking treatments to counteract accelerated skin ageing associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), as well as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) therapies.1 The distinct and detrimental changes in tissue quality – most notably on the face, but also reported on the body – appear to arise from a number of factors.2 These include a loss of dermal and subcutaneous white adipose tissue coupled with altered proliferation and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs).3
Consequently, this impacts the production of a variety of hormonal and metabolic factors, which can compromise skin barrier integrity, as well as potential reduced muscle mass, and negatively impacting and accelerating the overall symptoms of ageing.4
This article will consider the mode of action of GLP-1RA/GIP therapies and propose several regenerative topical ingredients and treatment modalities that can counteract these specific tissue changes.
