GLP-1–Based Therapies Across the Menopausal Transition: Dermatologic Considerations and Practical Management

BACKGROUND Glucagon-like peptide-1–based therapies have transformed obesity management. Their growing use among perimenopausal and menopausal women introduces new dermatologic considerations, particularly when weight loss occurs alongside menopause-associated changes in skin, adipose tissue, muscle, bone, and hair. OBJECTIVE To provide a practical framework for dermatologic management of perimenopausal and menopausal women receiving glucagon-like peptide-1–based therapies. METHODS PubMed was searched from inception through September 2026 for literature on Glucagon-like peptide-1–based therapies, menopause, skin aging, lean mass, alopecia, and aesthetic procedures. Reference lists of relevant reviews and consensus statements were also hand-searched. The senior author, a dermatologist and obesity medicine specialist, provides a practice-based perspective. RESULTS Key considerations include weight-loss trajectory, lean mass and bone preservation, nutrition, hair changes, procedural timing, and multidisciplinary comanagement. A staged aesthetic approach prioritizes skin quality during active weight loss, with structural correction as weight stabilizes. CONCLUSION Dermatologic care should anticipate the overlapping effects of menopause and substantial weight loss. A longitudinal, tissue-preservation approach may shift care from reactive correction toward proactive management.