Dr. Jennifer Soung: Ask Patient’s Permission Before Talking GLP-1s

GLP-1 treatments have become commonplace in dermatology practices, with both aesthetic and medical dermatology implications heavily involved. Talking to patients about the latter issue, however, can prove challenging. Despite the mounting literature indicating that GLP-1 agonists can help alleviate skin conditions such as psoriasis, patients who did not come to the dermatologist seeking that type of treatment often are taken aback when the subject is broached, according to Jennifer Soung, MD.

“Talking about weight is so tricky in healthcare,” Dr. Soung said during a presentation at the Skin of Color Update in New York, New York. “It can be very personal. I have definitely learned over the years what not to do and what to do.”

Dr. Soung said she used to open the conversation scientifically, asking patients if they were aware of the connections between excessive weight and various medical conditions.

“It felt like there was a barrier,” she said. “They were like, ‘Obviously, people have told me to lose weight and it’s just hard.”

More recently, Dr. Soung said, she has found that a gentler approach works well.

“I start off with, ‘I’m worried that your weight may impact your skin or your response to treatment,’ and then I ask for permission,” she said. “I find that when you give the patient the power to make that decision and you’re asking for permission, they’re a lot more excited. And, in fact, studies have shown that patients want (clinicians) to initiate the conversation.”