GLP-1 Medications and Your Skin: What's Happening — and How to Help
If you're one of the many people using a GLP-1 medication like semaglutide or tirzepatide, you're likely seeing meaningful changes in your body — and that's something worth celebrating. But as an esthetician with over 25 years in the treatment room, I'm also seeing a growing number of clients come in with a specific skin concern they weren't quite expecting: skin that feels looser, crepier, or slightly sunken — particularly on the face, neck, arms, and abdomen.
You're not imagining it. It's real, it's common, and there's quite a bit we can do to support your skin through this transition.
Why GLP-1 Medications Affect Skin Texture and Volume
GLP-1 medications work in part by significantly reducing appetite, which leads to a decrease in both fat and overall body mass. When fat — which serves as a natural volumizing cushion beneath the skin — is lost relatively quickly, the skin doesn't always have time to adapt at the same pace. The result can be skin that appears thinner, less plump, or more textured than before.
Additionally, rapid changes in body composition can affect collagen and elastin — the structural proteins responsible for skin's firmness and resilience. When the scaffolding beneath the skin shifts, surface texture often follows. This is sometimes referred to informally as "GLP face" or "Ozempic skin," and while the media attention has been mixed, what we see clinically is simply skin that needs additional nourishment and support.
This is not a flaw. It's physiology — and it's something we address every day in our treatment room.
The Role of Vitamin A: Your Skin's Most Important Ally
When it comes to topical skincare support during this kind of skin change, Vitamin A is the ingredient we reach for first. Why? Because Vitamin A (retinol, retinaldehyde, and its derivatives) is the most studied and clinically recognized ingredient for supporting cell turnover, collagen synthesis, and overall skin renewal. We like to call it a skin health ingredient — not just an anti-aging one.
Topical Vitamin A essentially helps the skin behave more like younger, healthier skin: turning over more efficiently, producing more structural support, and improving overall texture and tone over time. For clients experiencing crepiness or loss of firmness, consistent use of a quality Vitamin A product can make a meaningful difference with patience and commitment.
Vitamin C and Vitamin E: The Supporting Cast
Vitamin A works best when paired with Vitamin C and Vitamin E — two antioxidants that protect the skin while actively supporting repair.
Vitamin C is essential for collagen production and helps brighten uneven tone, which often accompanies skin laxity. Vitamin E is deeply nourishing and works synergistically with Vitamin C to stabilize and enhance its efficacy. Together, these three vitamins form a powerhouse trio for skin that's in recovery or transition.
For body skin specifically, we love the Environ Body Oil Vitamin ACE — a luxurious, fast-absorbing oil that delivers all three vitamins directly to areas most affected by GLP-1 related changes: the arms, abdomen, thighs, and décolletage. Used consistently, it helps improve the look and feel of crepey, dry, or thinning skin.
For those who want to take their body skin routine a step further, we also recommend incorporating the Environ Derma-Lac Lotion for gentle, regular exfoliation. Lactic acid helps clear away dulling surface cells, allowing the nourishing ingredients to absorb more effectively and giving skin a noticeably smoother appearance.
Addressing Volume Loss: Plumping From the Outside In
For areas where skin appears sunken or deflated, we recommend the Adipeau Volume Cream. This targeted cream is formulated to help restore a plumper, more cushioned appearance to areas experiencing visible volume loss — a lovely complement to a consistent Vitamin A and antioxidant routine.
What We Do in the Treatment Room
Beyond a home care regimen, professional facial and body treatments can meaningfully support skin going through this kind of transition. At Lisa Simone Skincare, we work with each client individually to assess what their skin needs — whether that's targeted facial work, body treatments, or a customized skincare protocol to use at home.
If you're on a GLP-1 medication and noticing changes in your skin, please know: you are not alone. We'd love to support you.
Great skin is a work in progress — and so is every version of you.
Ready to book a consultation? Visit us at lisasimoneskincare.com or call us at (312) 476-9719.
Located in River North, Chicago | 343 W Erie St, Suite 320