A conversation with Dr. Heather D. Rogers, MD a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Doctor Rogers Skin Care.
“About a quarter of my cosmetic patients are now taking GLP-1 medications. Between my dermatology practice and Instagram DMs, I spend a lot of time helping people navigate the changes they may see in their skin and hair during this journey. Let's walk through what's expected and what you can do about it.”— Dr. Heather D.Rogers, MD
1 in 8 Americans are on GLP-1 medications — here’s what that means for your skin
GLP-1 medications have grown dramatically in the last year, with millions of Americans now taking them. If you’re one of them, this is for you.
This is not an endorsement of these medications. But because so many people are on them, the skin changes they cause deserve an honest conversation. Dr. Heather Rogers, dermatologist and founder of Doctor Rogers Skin Care, breaks down exactly what’s happening — and what you can do about it.
“When you go on this medication, it’s not that the medication is harmful to your skin — but it does lead to very predictable changes. Your skin is going to get drier, become duller, you’re going to lose volume, and your skin is going to sag. Your body is getting less nutrients and as that happens you’re going to lose fat and muscle. Both of those structures that support the skin. - Some of this is easy to address. ” — Dr. Heather D. Rogers, MD
The issues: What’s happening to your skin.
Here are the most common skin concerns that come with GLP-1 use:
Dryness. Your body is producing less sebum, it’s natural moisture. The result is skin that feels tight, rough, and depleted.
Loss of volume. As fat and muscle decrease, the structural support beneath your skin diminishes — particularly noticeable in the face.
Sagging. Without that underlying support, skin can begin to droop and lose its firmness.
Dullness and dark spots. Cell turnover slows down significantly when the body is getting fewer nutrients, leaving skin looking flat and uneven.
The Solutions: Ingredients and Products That Actually Work
The good news? Most of these issues are directly treatable — and two of the three can be addressed at home, starting today.
For dryness: a bioidentical moisturizer
When your body is taking in fewer nutrients, it produces less of its natural moisture — leaving your skin barrier depleted from the inside out. Look for a moisturizer packed with ingredients such as squalane that are almost bioidentical to your skin’s own lipids and fatty acids. These will genuinely rehydrate and restore, not just sit on the surface.
For dullness and dark spots: retinol, bakuchiol and glycolic acid
Dr. Heather Rogers told us that these key ingredients are required to promote more cell turnover, as our body begins to slow down. To push it forward she recommends retinol, bakuchiol , and glycolic acid.
For sagging and volume loss: start at home, then see a derm
Significant volume loss and sagging often require in-office dermatology treatments. But Dr. Rogers recommends starting with your moisturizer and treatments first — a strong at-home routine is the foundation. From there, a dermatologist can walk you through the next steps.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of any medication. Always consult your physician before making changes to your treatment plan.
