Those on GLP-1s were 34% more likely to be diagnosed with acne within a year.
The effect was most obvious in women.
They were 53% more likely to develop acne than men.
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Most patients, especially those who are getting treated for weight, want to look and feel better.
They probably dont want to also have acne that can scar them, Tolkachjov said.
Making Sense of the Surprising Side Effect
The findings, Tolkachjov said, are surprising.
Hormonal imbalancesare often the culprit of acne.
Men with obesity or overweight tend to have lower levels of testosterone than those of a healthy weight.
As they lose weight, their testosterone levels increase.
Meanwhile, women with obesity who lose weight tend to see reductions in their testosterone levels.
Typically, when you lose weight, you have better hormonal levels.
Its a very complex finding, and going forward, were going to need bigger data sets.
People with PCOS tend to have higher levels of testosterone and other androgen hormones.
What Else Could Contribute to Acne in GLP-1 Users?
Its unlikely, Rossi said, that the medication itself is causing acne flare-ups.
If so, the effect would likely be apparent in both sexes.
Its also possible that the study didnt perfectly capture the relationship between the drugs and acne.
The average age of women in the new studys dataset was 47.
He explained that medications like oral contraceptives could help balance hormones.
Those include isotretinoin (Accutane) and spironolactonea blood pressure medication commonly usedoff-label to treat acne.
Theyve found no such reports so far.
What is safe in this setting?
A lot of these patients are not going to want to get off the GLP-1s.
Theyre getting the weight loss or effect that they desire.
Were not telling them necessarily to stop, he added.
We just want to confirm that their acne and everything else is under control.
2024;10(2):e143.
