What's the Deal with "Ozempic Face"?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medication used for the treatment of diabetes and is also commonly prescribed “off-label” for obesity/ overweight. Ozempic belongs to a class of medications call Incretins, which help our body respond more efficiently to the food we eat and keep us satisfied longer in-between meals. Other popular Incretins that you may have heard of are Wegovy, Trulicity, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.

When we actively lose weight (from any cause), we don't have control over where on our body this occurs. For many people, weight loss (or more accurately fat loss) can accentuate features of the face or highlight things like fine lines or wrinkles. “Ozempic face” has all to do with weight loss, not the medication itself.

Methods to Help

Bump up the Protein

Eating enough protein in your diet helps to keep your skin structure strong, prevents wrinkles, and can nourish your skin cells and hair. Enough protein has been shown to protect your skin from toxins, the environment, and even sun damage. So, eat your protein with every meal!

Eat your Fiber

Did you know that fiber can improve skin health too? Fiber directly impacts gut health and allows the body to remove toxins from our food. These toxins have a direct effect on our outer skin layer. Even acne has been linked to low-fiber diets!

Add more fiber by bumping up vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, and complex carbs. Consider supplementing with over-the-counter fiber, like Bene Fiber, Citrucel, Metamucil, or even starting a prebiotic.

Stay hydrated

Adding more water can be one of the best ways to boost skin health. Not only does water improve blood flow, it maintains skin elasticity and reduces appearance of scars, wrinkles, and fine lines. It also allows our body to flush out toxins from the body.

Reapply the Sunscreen

New studies are showing how daily sunscreen use can virtually halt skin aging and even reverse the signs of skin & sun damage. It may even repair wrinkles, improve pigmentation, and restore skin texture.

When you're looking for a sunscreen, look for one with SPF 30+, coverage from UVA/UVB, and designed specifically for the face.

Collagen

Collagen makes up around 80% of skin structure. It helps to replace dead skin cells, provide strength to your skin cells, strengthen hair follicles, improve muscle mass, among many other benefits.

As we age, our body produces less collagen which can lead to dry skin and wrinkles. Although only limited studies exist, they do show some benefit in supplementing with daily collagen to improve skin firmness and moisture content. It can take 8-12 weeks to see benefit from a collagen supplement, so do be patient.  

Note: many collagen supplements contain a variety of plant and animal sources – if you are vegan or struggle with food allergies, read labels and confirm your supplement doesn’t contain these.

Stop smoking

We all know the dangers of cigarette smoking, but it can also worsen skin pigmentation and the appearance of loose skin, fine lines, and deeper wrinkles. Even if you have smoked for years, studies show that elasticity and pigmentation can improve even 4-12 weeks after stopping!

Limit Alcohol

Regular alcohol intake can cause a dehydrating effect, leading to skin inflammation and nutrient loss. Plus, years of alcohol use has been linked to less collagen. Cutting back or stopping altogether can reverse damage and repair the skin barrier.

Talk to a dermatologist, aesthetician, or skin care expert

Non-surgical treatment options exist, but may not be the most budget friendly. There are some positive studies (although limited) about the benefits of broadband light(BBL) or traditional micro-needling. Topical options like retinoids or Vitamin Care a more cost friendly option that may help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.