Hormonal
GLP-1 agonists do not directly cause acne vulgaris; reported acne-like symptoms are likely injection-site hypersensitivity reactions or secondary to weight-loss-induced hormonal changes (e.g., IGF-1 increases).
If you are using a GLP-1 agonist and develop acne, it is likely not the drug directly attacking your skin. Instead, the weight loss you are experiencing may trigger hormonal shifts (like increased IGF-1) that worsen acne. Alternatively, any lumps you see are likely injection-site reactions, not acne. Consult your doctor to distinguish between these causes.
It is unlikely that GLP-1 agonists themselves are directly responsible for the acne that some patients may develop during treatment. Rather, it is more probable that the weight loss yielded by treatment with these drugs may induce intrinsic physiologic and hormonal changes that induce or exacerbate acne vulgaris in such patients.
Why this rating
Based on a meta-analysis of 45 articles, but limited by the lack of specific dermatological studies and reliance on case reports for side effects.
Source
A meta-analysis of the incidence of acne vulgaris in patients treated with GLP-1 agonists
Oluwafunke Oluwatosin Ogunremi et al. · International Journal of Women’s Dermatology · 2024
DOI 10.1097/jw9.0000000000000143
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