As Ozempic use becomes more and more prevalent in people’s lives, so does dealing with all of its side effects. From muscle loss to changes to facial structure, many users of the popular GLP-1 have flagged a new concern: the Ozempic itch.
Photos of red, itchy patches at the drug’s injection site (and even more serious claims of itchy patches all over the body) are being shared on Reddit and every social feed. So what gives, and, more importantly, how worried should you be? Experts break down everything you need to know below.
Why is this happening?
Itchy skin isn’t a common side effect of taking a GLP-1, but it can happen. According to Anne Peters, MD, endocrinologist at Keck Medicine of USC, clinical trials have shown that about 3% to 8% of people get a skin reaction when taking the drug. The cause of this can be attributed to a number of things, but it really is dependent on the person. “There’s nothing we can do to predict it,” says Dr. Peters. “It is in an individual reaction to the chemical or, in some cases, maybe even just getting an injection.”
New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, agrees and explains that localized injection site reactions, such as redness, mild swelling, and itching, are the most common skin-related side effects that you may experience when getting an injection, especially one for GLP-1 purposes. “They’re thought to come from the body’s local response to the needle trauma or the medication being injected under the skin,” Dr. King says. But these types of reactions are typically mild; they’ll occur soon after the injection and resolve themselves within a few days.
For the more serious side effects, it could point to the medication itself. She says that allergic-type skin responses, such as a generalized itchy rash or hives, most likely represent a hypersensitivity to the drug or inactive ingredients in it.
Best Treatment
David Kim, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of SoHo Derm, says that a normal itch can last for a few days and usually resolve on their own. For treatment, Dr. Kim recommends taking antihistamines to prevent flare ups or using gentle topical steroids to relieve itchiness, swelling, and redness. Icing it may also help, he says.
Dr. Peters adds that you might want to try injecting Ozempic or your GLP-1 of choice at different spots to see if that area of skin can better tolerate the drug. “Some parts of your body are more sensitive and sometimes giving [the drug] in an anatomically different site and making sure that it’s rotated is helpful,” she says.
Should you use any creams on the skin to help with the itch, she recommends doing so on clean, dry skin. And never, ever apply a product before you inject the drug. “So [you’re] not introducing anything else that can cause irritation,” she says.
When do you see a doctor?
If the itch persists past a couple of days or you’re experiencing big patches of irritation all over your body (Dr. Kim says to look out for more serious signs of irritation, such as swelling, tenderness, warmth, or even blisters), experts say to go get it checked out, as those might be signs of a bigger problem.
Dr. Peters recommends stopping the drug until the itch is sorted out. Depending on how big the irritated patches of skin are or how alarming it feels and looks to you, she says you can generally see an allergist or dermatologist for an itch that appears just at the injection site. For big splotches that appear or ones that spread all over, she recommends seeing your primary care doctor or health care provider right away.