SKIN CARE
21
Countering ‘Ozempic face’ with active ingredients
Mehran Ghadim – Grant Industries
It is said that knowledge is power, yet also a burden since one must deal with its implications. Over time, we have gained power over our biology and manipulated it to our benefit through innovative treatments. With each significant innovation, there came societal and biological consequences.
This is what we are currently witnessing with the rising popularity of GLP-1 Agonists like Ozempic. While GLP-1 Agonists have several benefits – such as weight loss and diabetes treatment – one side-effect from a cosmetic standpoint is visually apparent ‘ageing’ of the face. This arises in the form of crepey or saggy skin and wrinkles. In fact, it has become so ubiquitous that it is termed ‘Ozempic face’. However, do not be fooled by the term,
the skin on your body is susceptible as well. Curiosity about Ozempic face is booming, it is by far the most Google searched side-effect of Ozempic.1
How does it change skin? And what can we do about it?
How does it change skin? Skin structure GLP-1 Agonists (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists) are a class of drugs that act on GLP-1 receptors that govern gastric emptying, satiety, insulin production, and fat production. Ozempic (drug name: Semaglutide) is an injectable GLP-1 Agonist that is typically used (labelled) to treat type 2 diabetes. When used off-label for weight loss,
Ozempic reduces appetite, delays the transit time for food through your stomach, and can regulate fat cell proliferation/differentiation. This rapid weight loss can influence the amount of subcutaneous fat and deeper fat that underlies your skin. If we were to dissect ‘Ozempic face’ from
a first principles perspective, we must first understand the structure of the skin. The skin is divided into two principal layers: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the layer that interfaces with the world, it contains keratinocytes (keratin containing cells) that rapidly proliferate and later differentiate through a unique ‘cell death’ mechanism to form the outermost layer of dead skin (corneocytes). It also contains immune cells, mechanoreceptors, and melanocytes (pigment producing cells). The layer beneath the epidermis is the
dermis. This layer is responsible for structural support and supplying nutrients to the epidermis. It is vascularized, houses fibroblasts
www.personalcaremagazine.com Hair shaft Epidermis Dermis
Hypodermis Adipose tissue
Figure 1: Diagram of the skin layers and associated structures2
(cells that produce extracellular matrix components such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid), immune cells, and sensory fibres. The interplay of these cells determines the characteristics of your skin. Underlying all of this is the hypodermis
(subcutaneous layer). This is the region that contains adipocytes (fat cells) which provide cushioning and ‘fullness’ to skin. This is one of the key areas that changes with rapid weight loss. More on this later. The SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) is also important, it is a layer of muscle
and connective tissue that supports the structure of the face. In other words, a ‘young’ SMAS helps impart flexibility, tautness, and avoid sagginess. As we age, the SMAS weakens, our face succumbs to gravity as fat distribution shifts to the jowls, and our soft tissues atrophy to accentuate saggy skin.
Age-related changes Young skin has ample collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans that provide strength, flexibility, and hydration. The outermost layer is constantly being renewed so that ‘fresh’ and
February 2025 PERSONAL CARE
Hair follicle Hair root
Sensory nerve fibre Cutaneous vascular plexus Eccrine sweat gland Pore of sweat and gland duct
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