L’Oréal, Galderma, and Natura test treatments for GLP-1 weight loss

Skincare and Cosmetic Giants Test Treatments for GLP-1 Weight Loss Effects

Skincare and cosmetic companies including Switzerland-based Galderma, Brazil-based Natura, and industry giant L’Oréal are testing specialized treatments for consumers experiencing facial volume loss and skin sagging after rapid weight loss from GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, asasharq.com reported. While these drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound mimic hormones to promote a feeling of fullness, rapid weight loss often strips away subcutaneous facial fat. This phenomenon has popularized the term “Ozempic face,” though medical experts note that rapid weight loss of any kind—rather than the GLP-1 medications themselves—drives the facial changes. These companies are targeting concerns known as “Ozempic face,” a term that emerged as the diabetes drug became widely linked with weight loss.

Surging Demand Sparks New Cosmetic Treatments and Market Projections

Boston Consulting Group estimated in 2025 that clinical treatment revenues will grow from approximately 700 million دولار to 2 مليار دولار over five years. He added, When there is significant weight loss over a period of 4 to 6 months, that can really affect facial volume.

Galderma and L’Oréal Target the GLP-1 Consumer Base

Galderma, in which L’Oréal holds a 20% stake, conducted a study last year evaluating the effectiveness of its existing treatments against skin changes linked to GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Anne-Cécile Chevrier, Galderma’s global head of injectable aesthetics, told asasharq.com that sagging, loss of muscle tone, hollowing, and dullness are primary concerns for patients. The Swiss company manufactures Sculptra, which stimulates natural collagen production, and Restylane, a hyaluronic acid dermal filler.

Age and Hormone Loss Compound GLP-1 Facial Volume Loss

Other physiological factors compound facial volume loss in patients using GLP-1 drugs. KFF health policy analysts noted that these medications see widespread use among adults aged 50 to 64, a demographic already experiencing declining collagen and estrogen production, particularly menopausal women.

Dermatologists emphasize that while skincare products improve skin surface quality, they cannot fully restore deep facial volume.

Parallel Concerns Over Nail Health and Dietary Supplements

Parallel studies have examined other physical side effects associated with weight loss treatments. A study presented at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology congress in Vienna evaluated nail health among 575 GLP-1 users compared to 1,329 individuals with obesity or type 2 diabetes who did not use the drugs, annahar.com and صحيفة الخليج reported. Researchers found that roughly 40% of medication users reported nail separation from the underlying skin, compared to about 10% in the control group, while 46% noted nail discoloration versus 17% of non-users. However, researchers emphasized that the findings are preliminary and do not prove the medications cause these changes, especially since roughly half of the participating medication users reported nail problems before starting treatment. Bianca Maria Piraccini, a participating dermatologist, noted that conditions like psoriasis or iron deficiency can also cause these symptoms, as psoriasis can alter nail color or cause separation while iron deficiency can make nails thin and spoon-shaped. After accounting for influencing factors, the link between drug use and nail changes remained, though it became weaker, and analyses of changes beginning after treatment showed no statistically significant association. Co-author Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine specialist, emphasized that appetite reduction makes consuming adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals more difficult, and rapid weight loss may place stress on the body, though these possibilities do not necessarily explain all cases of nail separation. Experts advise photographing nails upon noticing any change, recording when symptoms began, and consulting the treating physician or a dermatologist without stopping the medication on one’s own. Patients are also advised to avoid nail cosmetics, filing, and buffing if a nail is detached, while staying away from picking or aggressively pushing back the skin around the nails, as signs like pain, swelling, bleeding, or a new brown or black line along the length of the nail require medical evaluation to rule out nail cancer, and no evidence proves nail-strengthening supplements treat these issues by themselves.

Simultaneously, users experiencing gastrointestinal side effects and physical weakness have increasingly turned to dietary supplements such as fiber, protein, collagen, and electrolytes, according to a Reuters report cited by voiceofemirates.com. This warning came amid concerns over weak oversight of these products, unclear ingredients, and health risks, according to a Reuters report published on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. In this context, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proposed tightening regulations governing supplements, while the FDA has intensified efforts to enhance oversight of new dietary ingredients, and regulatory proposals move toward narrowing pathways that allow companies to market certain components as generally recognized as safe without notifying the agency.

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