Key takeaways:
Ozempic is an injectable medication approved by the FDA to treat several medical conditions. You inject Ozempic subcutaneously, just under your skin, using a small needle.
Subcutaneous injections can cause rashes and other skin reactions. But serious skin side effects from Ozempic are very rare.
People using Ozempic may notice temporary skin changes, such as redness, swelling (like a small bubble), or discomfort at the injection site.
Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have changed the treatment of many conditions, especially Type 2 diabetes. These medications help lower blood sugar levels. They also can have additional benefits, like weight management and improving cardiovascular and kidney health. But all medications have potential side effects, and Ozempic is no different.
Most of Ozempic’s side effects are related to your gut. Ozempic can cause nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. Less commonly, Ozempic can cause skin reactions and temporary changes like bubbles underneath the injection site.
Here’s what we know about Ozempic’s side effects on your skin.
Can Ozempic give you a rash?
Yes, Ozempic can give you a rash and cause other skin changes. But serious skin reactions from Ozempic are rare. Most skin changes caused by Ozempic are temporary and go away on their own. Here are the most common Ozempic-related skin side effects to know about.
Injection site reactions
Injection site reactions are the most common skin-related side effect of Ozempic. Injection site reactions include redness, bruising, or discomfort at the injection site. In studies, less than 1% of people taking Ozempic developed injection site reactions. These types of skin changes are temporary and not harmful.
Hives
Blotchy, itchy, raised spots that come and go are telltale signs of hives. Hives can be caused by an allergic reaction to things like bug bites, certain foods, and medications, including Ozempic. Let your healthcare team know right away if you develop hives after taking Ozempic.
In most cases, hives are uncomfortable but not dangerous. Sometimes, hives can be a sign of a serious allergic reaction. Seek immediate medical care if you also develop symptoms like swelling in your mouth or throat or difficulty breathing along with hives.
Delayed rash
Some medications can cause delayed skin reactions. In these cases, the rash may not appear for weeks or months after starting the medicine. This can make it tricky to diagnose the problem. There have been a few case reports of delayed rashes in people taking Ozempic, but it’s pretty rare. Talk with your healthcare team about any new rashes you develop while taking Ozempic. It’s often more likely the rash has another cause, but your healthcare team can also help rule out Ozempic as the cause.
Skin bumps
Some people develop bumps under their skin when they use injectable medications like Ozempic. This condition, called lipohypertrophy, develops over time. And you’re more likely to develop it if you inject Ozempic in the same spot every time. Rotating injection sites can help you avoid these skin bumps.
Lipohypertrophy seems to happen less often with Ozempic compared to other diabetes medications like exenatide and insulin.
Can Ozempic injection cause a bubble under your skin?
Yes, there have also been reports of people developing bumps under their skin where they inject Ozempic. But these bumps don’t seem to be permanent or harmful.
Bubbles may develop under your skin if the needle isn’t inserted fully when giving yourself the Ozempic injection. This causes the medication to pool under your skin and create a bubble. For proper injection, the medication should be delivered into the subcutaneous tissue, the layer just beneath your skin.
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Insert the needle completely to avoid bubbles under your skin. If you’re unsure about your technique, ask your healthcare team to watch you as you give yourself an injection. They can make sure you’re using the correct technique and the proper size needle.
How can you lower the chance of developing a skin reaction while taking Ozempic?
Most people taking Ozempic won’t experience any skin side effects. But you can reduce your risk of local injection site skin reactions by:
Using the right injection technique: Gather your supplies, pick a spot, and clean the skin before giving yourself an injection. If you aren’t sure how to inject Ozempic properly, ask your healthcare team for help.
Rotating your injection site: Avoid injecting in the same place every week. Ozempic can be injected under your skin in your upper arm, thigh, and stomach.
Injecting into healthy skin: Avoid injecting in a spot where your skin is already irritated or damaged.
Applying a cold compress: You can reduce the risk of swelling and redness by using a cold compress for 10 minutes after your injection.
Not reusing Ozempic needles: Ozempic needles are single use. Reusing needles can increase the risk of developing infections, like skin infections.
When should you seek care for skin changes while taking Ozempic?
Temporary skin irritation after an Ozempic reaction isn’t usually a cause for concern. A small area of redness, tenderness, or bruising that resolves on its own is normal. But you should talk to your healthcare team as soon as possible if you develop any of the following:
A more widespread rash
Pain at your injection site
Large bruising
Skin changes that don’t go away within a few days
Get emergency care right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction like hives, face or tongue swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Frequently asked questions
Here’s how to give yourself an injection of Ozempic:
Gather your pen, needle, alcohol swab, and sharps container.
Wash your hands and then prepare your pen by attaching the needle and turning the dial to your prescribed dose.
Clean your skin with an alcohol swab.
Insert the needle into your skin, then push and hold down the dose button.
Once the dose counter shows “0” and lines up with the pointer, count for 6 seconds before releasing the button and removing the needle from your skin.
Throw away the used needle in your sharps container.
Store your pen in the refrigerator.
Ozempic is given as a once-weekly injection. Your healthcare team may recommend increasing your dose over time.
The highest Ozempic dosage is 2 mg weekly. Other forms of semaglutide, like Wegovy, can be given at higher doses.
Here’s how to give yourself an injection of Ozempic:
Gather your pen, needle, alcohol swab, and sharps container.
Wash your hands and then prepare your pen by attaching the needle and turning the dial to your prescribed dose.
Clean your skin with an alcohol swab.
Insert the needle into your skin, then push and hold down the dose button.
Once the dose counter shows “0” and lines up with the pointer, count for 6 seconds before releasing the button and removing the needle from your skin.
Throw away the used needle in your sharps container.
Store your pen in the refrigerator.
Ozempic is given as a once-weekly injection. Your healthcare team may recommend increasing your dose over time.
The highest Ozempic dosage is 2 mg weekly. Other forms of semaglutide, like Wegovy, can be given at higher doses.
The bottom line
People using Ozempic may notice temporary skin changes at the injection site. Serious skin side effects from Ozempic aren’t common. You can reduce your risk of developing a rash from Ozempic by using good injection technique, rotating injection sites, and using a cool compress afterward. Let your prescriber know about any skin changes that are more widespread or don’t resolve on their own.
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References
Hearn, E. B., et al. (2021). Injection-site nodules associated with once-weekly subcutaneous administration of semaglutide. Diabetes Spectrum.
Moran, K. J., et al. (2014). Preventing lipohypertrophy. Home Healthcare Nurse.
Novo Nordisk. (2017). Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
Ouellette, S., et al. (2023). Dermal hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide: Two case reports. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
Smits, M. M., et al. (2021). Safety of semaglutide. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
