By Womaness Editors 4-Minute Read
GLP-1s like Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro…who hasn’t looked into using them these days? If you are considering a compounded version via Midi Health or simply using the name brand for weight loss, it is a journey. Why, if, and how is a conversation for another blog post, but we wanted to address another potential side effect we continue to hear about: dehydration leading to vaginal dryness or increased vaginal dryness overall.
For those on a GLP-1, you know the drill… the first few days can be tough. You’re a little (or a lot) nauseous, down to the point where it even becomes hard to take a sip of water. The experts tell you to drink lots of fluids and get your electrolytes in. But that’s easier said than done when you can barely keep anything down!
Thing is, 24 hours of significant decreases in your liquid intake—or even more worrisome, a few days—can lead to dehydration. Obviously, that can be serious, resulting in dizziness, lack of focus, and worse. But less talked-about is what it does to your skin...and we’re talking about your skin all over.
GLP-1 drugs (semaglutide, tirzepatide, etc.) can cause dehydration mainly because they:
• Reduce appetite → less food and fluid intake
• Cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in some people → fluid loss
• Sometimes slow gastric emptying → changing hydration cues
This dehydration is systemic (whole-body), not just in one area. And many women on a GLP-1 may feel a change in their skin all over. We asked Board-Certified OB-GYN Dr. Anita Sadaty about it and she agreed that dehydration can lead to other issues in the body that can result in dryness, itchiness, and, in some cases, pain.
Sound like you? If so, Womaness can help you out with solutions for these dry-skin issues:
Vaginal Dryness
If your body is overall dehydrated, vaginal tissues can also feel drier, leading to vaginal dryness. And that can lead to general discomfort down there and even pain during sex. One solution is a vaginal moisturizer like Daily V Soothe or Coco Bliss. Both can be used during the day or for intimacy. A small pea-size (or more, if you need it) applied to the vaginal wall and externally can help relieve any dry, itchy, or sometimes painful skin.
• A vaginal moisturizer (especially with hyaluronic acid) can soothe and rehydrate the vaginal walls directly, even if the root cause is systemic dehydration.
• But not systemically: It won’t address the body-wide dehydration caused by GLP-1 therapy—only local dryness.
Vaginal Renewal Kit
Overall Skin Dryness
If GLP-1 therapy has you feeling extra dry in places like your arms, legs, and feet, The Works all-over body cream can lend a (nicely moisturized) hand. Its active ingredient is HyaClear 7, with features seven hyaluronic acid molecules that help moisturize your skin for 24 hours. The Works helps relieve itchy, dry skin with luxe, clinically studied ingredients.
And if it’s your complexion that’s feeling like the Sahara thanks in part to GLP-1s, Overnight Magic is an ultra-moisturizer for both your face and neck. Made with Bakuchiol, a hydrating, plant-based alternative to retinol, it feels amazing going on and absorbs quickly into your thirsty skin.
TL;DR for dryness with GLP-1 weight-loss medications:
A vaginal moisturizer won’t “fix” GLP-1 dehydration in your nether region, but it can relieve the vaginal dryness that dehydration makes worse. Think of it as spot-treatment for the symptom while your efforts at hydration and nutrition address the bigger cause. Same for goes overall skin dryness: find a nourishing, ultra-long-lasting moisturizer for the skin that feels dry, itchy, and tight, and stick to a plan that keeps hydration and nutrition at the top of your list.
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