GLP-1 users report painful skin side effect doctors are trying to understand

(NewsNation) — With the growing number of people using weight loss medications, some people are reporting a little-known side effect: A burning sensation.

The condition, known as allodynia, makes the skin sensitive to touch, with harmless sensations becoming painful. 

What is allodynia?

Allodynia is a type of nerve pain where a person feels pain from things that should not normally hurt at all. The pain could be felt from things as small as a gentle breeze, wearing glasses or light clothing brushing against one’s skin. 

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The Daily Mail reported that although the condition of allodynia is not listed as a side effect of weight loss medications, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, medical reports and researchers have documented multiple cases where patients on GLP-1 medications developed skin sensitivity. 

GLP-1 medications and allodynia linked in medical reports

Medical reports have not yet indicated whether the medications directly cause the burning sensations. 

A woman, identified as Kaela Knight, reportedly began taking tirzepatide to lose weight in 2024 after her doctor’s recommendation. After a while, she began experiencing some common side effects, including fatigue and acid reflux. Then, when she increased her medication’s dose from 2.5 to 5 mg, she began experiencing a burning sensation, the Daily Mail reported. 

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“I always describe it as feeling like a sunburn without any visible redness or irritation. Even the lightest touch against my skin could be uncomfortable,” Knight told the Daily Mail. 

Knight eventually contacted her doctor, who told her that other patients also reported similar symptoms. 

The National Library of Medicine reported on several cases in which people taking GLP-1 medications experienced skin sensitivity and a burning sensation when they increased their doses. 

According to the report, the condition appears to be dose-dependent.

GLP-1 medication complications: What should patients do?

Users of GLP-1 medications who begin to experience a burning sensation should consult with their doctor.

In most medical reports, the allodynia resolves within a few weeks to months if the medication is stopped or if a doctor reduces the dosage. 

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