Skin gotten worse?

8 replies7 peopleJan 19, 2026☆ Follow

Summary

Does starting reta cause acne breakouts or is it from the weight loss itself?

Users report increased acne after beginning reta, but most attribute it to rapid weight loss releasing stored hormones and toxins rather than the drug directly. Those with a history of acne-prone skin see flares despite routines, while others notice no skin changes. Advice centers on hydration, clean eating, and supporting liver function during fast loss.

What this discussion establishes

Acne flares linked to fat-cell release of hormones/toxins during weight loss
Pre-existing acne-prone skin makes breakouts more likely even with skincare
Rapid loss can overwhelm normal liver processing of released substances
Hydration, electrolytes, and regular bowel movements suggested to help
Some users see no skin changes at all in early weeks
No clear distinction yet between direct drug effect and deficit effects

Still open

Whether the acne is caused by reta itself or solely by the accompanying calorie deficit and weight loss

Nothing here is advice.

8 replies · 7 people

SlowAlder74archiveopening postJan 19

Hi everyone, I've been on Reta for eight weeks and my skin has gotten somewhat worse. I've always had acne-prone skin but I try really hard to keep it under control. Since I started reta I've seen more breakouts even though I'm still doing my skincare routine and staying hydrated. I know reta can cause rashes and such, but has anyone else noticed acne?

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BlueTimber78archiveJan 19

↳ replying to @SlowAlder74 (opening post)

I'd guess this is coming from the weight loss or calorie deficit rather than reta on its own. No data to back that up though, it's just a guess.

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LevelFenwick18archiveJan 19

Maybe the fast drop in weight is throwing off my hormone balance.

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WarmQuill37archiveJan 19

Fat in the body holds onto hormones and harmful stuff beyond just the fuel from food. Dropping pounds frees all that material into the system at once. The result tends to be sudden shifts in mood plus skin breakouts unfortunately.

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SlowAlder74archiveJan 20

↳ replying to @WarmQuill37

That makes sense, thank you!

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BrightSparrow18archiveJan 21

Been at it barely seven days and spotted this identical effect too. Really nice don't you agree?

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GreenSparrow52archiveJan 21

Tuesday marked the beginning of my third week, yet nothing looks different about my complexion so far.

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WarmMeadow79archiveJan 22

It's been said before that toxins get held in fat tissue. The liver can usually deal with them fine, except if shedding pounds happens too fast and overwhelms it suddenly. I focus on staying hydrated with plenty of fluids and choosing wholesome foods. Good bowel movements matter too, though that can sometimes be tricky during this process, you know?

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SlowAlder74archiveJan 22

↳ replying to @WarmMeadow79

Yeah, my fluid intake is way up these days, same with electrolytes. Acne has been a constant struggle for my skin, so it figures that even this or dropping the weight would bring on more breakouts.

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