Key takeaways:
Semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) probably doesn’t directly cause hair loss. But semaglutide can cause rapid weight loss, which can trigger telogen effluvium, a type of temporary hair loss.
Telogen effluvium usually starts 3 months after rapid weight loss. Hair will start to recover after weight stabilizes, but this takes several months.
Ozempic and Wegovy can reduce appetite, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Low protein and vitamin levels can slow hair growth.
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Semaglutide is an FDA-approved medication that can help treat several medical conditions. It’s available under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. Semaglutide helps the body release more insulin after eating and stops the liver from making more sugar. It also slows how fast the stomach empties, which can make people feel fuller longer and lower appetite.
All of these things lead to better blood-sugar control. They can also cause weight loss and other side effects. Some people aren’t bothered by weight loss as a side effect.
However, other semaglutide side effects may be more troubling. For example, people who’ve taken Ozempic say they’ve experienced hair loss while taking the medication.
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Here’s how Ozempic and Wegovy can affect your hair.
Does semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) cause hair loss?
Right now, there’s no clear evidence that semaglutide directly causes hair loss. But some people may experience hair loss after starting semaglutide.
People who took Ozempic during the original clinical trials didn’t report hair loss. But about 3% to 5% of people in injectable Wegovy clinical trials reported hair loss. People taking higher Wegovy doses were more likely to experience hair loss.
Research shows that hair changes from semaglutide aren’t as common as side effects like nausea, upset stomach, or stool changes. But some people do experience hair loss while taking these medications. There’s also some evidence that semaglutide is more likely to cause hair loss than Mounjaro or Trulicity.
How common is hair loss while taking semaglutide?
It’s not clear how many people experience hair loss while taking semaglutide. It wasn’t a commonly reported side effect during clinical trials for Ozempic, Wegovy, or the Wegovy pill.
The data from the injectable Wegovy clinical trials showed that about 3% to 5% of people reported more hair shedding. But 1% of people in the placebo (“control”) group also reported more hair shedding. The difference may have been due to chance and not the medication.
Why does Ozempic lead to hair loss?
There’s no clear evidence that semaglutide directly causes hair loss. This may change as more information about the medication becomes available. For now, researchers think hair loss is more likely related to changes that happen while taking the medication, rather than the medication itself.
Let’s take a look at two reasons why people may experience hair changes while taking Wegovy or Ozempic.
Rapid weight loss can trigger telogen effluvium
It’s possible that people taking Ozempic and Wegovy experience hair loss because they lose weight rapidly. Rapid weight loss can lead to hair loss. That’s because people who go through a period of rapid weight loss can develop a condition called telogen effluvium, which causes hair loss.
Telogen effluvium is very common after weight loss. One study showed that more than half of people who had rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery experienced more hair shedding.
Telogen effluvium develops when a lot of hair follicles move from a growth phase into a resting phase at the same time. During the rest phase, hair follicles shed their hair. Normally, hair follicles move from a growth to a rest phase at slightly different times. This keeps your hair from falling out at once. So, when many follicles shed at the same time, people start to notice hair loss and thinning.
Telogen effluvium typically starts about 3 months after someone experiences rapid weight loss. This is why people may not experience hair changes until they’ve been taking semaglutide for several months.
Nutritional deficiencies can affect hair health
Nutritional deficiencies may be another reason why people experience hair changes while taking semaglutide.
Ozempic and Wegovy lower appetite and make you feel fuller longer. This makes you eat less, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies if you’re not making sure you eat a variety of foods.
Not getting enough vitamins and minerals can lead to hair loss. Low vitamin D and zinc levels have been linked to hair loss.
Your hair health also depends on getting enough vitamins and protein. Even if you aren’t losing hair, you may notice slower hair growth while taking semaglutide, if you don’t get enough protein and vitamins. Getting enough iron, protein, and vitamins can keep your hair healthy while taking Ozempic and Wegovy.
It’s always best to get protein and vitamins from food. But supplements can be a good option if you’re having a hard time getting enough protein and nutrients from food. Talk with your healthcare team about whether or not you should take supplements while taking semaglutide.
Is Ozempic hair loss permanent?
Hair loss from telogen effluvium isn’t permanent. Telogen effluvium doesn’t damage the hair follicle. Your hair will grow back once your hair follicles switch back to a growth phase. This happens once your weight stabilizes. In general, it takes several months for people to reach a stable weight after starting injectable semaglutide.
And it’ll take several more months for your hair to grow long enough to make a noticeable difference in hair fullness. So, even though hair loss isn’t permanent, it can take some time for your hair to fully recover.
There’s no evidence that stopping semaglutide will make your hair re-enter a growth phase more quickly. And there’s no evidence that you need to stop taking semaglutide for your hair to recover from telogen effluvium.
6 things to do if you have hair loss while on Ozempic
There’s no way to immediately stop hair loss or thinning while taking semaglutide. But you should talk with your healthcare team if you notice hair changes while taking Ozempic or Wegovy. There are several things that you can do to help keep your hair healthy while taking semaglutide.
1. Determine the cause of hair loss
It’s important to make sure that you’re experiencing telogen effluvium and not another form of hair loss. Telogen effluvium is temporary, but other causes of hair loss can be permanent.
You’ll want to make sure your hair loss isn’t related to a new medical condition that causes hair loss, like:
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome
2. Review your medications
Some medications can cause hair loss. Review your medications with your healthcare team and see if there are alternatives that won’t affect your hair growth. But make sure you don’t stop your medications without talking to your care team first.
3. Find gentle hair care practices
The daily stress of hair styling can take a toll on hair follicles and increase hair shedding. You’ll want to nurture your hair while it recovers.
Taking a break from coloring, perming, or relaxing, as well as heat styling and tight hairstyles that stress your hair. Also, avoid hair products and shampoos that can lead to hair loss and damage.
4. Lower stress
Stress can trigger telogen effluvium. Your healthcare team can help you develop a routine that can lower stress. Walking, deep breathing, and meditation can all help. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is another popular way to tackle high stress levels.
5. Check for nutritional deficiencies
Your healthcare team can check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies that contribute to hair loss. They may recommend blood tests to check your iron, vitamin D, and zinc levels. They can also prescribe supplements if you have low vitamin and mineral levels.
6. Review your diet
A nutritious diet can boost hair health. Try to include the following in your daily diet:
Lean proteins
Fruits
Vegetables
Whole grains
Your healthcare team can help you develop a new meal plan. They may also ask you to work with a dietitian to make sure you get the nutrition you need while taking semaglutide.
Frequently asked questions
Other diabetes medications can cause rapid weight loss as a side effect. These include tirzepatide (Mounjaro), liraglutide (Victoza), and Rybelsus (semaglutide). Some people taking these medications have experienced hair changes, like hair loss and thinning. This is likely due to telogen effluvium related to rapid weight loss.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most commonly reported side effects of Ozempic. These side effects tend to go away on their own over time.
No, not everyone who experiences rapid weight loss will develop telogen effluvium. Right now, it’s impossible to predict whether or not someone will develop telogen effluvium if they experience rapid weight loss.
Other diabetes medications can cause rapid weight loss as a side effect. These include tirzepatide (Mounjaro), liraglutide (Victoza), and Rybelsus (semaglutide). Some people taking these medications have experienced hair changes, like hair loss and thinning. This is likely due to telogen effluvium related to rapid weight loss.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most commonly reported side effects of Ozempic. These side effects tend to go away on their own over time.
No, not everyone who experiences rapid weight loss will develop telogen effluvium. Right now, it’s impossible to predict whether or not someone will develop telogen effluvium if they experience rapid weight loss.
The bottom line
There’s no evidence that Ozempic (or other forms of semaglutide) directly cause hair loss. But rapid weight loss is a known side effect of taking Ozempic. And rapid weight loss can lead to telogen effluvium (excessive hair shedding). This condition develops about 3 months after rapid weight loss. Telogen effluvium isn’t permanent, but it may last for a few months.
Talk with your healthcare team if you experience hair loss while taking Ozempic or Wegovy. They can confirm that you have telogen effluvium and not a type of permanent hair loss. If you have telogen effluvium, avoid putting more stress on your hair follicles. Give your hair a break from chemicals, heat-based styling, and tight hairstyles.
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References
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