As doctors and researchers learn more about Ozempic's health benefits, many are impressed. Besides lowering blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes and helping millions of Americans lose weight (it is only approved for the former but is often used off-label for the latter), the drug is now also believed to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, substance use disorders, cognitive decline, and more. However, it’s also no secret that Ozempic can come with plenty of side effects, too. Most commonly, these include gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Now, some patients are speaking up about a surprising side effect they’ve experienced since beginning their weight loss regimens: Hair loss.
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Does Ozempic really cause hair loss? Many doctors and other medical experts say yes—and they’re taking to various platforms to address the phenomenon.
“Hair loss, medically known as alopecia, can be a distressing side effect of certain medications, including Ozempic (semaglutide),” Jesse E. Smith, MD, FACS, a facial plastic surgeon, recently wrote in a blog post. He notes that nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, and stress could all contribute.
Ananda Fidani, MPAP, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant specializing in cosmetic, surgical, and laser dermatology, says the most likely cause is telogen effluvium (TE), “a well known condition in the derm field,” that causes people to shed more strands than normal in the wake of a stressful event or major physical change.
“It can happen with crash diets, and Ozempic is kind of like a crash diet,” Fidani recently said in a TikTok post. “You take away your appetite, and you don’t want to eat. When you don’t want to eat you have less calories, less protein, less nutrients going into your body to support those main functions.”
She explains that telogen effluvium occurs when your body recognizes that it’s under extreme stress and “that hair is not important to survival. What’s important to survival is maintaining all the other body processes to keep you alive, such as brain functioning and other organs. Your body puts your hair follicles into a sleeping phase.”
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Spencer David Kobren, the founder of the American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) recently wrote for Dermatology Times that this may be more likely to occur when patients abuse the drugs and lose weight at a dangerous pace.
“The AHLA has become aware of a concerning trend among individuals misusing Ozempic (semaglutide) and other related glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for rapid weight loss purposes. Although these drugs have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, their misuse for weight loss purposes can have serious consequences, including significant hair loss,” he says.
If you notice hair loss while taking Ozempic, taking certain supplements such as biotin or Nutrafol may help you regenerate growth, especially if you happen to have a biotin deficiency. And, there’s more good news: "With telogen effluvium, you will not lose all your hair, you will not go bald, and it will grow back, so it's not a permanent situation," Susan Massick, MD, a dermatologist at Ohio State University, recently told NBC News.
However, as with all drug side effects, it’s important to discuss your concerns with your doctor. They may be able to adjust your dosage or recommend other safe ways to mitigate hair loss or other concerns.
