As GLP-1 medications like Ozempic reshape the approach to weight loss, many users are encountering an alarming side effect: sudden hair shedding.
But while social media has dubbed the trend "Ozempic hair", experts say the medication itself isn't the true culprit.
Instead, rapid weight loss and severe caloric shifts put physical stress on the body, triggering a temporary shock to the hair cycle, meaning the key to saving your hair lies in how you fuel your weight loss.
Do GPL-1 medications cause hair loss/thinning?
Dr Kashmal Kalan, a renowned hair restoration expert at Alvi Armani Hair Transplant Clinic, explains that patients who use GPL-1 medications do experience hair shedding, but the medication itself does not necessarily cause hair thinning.
“In many cases, what we are seeing is a form of temporary shedding called telogen effluvium (TE), which is a recognised response of the hair cycle to significant physiological stress. Rapid or substantial weight loss, reduced calorie intake and nutritional deficiencies can all act as triggers,” he explains.
Rapid weight loss due to the intake of GPL-1 medications causes nutritional deficiencies because you are eating less food, which results in the decrease of nutrients that contribute to hair growth such as zinc, iron and protein.
Kalan reveals that in this case, your body prioritises vital organs and metabolic functions more than hair production.
“Following a significant stress such as rapid weight loss, illness, major surgery or inadequate nutrition, a larger proportion of follicles can prematurely enter the resting phase of the hair cycle. Several weeks to a few months later, those hairs begin to shed. This is called TE,” he says.
Kalan adds that hair shedding doesn't typically occur overnight.
He further notes that weight lost in January may only lead to hair loss a few months later, around March or April.
The importance of a balanced diet when experiencing hair shedding
A balanced diet which includes iron-containing foods, vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, adequate protein and nutrient-dense foods is highly recommended when taking GPL-1 medications.
Even though it might not prevent you from shedding, it is important as it plays a role in helping you get enough nutrients to prevent clumps of hair from falling.
Kalan also cautions that during this time, you should avoid “excessive heat, repeated chemical processing and hairstyles that place significant traction on the hair.”
He adds that most people usually deprive themselves of having nutritious meals with the goal of losing weight. While others simply eat small amounts of food to help aid weight loss.
However, that is the one common mistake that people make when they are on a weight loss journey.
What to do when you are experiencing hair loss
“The first step should be not to panic and not to stop the medication independently. I would recommend speaking to the doctor managing the GLP-1 treatment and having the hair loss properly assessed,” Dr Kalan shares.
He adds that during this process, they need to assess whether the cause of the hair loss is related to the GPL-1 medications or other factors.
He explains that when your hair is shedding, it does not necessarily mean that you have to stop the intake of the medication that is helping you lose weight.
How to prevent hair loss and restore hair growth
Taking GPL-1 medications will help you lose weight; however, that doesn't necessarily mean you must eat little to no food because, again, it is going to cause hair loss.
Kalan shares that when you are taking GPL-1 medications, try to eat as many nutritious meals as possible to prevent hair loss.
“I would encourage patients to make every meal nutritionally meaningful, prioritising adequate protein, vegetables, fruit, whole foods, and sufficient hydration,” he says.
For those who are already experiencing hair loss, you have to start seeking treatment before you start to lose clumps of hair.
“Treatments such as minoxidil, finasteride and procedures such as platelet-rich plasma may form part of a broader treatment plan. The important message is that we should diagnose the cause before treating the hair,” he says.
How to protect your hair while losing weight
“Make sure you are getting adequate protein and overall nutrition, stay appropriately hydrated, avoid crash dieting and make sure your weight loss programme is medically supervised.
“And if you notice increased shedding, don't assume that you are permanently losing your hair. In many cases, particularly when the trigger is rapid weight loss, we are dealing with telogen effluvium, which is a temporary disruption of the hair cycle.
"The key is to identify the cause early, correct any nutritional or medical issues and give the hair cycle time to recover,” Kalan advises.