Hair loss has become one of the most reported concerns among people taking GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound — so much so that the phenomenon has earned the nickname “Ozempic hair.”
Several studies have investigated whether these drugs are linked to hair loss, but none has shown that the medications themselves cause hair to fall out. Now, new research offers a clue about a possible biological connection between GLP-1s and thinning hair — at least in men.
In the study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, researchers at NYU Langone Health found a link between higher levels of the GLP-1 receptor in the blood and male-pattern hair loss. The finding doesn’t mean that men who take GLP-1s will definitely develop male pattern hair loss, but it suggests that these medications could be contributing to what people are observing.
Here’s what we know — and don’t know — about the connection between GLP-1 drugs and hair loss.
What the study found
When you eat, your body naturally releases GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone that attaches to GLP-1 receptors (proteins located on the surface of many cells) throughout the body and communicates that it’s time to slow digestion, release insulin and feel full. GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking this hormone.
For this study, the researchers looked at people with genetic variants associated with naturally higher levels of GLP-1 receptors, which means their cells may have a greater response to the hormone. Then they looked through a genetic database to see whether those variants were linked to men with male-pattern hair loss — which typically causes a receding hairline, thinning at the temples and a bald spot at the crown of the head.
They found that higher GLP-1 activity was associated with about 7 percent greater odds of male-pattern hair loss, suggesting that the two may be biologically related, said senior study author Lynn Petukhova, an assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology and the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
The findings build on a study published earlier this year that found a slight increase in the risk of hair loss in people with Type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 drugs compared with other types of diabetes drugs. But there’s an important caveat with the NYU study: None of the subjects were actually taking a GLP-1 medication.
That means that while the study suggests a connection between having greater GLP-1 receptor activity and male-pattern hair loss, it doesn’t tell us whether people taking GLP-1s are more likely to have hair loss.
“Genetic association does not equal drug effect,” said Justin Ko, chief of dermatology at Stanford Health Care, who specializes in hair loss and was not involved in the research. “It is suggestive evidence, but I don’t think we can say this is a causal effect.”
Another limitation of the study is that it was largely made up of men of European ancestry, so it’s not clear whether the results apply to other populations.
Why some people lose hair on GLP-1s
The new study may point to a potential biological connection, but it doesn’t explain why so many people report hair loss after starting a GLP-1 drug.
Carolyn Goh, a clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA Health, who was not involved in the study, says she frequently sees hair shedding in patients taking GLP-1s. But, she added, it’s difficult to pinpoint what’s causing it.
“It could be the medication, it could be the weight loss, it could be metabolic changes, it could be insufficient nutrition,” she said. “There are a lot of different things that could be going on.”
It’s well documented that rapid weight loss of any kind — whether from GLP-1s, bariatric surgery or crash dieting — can stress the body and lead to hair loss, Ko said. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium.
Hair typically goes through different cycles of rest and growth. With telogen effluvium, more hair follicles than usual enter a resting phase at the same time. (It’s one way your body tries to conserve energy during times of stress, Petukhova said.) Those hairs eventually shed, causing noticeable thinning. Unlike male-pattern hair loss, which causes a patchy type of balding, this shedding tends to be diffuse, meaning hair comes out from all over the scalp.
A significant drop in calories can also make it harder to get enough of the nutrients that are essential for hair growth. A lack of protein and calcium, folate, B12 and iron, for example, can contribute to hair shedding, Ko said.
Telogen effluvium typically doesn’t start immediately after a stressful event. Hair follicles can take weeks to respond, so shedding often begins about two to three months after the stressor. That delay can make it difficult for someone to know whether their hair loss is related to weight loss, nutritional deficiencies or something else entirely unrelated that happened months earlier.
A period of intense shedding may also make underlying hair loss more noticeable, Ko said. Male- and female-pattern hair loss is extremely common and develops gradually. A person may already have the genetic tendency toward it without realizing it. Then, a bout of telogen effluvium makes this hair loss more pronounced, Ko said.
What to do if you’re worried about hair loss
If you’re taking a GLP-1 drug, talk with your health care team to make sure you’re getting enough protein and other nutrients. (It’s critical for maintaining muscle and bone mass, too.) Ko also recommended talking with your doctor about whether you’re losing weight too fast. In some cases, slowing it down may reduce the physical stress that can trigger shedding, he said.
If you do notice more hair in your brush or shower drain, it doesn’t mean that the medication is permanently damaging your hair.
For most people, telogen effluvium after weight loss is temporary. As the body adjusts to its new weight and nutritional intake stabilizes, the hair cycle will return to normal and the hair can regrow, Ko said. It does take time, though: “You’re going to see your hair coming back and regrowing over the course of the next six to 12 months,” he said.
If your hair loss continues for more than about six months, Goh suggests seeing a dermatologist, particularly one who specializes in hair loss. They can examine your scalp and determine whether you’re dealing with telogen effluvium, pattern hair loss or another condition.
The distinction matters, because some hair loss can be treated with medications such as minoxidil or finasteride, Goh said. You should see a dermatologist right away if you develop clear bald patches, significant scalp inflammation or a rash or symptoms such as pain, itching or scaling. Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes also can signal a type of hair-loss condition that warrants evaluation, Goh said.
What this study means if you’re considering a GLP-1
The new study adds to an area of research that is still unsettled. Goh said she wouldn’t dismiss hair loss as a possible consideration for someone deciding whether to take a GLP-1. But she also wouldn’t view the study’s 7 percent increase in odds of male-pattern hair loss as a reason on its own to avoid a medication that may provide important health benefits.
“It’s definitely a patient-centered conversation,” she said. The same potential side effect may matter very differently to two people depending on how much they need or want the medication and how concerned they are about hair loss, she said.
Ko agreed that the study shouldn’t be interpreted as evidence that people taking GLP-1 drugs should expect to lose their hair. The more immediate and established explanation for shedding after substantial weight loss is telogen effluvium, he said.
More research is needed to determine whether the study’s genetic finding applies to people actually taking GLP-1 medications, women, and more diverse populations.
For now, experts say the message for people taking these medications is less about expecting hair loss and more about paying attention to what kind of hair loss is happening — and getting it evaluated if it persists or looks unusual.
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