The popularity of drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic for weight loss doesn’t stop there: people posting on social media groups about losing hair is also familiar.
Dr. Susan Massick, a dermatologist at Ohio State University, has seen patients who have lost hair after weight loss surgery. One of the most striking things about this is that there are no symptoms of scalp infection. There is no pain, no itching, but you can run your hands through your hair, and you have a handful of hair.
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Semaglutide, better known as Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold under the name Mounjaro, were initially designed for people with Type 2 diabetes. It is also common for these medications to be prescribed for weight loss. The FDA approves Wegovy for weight loss, while Ozempic and Mounjaro are given off-label.
According to Dr. Vijaya Surampudi, assistant director of UCLA’s weight management program in Los Angeles, hair loss is a relatively uncommon side effect. The side effect of hair loss is not listed as a side effect of Ozempic, people who received Wegovy recorded it in clinical trials at 3% rather than 1%.
Major Weight Loss Can Result In Hair Loss
Hair loss during times of stress is widespread, whether it is pregnancy, divorce, or dramatic weight loss. Telogen effluvium is the medical term used to describe the condition. When taken with semaglutide or tirzepatide, people typically consume fewer calories than they normally eat. Usually, people shed and grow hair constantly. The body, however, reserves resources for essential functions when it is shocked. During the resting phase, hair continues to relieve and stop growing simultaneously.
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Does Losing Weight Prevent Hair Loss?
Surampudi said that genetic hair loss or hair loss caused by another condition sometimes coincides with telogen effluvium, in which case hair won’t grow back by itself. People on weight loss drugs may not get enough nutrients because they eat less, contributing to hair loss. The importance of iron during menstruation can’t be overstated, Surampudi said, and taking vitamin D supplements can benefit everyone on weight loss medication.