Does Ozempic cause hair loss?

As seemingly more and more people begin using Ozempic (semaglutide) and other drugs like it, concerns about less commonly recognized side effects—beyond the well-known possibility of gastrointestinal issues—continue to emerge. One example? Whether Ozempic causes hair loss.

Some users have reported experiencing thinning hair while on Ozempic, raising questions about its role in hair loss. But is the prescription medication to blame? The answer lies in understanding the broader effects of weight loss on the body. Whether achieved with or without medications like Ozempic, rapid weight loss can sometimes lead to telogen effluvium—temporary hair shedding triggered by significant physiological changes. While Ozempic does not directly cause hair loss, the metabolic and hormonal shifts associated with rapid weight loss may lead to hair loss in some people. 

Curious to learn more about the link between Ozempic, weight loss, and hair health? Read on as we unpack the science, share expert insights, and discuss how to prevent or manage hair loss while on this medication.

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In short, it can. 

 “Hair loss is not a common side effect currently listed in the prescribing information of semaglutide [the active ingredient in Ozempic],” says Raoul Manalac, MD, Senior Director of Obesity Medicine at Ro. “That being said,” Dr. Manalac explains, the association between rapid weight loss and hair loss exists: “Sometimes people can experience hair loss as a result of losing weight in general, and hair loss did occur in a minority of patients receiving treatment with semaglutide as observed in clinical trials.”

Studies show that a sudden decrease in calorie intake, like from crash dieting, can cause hair loss, and this dip in calorie consumption can be common with drugs like Ozempic, even if you’re not using them for weight management.

While Ozempic wasn’t initially designed as a weight loss treatment, the weight loss effects of the drug were so significant that they sparked studies that eventually resulted in the medication being approved under the brand name Wegovy as a weight loss treatment. How does it work? The active ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (or GLP-1 for short). 

This class of medications mimics a naturally occurring hormone in your body known as GLP-1, which plays an important role in appetite and digestion. By mimicking this hormone, Ozempic and drugs like it (including Wegovy, Zepbound, Mounjaro, and others) slow the transit of food through the digestive system, helping you feel fuller for longer. They also reduce cravings, resulting in an overall reduction in food intake. 

GLP-1’s can produce some minor side effects, but they typically affect your digestive system (like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and nausea). Semaglutide works best for weight loss when combined with exercise and a healthy diet, which for some people means rapid weight loss (up to 15% of body weight in one year when combined with diet and exercise). This means that people may experience hair loss at the same time as taking semaglutide due to the rather quick weight loss, but not necessarily because of the drug itself. 

That said, some of the health conditions that can prompt people to take semaglutide in the first place can cause hair loss, too. We’ll explore both of these concepts in more detail below.

Does Wegovy cause hair loss?

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a weight loss medication for people with overweight or obesity and related health conditions, such as high blood pressure. While it is not a common side effect, anecdotal reports suggest some people taking Wegovy experience hair loss. 

In clinical trials, 3% of adult participants taking Wegovy experienced hair loss. But this phenomenon is not unique to Wegovy. Hair shedding is common in people who experience weight loss through other methods, including diet, surgery, or other weight-loss medications. 

Many Wegovy users experience a rapid and substantial reduction in body weight, which can trigger telogen effluvium (TE)—a condition in which hair follicles prematurely shift from the growth (anagen) phase to the resting (telogen) phase. This process leads to noticeable hair shedding, usually about 2-3 months after a physiological or emotional stressor, such as childbirth or rapid weight loss. In other words, Wegovy itself likely isn’t to blame for hair loss, but rather the changes that come with significant weight loss. 

Nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to hair loss. Because Wegovy reduces appetite, inadequate caloric or nutrient intake may be responsible for the hair loss some users experience. Nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin D play a vital role in maintaining healthy hair, and deficiencies in these can trigger or worsen hair shedding. Eating nutrient-dense foods, such as lean proteins, leafy greens, nuts, and fortified cereals, can help prevent the nutritional deficiencies that may contribute to hair loss while on Wegovy.

According to clinical trials on semaglutide, only 3% of adults taking the highest dose of the drug for weight loss (2.4 mg per week) experienced hair loss. In other words, most people are able to lose weight while taking semaglutide without losing their hair.

So, while possible, hair loss while taking semaglutide isn’t very common. “Hair loss is more typically associated with people who lose the most weight and do so rapidly,” says Dr. Manalac.  

Healthy hair growth depends on a number of factors, including a person’s nutrition and diet, hormone balance, and overall health. Hair grows in a cycle, passing through several phases as it grows and is later shed. Some disruptions to this cycle, like nutritional deficiencies and health conditions, can cause hair loss to occur.

Hair loss and dieting

Hair loss is actually not uncommon in people who lose weight by dieting. According to Dr. Manalac, the human body is highly sensitive to intense changes—especially those that are due to weight loss efforts involving severe calorie restriction. “Crash dieting can often cause hair cycling issues and decrease energy supply to the hair matrix,” Dr. Manalac says.

This type of hair loss, called telogen effluvium, is associated with weight loss, lack of nutrition, and stress. Dr. Malanac explains that, in a normal scalp, about 5–10% of hair follicles are in the resting or “telogen phase” of the hair growth cycle at any given time. “If intense stress or nutritional deficiency triggers telogen effluvium, hairs get shifted into the telogen phase.”

Telogen effluvium usually results in hair shedding over the entire scalp (as opposed to hair loss in a particular shape or due to a change in the health of the hair shaft itself, as can happen with other types of hair loss). While this can be stressful, Dr. Manalac reassures that “telogen effluvium does not typically progress to balding even though it might seem like a lot of hair is being lost.” Commonly, a person will experience excess hair shedding for two or three months, after which point their hair will stabilize and begin to regrow; it can take 6 to 12 months for a person’s overall hair appearance to significantly improve.

Hair loss and diabetes

Another possible cause of hair loss can be the health issue a person using Ozempic is trying to treat: Diabetes. Hair loss can be linked to diabetes, and may sometimes even occur as an early sign of type 2 diabetes.  

This can occur for a few reasons. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with uncontrolled blood sugar levels, which may disrupt the cycle of hair growth and regrowth. High blood sugar can damage your blood vessels, especially tiny vessels called capillaries that are responsible for circulating blood, nutrients, and oxygen to organs and skin tissue—including your scalp. When the scalp can’t get the nourishment it needs, it can’t grow and replace hair like it normally would.

There may also be a link between diabetesand other autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid, which can cause hair loss as well.

Chances are that if you’re taking semaglutide, you’ve been working to lose weight for some time. If you notice hair loss at any point in your weight loss journey, be sure to tell your healthcare provider. If you’re dieting, your calorie intake may be too low—which can put you at risk for hair loss due to telogen effluvium.

Fortunately, since telogen effluvium tends to resolve on its own, you may not have to worry much about taking extra steps to regrow your hair. Semaglutide is designed to be used in conjunction with exercise and a healthy diet, so you won’t be doing your health (or your hair) any favors by crash dieting along with your prescribed dose of medication. Try to eat a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Your provider can help to evaluate your diet as well as guide your next steps for managing hair loss. An understanding of where hair loss is occurring on your head and establishing how much hair you’re losing will inform what treatment options may be available, such as a topical medication like minoxidil or finasteride.

Again, hair loss that’s due to rapid weight loss tends to be short-term and improves over time. However, Dr. Manalac emphasizes that a healthcare provider should be made aware of hair loss that continues or becomes more severe in case there’s an underlying health issue that may benefit from additional treatment. 

Hair loss is uncommon but possible with Ozempic: About 3% of people taking semaglutide report hair loss, making it a rare side effect compared to more common side effects like nausea or diarrhea. 

• Rapid weight loss is the primary trigger for hair shedding, not Ozempic: Hair loss on Ozempic is often linked to telogen effluvium (TE), temporary hair shedding that occurs in response to physiological changes, such as sudden weight loss. 

• Nutritional deficiencies may contribute to hair loss: Ozempic suppresses appetite, which can lead to reduced calorie and nutrient intake. Insufficient intake of nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin D may exacerbate or trigger hair loss. 

• Underlying health conditions like diabetes may play a role: Hair loss may occur due to underlying conditions, such as diabetes, which can damage blood vessels, reduce blood flow and nutrient delivery to the scalp, disrupting hair growth. Hair

  loss can also be a result of thyroid issues. If you are unsure of the underlying cause of your hair loss, talk to your healthcare provider to see if blood work is needed.

• Hair loss is usually temporary and reversible: Telogen effluvium generally resolves within 6–12 months as the hair cycle stabilizes. If nutritional deficiencies contribute to hair loss, eating nutrient-dense foods and sometimes taking supplements can help promote hair growth. 

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

January 03, 2025

Written by

Nancy LaChance, BSN, RN

Fact checked by

Raagini Yedidi, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Raagini Yedidi, MD

Raagini Yedidi, MD, is an internal medicine resident and medical reviewer for Ro.