Even though Ozempic is quite new, over 120,000 UK patients were prescribed this diabetes and weight loss drug in 2023 alone [1], prompting a nationwide shortage [2]. Incredibly popular with stars and influencers, this medication has been presented online as a miracle weight loss solution. However, stories soon emerged online that this drug can make users’ hair fall out. So patients around the world started wondering how to stop hair loss from Ozempic.
But Ozempic isn’t likely to cause hair loss directly. It facilitates fast weight loss, which is the most probable culprit for related hair shedding. This article will tell you all you need to know about combating Ozempic hair loss, such as:
At this time, there is no scientific evidence to prove that Ozempic can directly make your hair fall out. This side effect is not listed on the product leaflet [3], nor is it featured by the Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC) [4].
However, semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, has been linked to hair loss. Clinical trials reveal that 3% of participants report alopecia, in comparison to 1% of the placebo group [5]. But that does not necessarily mean the drug itself is causing the hair thinning.
It is a known fact that rapid weight loss can lead to hair loss, as can nutritional deficiencies. And one of the main effects of semaglutide is helping you slim down by suppressing your appetite.
Any hair loss is more likely caused by the stress of sudden weight loss on your body [6][7]. When you are under exceptional physical or psychological stress, you can develop a temporary type of alopecia called telogen effluvium [8]. It causes diffuse hair loss all over your scalp and generally subsides without treatment 3-4 months after resolving the cause of the stress. However, in rare cases, it can become chronic, lasting up to 10 years [9].
Moreover, when you are on a strict diet, you may not be able to get all the nutrients you need for healthy hair growth. Vitamin deficiencies can cause hair loss as well, and you may not even realise you have one unless you monitor your nutrient levels.
While Ozempic may not directly cause hair loss, it can cause drastic weight loss that can result in telogen effluvium. And the lack of appetite can prevent you from getting all the nutrients you need. So here’s what you can do to stop your hair shedding.
Even if your goal is to lose weight, you need to do so in a way that doesn’t negatively affect your health and wellbeing. Oftentimes, people on a strict diet cut out entire food groups, which can leave them without some of the nutrients these foods contain.
Maintaining a healthy hair diet involves getting vitamins and minerals that are also necessary for other important processes in your body. Vitamins for hair growth and nutrients (including iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium) help keep your body functioning well and your hair growing healthy and beautiful. It will also help keep telogen effluvium at bay, as your body will be under less stress. A nutritionist can help you create a well-balanced diet plan where you can get all these nutrients from low-fat sources.
While weight loss places physical stress on your body, dieting can also be psychologically demanding. And any additional source of stress and anxiety can cause hair loss by triggering or worsening telogen effluvium. So it is a good idea to engage in relaxation techniques that can help you unwind.
Meditation and mindfulness, practising a hobby, socialising with loved ones, taking long walks in nature or getting psychotherapy can all help. Relaxing scalp massages for hair growth can not only soothe your mind but also stimulate your hair follicles for growth.
Hair growth medications such as Minoxidil, as well as therapies such as PRP hair treatments or red light therapy for hair growth can help reduce telogen effluvium and push your follicles into the growth phase.
However, be sure to get a trichologist’s recommendation if you want to start taking hair loss medication. Some may not be recommended if you have existing health conditions or are undergoing other medical treatments.
There are also great natural remedies for combatting hair loss. For example, you can try some of the best essential oils for hair growth. Using black seed oil for hair is a great place to start, since there is evidence that it can improve hair density and thickness in patients with telogen effluvium [10].
If you are a woman taking Ozempic and experiencing hair loss, all of the advice listed above can work for you. However, you may also want to consider the following gender-specific tips, as they can help reduce hair thinning:
If your Ozempic hair loss is a form of telogen effluvium, you can expect it to resolve within 3-4 months of onset. Of course, since people are different, it may take some a bit longer to recover than others. However, if more than 6 months have passed and your hair thinning doesn’t show signs of stopping, it’s a good idea to see a trichologist. They can rule out chronic telogen effluvium and other forms of alopecia.
However, if your Ozempic hair loss is rooted in a nutritional deficiency, it can be a bit more complicated. While in most cases, hair growth will resume within a few months after the deficiency has been resolved, supplementation doesn’t always make your hair grow back. If this happens to you, be sure to see a trichologist for personalised advice.
There are no reported cases of permanent hair loss resulting from Ozempic treatment. Normally, excessive hair thinning associated with this medication resolves within a few months. If more than 6 months have passed and your hair is still falling out or not growing back, you may be experiencing a different type of alopecia.
When you notice the first signs of hair thinning and balding soon after starting a new medication, you may be inclined to think the two are related. However, sometimes the effect of the drug may only be compounding hair loss that is happening for an entirely different reason. Here are the most common types of alopecia and how to recognise them.
Also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia affects 85% of men [12] and 55% of women [13] at some point in life. It occurs when a male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to androgen receptors on your hair follicles, making them shrink and eventually stop producing hair [14].
Common symptoms: In men, it normally starts with a receding hairline, followed by temple hair loss and a bald spot on the crown. In women, it involves diffuse hair thinning and a progressive widening of the midline parting.
Alopecia areata is a type of autoimmune hair loss, which means your white blood cells are attacking your hair follicles [15]. Most often, alopecia areata produces patchy hair loss which often resolves within a year, only to flare up again over time.
Common symptoms: Alopecia areata often presents with smooth, rounded bald patches, small, broken hairs shaped like exclamation marks, yellow, white or black dots on the scalp and sometimes brittle nails.
Excessively wearing tight hairstyles, such as braids or ponytails, can cause hair loss. That is because they pull on your hair follicles, damaging them and causing traction alopecia [16]. However, in most cases, this condition is temporary and resolves itself soon after you stop wearing tight hairstyles, as your hair follicles get a chance to heal.
Common symptoms: Hair loss around the frontal or fringe area, where most tension is applied, is the main symptom of traction alopecia. But you may also notice bumpy skin, broken hairs or black dots in the affected area and you may experience scalp itching or tingling.
Other causes for excessive hair thinning may involve improper hair care or styling practices that can damage your tresses, leading to excessive hair breakage. Here are some common examples:
While, so far, Ozempic may have a negative impact on your hair, there is also some good news. Research shows that patients who take this kind of medication for type 2 diabetes may actually experience improved hair growth [19]. This happens because Ozempic can help curb diabetes-related hair loss.
Type 2 diabetes can negatively affect your hair by reducing blood flow to your hair follicles and disrupting your hair growth cycle. However, Ozempic is effective in reducing the symptoms of this disease, which means it can help you grow fuller, healthier hair.
If you think you may be experiencing Ozempic hair loss, it is better to have this diagnosis confirmed by an expert. Book a consultation with one of our trichologists at your most convenient clinic location. They will perform a thorough examination of your hair and scalp and use specialised tools to rule out other kinds of alopecia. They will then prescribe the best, personalised hair loss treatment for women (or the most effective hair loss treatment for men) that will help your hair grow thick and beautiful once more.
If you are curious to discover more about hair loss from Ozempic, don’t forget to read the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Stopping Ozempic might end your hair loss, but it would also curb your weight-reduction progress, which could have detrimental health consequences. A better approach is to wait a few months and see if your hair thinning improves. Make sure you eat a balanced diet during this time. If your hair loss doesn’t resolve within 6 months, see a trichologist to rule out other types of alopecia.
As a side note, should you decide to go off Ozempic, first talk about it with your doctor. They may propose a different solution or provide you with a safe way to discontinue the medication. Stopping treatment suddenly can negatively impact your health and offset the balance of other medications you may be taking.
No, switching between these medications is unlikely to help your hair much. Wegovy can cause hair loss to the same extent as Ozempic, as they contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide). And even though its active substance is different (tirzepatide), Mounjaro was found to cause hair loss in 4-5% of its patients [17].
However, the alopecia experienced when taking any of these medications is likely telogen effluvium induced by rapid weight loss rather than medication-induced hair loss.
In most cases, Ozempic hair loss is temporary and will reverse itself. So all you really need to do is take good care of yourself and have some patience. However, you can help it along by using the advice provided in this article, such as getting all the necessary nutrients for healthy hair growth, using topical Minoxidil or trying a proven hair growth oil.
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