Hair Loss Related to GLP-1As
You’re most likely aware of the miraculous scientific advances in diabetes, weight loss, and chronic disease management known as Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists (GLP-1As). These drugs have taken healthcare by storm and led to many medical benefits for patients struggling with diabetes and obesity.
The secondary benefits of GLP-1 Agonists
Many patients on these medications have experienced secondary benefits, including improved blood pressure, reduced cholesterol, decreased arthritis pain/inflammation, improved liver health, decreased cardiac risk factors, and kidney protection. As dermatologists, we have even seen benefits for our patients with chronic skin diseases, including but not limited to psoriasis, eczema/atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and acanthosis nigricans.
Hair loss: A potential side effect
Unfortunately, along with all these wonderful results and potential benefits for quality of life and longevity, there are some side effects. One side effect that patients have reported to our dermatologists is hair loss.
It is unclear which of these categories of drugs is demonstrating this side effect most often, and what other factors may be contributing to this issue. Your dermatologist is often aware of more than one cause for any given patient’s hair thinning.
Not every patient taking these medications will experience hair loss—far from it. It may impact around 15% of patients. Many patterns of hair loss are being seen, including patterned hair thinning (male and female patterns) known as androgenetic alopecia, and excessive shedding, known as telogen effluvium.
Hair loss may be temporary
It can be very stressful to notice these hair changes while working to improve your overall health. It is important to know that medications, nutrition, diet, and fluctuations of each of these can impact hair growth, as can rapid changes in health (in this case, weight). Some of this hair loss may be temporary and reversible.
What to expect from your dermatologist
Your dermatologist will need to evaluate your history, scalp, and follicles, and diagnose the pattern of hair loss. Though nutritional deficiencies in the US are generally uncommon, in the context of GLP-1A-related weight loss, certain screening labs may be appropriate.
Treatment will be based on a full evaluation and discussion of FDA-approved and off-label treatments for hair regrowth. Many patients will recover from most of the shedding.
Any questions? Consult one of our board-certified dermatologists about your specific concerns. Please contact SSDP to schedule an appointment with any of our physicians.
Citation: O. Burke, B. Sa, D. A. Cespedes, A. Sechi, and A. Tosti, “Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐1, Receptor Agonist Medications and Hair Loss: A Retrospective Cohort Study,” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 92, no. 5 (2025): 1141–1143
