“If you notice hair loss, don’t panic, and don’t stop taking the GLP-1 on your own without discussing it with your provider first,” says Rossi.
The goal is to identify what may be stressing your body or limiting hair growth, rather than assuming you need to abandon a medication that is otherwise helping you.
Here’s what you should do if you think a GLP-1 like Wegovy is causing hair loss.
Tell your prescriber if you’re struggling to eat. If you’re going a whole day without eating, that means your dose is too high, says Rossi. “GLP-1s weren’t intended as a way to simply stop eating; you need to eat real food because that’s where the nutrients come from,” he says.
Persistent nausea or vomiting that prevents adequate food intake should also warrant discussing a lower dose, Vinton adds.
Review how quickly you’re losing weight. Losing more than one to two pounds per week may signal the body to temporarily conserve resources, Vinton says. Hair loss accompanied by fatigue, weakness, dehydration, dry skin, or a general feeling of being unwell may suggest that weight loss or calorie restriction has become too aggressive.
Make adequate nutrition the priority. Rossi recommends sufficient calories, protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients, rather than focusing on a single food or supplement. A registered dietitian can help you meet your nutrition goals when nausea, early fullness, or reduced appetite makes it difficult to eat enough.
Protein is a particular concern because inadequate intake may also contribute to muscle loss. “For obesity specialists, hair loss raises concern about loss of lean body mass related to protein deficiency,” Vinton says.
Ask whether blood work is appropriate. If Vinton has a patient who is concerned about hair loss, she may check the person’s complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid function, iron levels, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and zinc. She might also check testosterone levels, if the pattern suggests hormonally influenced hair loss.
Talk to your prescriber about supplements. Vinton sometimes recommends a daily multivitamin or biotin. But evidence that biotin reverses this type of shedding is limited, unless there is a deficiency. Supplements shouldn’t replace an evaluation for low calorie or protein intake, iron deficiency, thyroid disease, or another cause.
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