When using Ozempic, WeGobee, Monjaro, etc., you must also prevent hair loss.

Recently, GLP-1 analogue injections such as Ozempic, Wigobi, Monjaro, and Saxenda, which are changing the paradigm of obesity treatment, are providing new hope for weight loss for many people. In fact, these drugs greatly help with weight loss by suppressing appetite and controlling blood sugar, and also play a positive role in improving the health of patients with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, gout, and severe obesity. However, behind this amazing effect, there is a side effect called ‘hair loss’ that should not be overlooked. As the number of people using this injection is increasing, the number of patients coming to me complaining that “my hair has been falling out noticeably since I started getting injections” is also increasing.

1. Why do weight loss injections cause hair loss?

Drugs such as Ozempic, Wigobee, Monjaro, and Saxenda act similarly to the 'GLP-1' hormone in our body, stimulating the brain's satiety center to suppress appetite and slow down gastrointestinal movement, making you feel full even after eating a small amount. The process by which this principle of action causes hair loss is as follows.

Hair loss reported as a side effect of the drug itself

Hair loss is one of the side effects identified during formal clinical trials of these drugs.

‘Tenogenous hair loss’ caused by acute nutritional deficiency

In my opinion, this is the most important cause. These injections strongly suppress your appetite, so you consume less food than usual. However, many people often limit their food intake while receiving injections in order to lose weight quickly and significantly. When our body is suddenly deprived of nutrients, it diverts energy from areas essential to sustaining life and blocks the supply of nutrients to secondary areas such as hair. In particular, deficiencies of protein, the main component of hair, and iron and zinc, which are essential for growth, have a huge impact on hair follicles, causing a large number of growing hairs to transition into the telogen phase. As a result, 'acute telogen alopecia' occurs, in which hair falls out rapidly after 2 to 3 months. (Source: U.S. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and major foreign media reports such as Reuters and CNN, 2024)

Ultimately, the possible side effects of the drug itself, the loss of appetite caused by the drug, and the user's excessive dietary restrictions combine to cause the side effect of hair loss to appear more quickly and more severely.

2. Wise use of injectables to avoid hair loss

So should you give up on this effective weight loss method? That's not true. We need wisdom to use it effectively while preventing hair loss.

• First, start with a low dose.If too high a dose is used from the beginning, it is difficult for the body to adapt and it is easy to cause loss of appetite and cause nutritional deficiencies. It is recommended to start with a low dose and adjust gradually to see how your body reacts. (However, please consult your doctor first for the appropriate dosage.)
• Second, create an ‘exit strategy’ after achieving your goal.If you have reached your target weight, it is better to stop using it or gradually increase the interval between injections rather than continuing to inject it.
• Third, don't set unrealistic goals.Rapid weight loss, such as losing more than 5 to 10 kg per month, significantly increases the likelihood of hair loss. You should lose weight healthily, with the goal of losing within 3-5% of your body weight per month.
• Fourth, if hair loss increases, take immediate action.If you feel that the amount of hair falling out is more than usual, it is recommended to reduce the injection dose or stop it for a while and consult a specialist for hair loss treatment.
• Fifth, be sure to take hair nutrients together.Taking essential nutrients for hair growth, such as high-quality protein, biotin, zinc, iron, and vitamin D, which can easily become deficient due to dietary restrictions, is very helpful in preventing hair loss.

3. There is hope: reversible hair loss

The good news is that most hair loss caused by Ozempic, Hugobee, Monjaro, or Saxenda is 'telogen effluvium', so if you control the use of the causative drug and receive active hair loss treatment, it will recover relatively quickly compared to other types of hair loss. At this time, I perform treatment using natural ingredients that promote energy metabolism in our body, increase blood supply to the scalp and pores, and help ensure that various growth factors and nutrients necessary for hair growth are sufficiently supplied to the hair follicles. Taking natural ingredients such as Rehmannia glutinosa, ginseng, and angelica root and using them on the scalp will greatly help hair that has fallen out to grow back healthy. Weight loss is definitely an important part of health care. However, you should not make the mistake of losing your precious hair in the process. Through wise use of medication and active hair management, we hope to kill two birds with one stone: a healthy body and abundant hair.