When Using Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc., Hair Loss Prevention Must Be Combined

GLP-1 receptor agonist injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Saxenda, which are currently shifting the paradigm of obesity treatment, have become a new hope for many seeking weight loss. Indeed, these medications significantly aid weight loss by suppressing appetite and regulating blood sugar, and they play a positive role in improving the health of patients with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, gout, or severe obesity. However, behind these remarkable effects lies a side effect that must not be overlooked: 'hair loss.' As the number of people using these injections increases, the number of patients visiting me complaining that "hair is falling out noticeably since starting the injections" is also rising.

1. Why Do Weight Loss Injections Induce Hair Loss?

Medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Saxenda work similarly to our body's 'GLP-1' hormone, stimulating the satiety center of the brain to suppress appetite and slow gastric motility, making one feel full even after eating very little. The process by which this mechanism leads to 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 the official clinical trials of these medications.

'Telogen Effluvium' Due to Rapid Nutritional Deficiency

In my clinical view, this is the most significant cause. Because these injections powerfully suppress appetite, the actual amount of food intake decreases compared to usual. However, many people further restrict their food intake voluntarily while taking the injections to lose weight more quickly and significantly. When the supply of nutrients is suddenly reduced, the human body prioritizes sending energy to essential organs for survival and cuts off the supply to non-essential parts like the hair. In particular, a deficiency in protein (the main component of hair) and essential minerals for growth, such as iron and zinc, delivers a major shock to the hair follicles, forcing a large number of growing hairs into the resting phase. Consequently, 'Acute Telogen Effluvium' occurs, where hair sheds in large quantities starting 2 to 3 months later. (Source: US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and reports from major foreign media such as Reuters and CNN, 2024)

Ultimately, the possibility of the drug's own side effects combined with drug-induced anorexia and the user's excessive dietary restriction causes the side effect of hair loss to appear faster and more severely.

2. Wise Use of Injections to Avoid Hair Loss

Does this mean you should give up on this effective weight loss method? Not necessarily. Wisdom is needed to use them effectively while preventing hair loss.

• First, start with a low dose. Using a dose that is too high from the beginning makes it difficult for the body to adapt and can easily lead to nutritional deficiency due to severe anorexia. It is advisable to start with a low dose and adjust gradually while monitoring the body's reaction. (However, please consult your attending physician regarding the appropriate dosage first.)
• Second, establish an 'exit strategy' after reaching your goal. Once you have reached your target weight, it may be better to stop use or gradually increase the interval between injections rather than continuing them indefinitely.
• Third, do not set unrealistic goals. Rapid weight loss, such as losing more than 5-10kg in a month, significantly increases the likelihood of inducing hair loss. You should aim for a healthy weight loss of within 3-5% of your body weight per month.
• Fourth, take immediate action if hair shedding increases. If you feel that the amount of hair falling out has increased compared to usual, I recommend reducing the injection dose or temporarily stopping it and consulting a specialist to combine hair loss treatment.
• Fifth, be sure to take hair supplements. It is very helpful for hair loss prevention to take supplements essential for hair growth—such as high-quality protein, biotin, zinc, iron, and vitamin D—which are easily depleted due to dietary restrictions.

3. There Is Hope: Recoverable Hair Loss

The fortunate point is that hair loss caused by Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Saxenda is mostly 'Telogen Effluvium.' Therefore, if the use of the causative drug is adjusted and proactive hair loss treatment is received, it recovers relatively quickly compared to other types of hair loss. In such cases, I perform treatments using natural ingredients that promote energy metabolism within the body, increase blood supply to the scalp and pores, and help ensure that various growth factors and nutrients necessary for hair development are sufficiently supplied to the follicles. Consuming and applying natural components derived from Rehmannia glutinosa (숙지황), Ginseng (인삼), and Angelica gigas (당귀) is of great help in making lost hair grow back healthily. Weight loss is certainly an important part of health management. However, one should not make the mistake of losing precious hair in that process. Through wise drug use and proactive hair management, I hope you achieve both a healthy body and voluminous hair.