The Ozempic side effect no one warned you about. And it's hitting women harder.

As the popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic continues to climb, a disturbing pattern is emerging — and it's impacting women at twice the rate of men.

According to recent research, women who take semaglutide — the active ingredient behind weight loss medications — apparently have double the risk of experiencing hair loss conditions.

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So, what's the go? And why are women experiencing these side effects more than men?

We spoke to an expert.

Why Ozempic causes hair to fall out.

According to hair expert Chelcey Salinger, educational director of the International Association of Trichologists, it's not actually the medication itself that's directly causing your strands to shed — it's what the medication does to your body.

"There are two primary mechanisms at play," Salinger explained. "First is Acute Telogen Effluvium — a fancy way of saying your body freaks out from rapid weight loss and sends more hair follicles into their resting phase. The second is Chronic Telogen Effluvium, which happens because you're simply not eating enough nutrients to keep your hair happy."

When you lose weight quickly, your body essentially goes into stress mode. Your hair follicles respond by collectively deciding "it's not you, it's me" and entering their shedding phase about two to three months after you start treatment.

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Why women are hit harder.

If you're wondering why this is yet another health issue affecting women more severely than men, Salinger has some answers.

"Women have higher nutritional demands — we're more prone to iron deficiency due to menstruation and have higher needs for certain nutrients like zinc and B vitamins, which are critical for hair health. So when our dietary intake is reduced, we become deficient much sooner than men would."

Plus, many of us are already dealing with hair concerns from hormonal fluctuations, postpartum shedding, or stress, making any additional hair loss immediately noticeable and distressing.

The recent study published in March 2025 analysed data from over 16 million patients and confirmed what many of us suspected — women starting semaglutide treatment have approximately double the risk of watching their hair disappear compared to men.

What does this type of hair loss actually look like?

Unlike the typical female pattern hair loss that targets specific areas, this type of shedding is different — it's an all-over kind of thing.

"In my clinical practice, I most commonly see diffuse thinning and shedding across the entire scalp," says Salinger. "Patients regularly report increased shedding during washing or brushing."

If you're finding more hair on your pillow, in your hairbrush, or circling the shower drain, this could be why. The thinning happens uniformly, making your entire head of hair appear less dense rather than creating obvious bald patches.

Will your hair grow back?

The good news (and yes, there actually is some) is that this type of hair loss is typically temporary for most people.

"Once your weight stabilises, the hair growth cycle usually returns to normal, shedding decreases, and your hair thickens up again," Salinger reassured.

However, there's a catch (isn't there always?). If your hair loss is also caused by chronic nutritional deficiencies from eating less overall, it can continue until those deficiencies are addressed — even after you stop taking the medication.

The appetite-suppressing effects of Ozempic and similar medications mean you're likely not getting enough of the key nutrients your hair requires to grow.

"Protein, iron, vitamin D, B12, and zinc are all critical for healthy hair growth," Salinger explained. "Because you're eating less overall, it becomes even more important that what you do eat is high quality and provides all the essential nutrients you need."

Salinger strongly recommended working with a nutritionist or dietician while on these medications to optimise your restricted diet — think quality over quantity.

Who should be extra careful.

As Salinger told Mamamia, some women are more likely to experience significant hair loss on these medications: "Those with a personal or family history of hair loss, thyroid conditions, iron deficiency, recent post-baby or COVID shedding, and women with restrictive diets or poor nutrient absorption should be especially cautious," she said.

For these groups, any medication-induced hair loss will likely feel much worse due to the "compounding effect of pre-existing hair issues," she noted.

Dealing with the shedding.

If you're already experiencing a fair amount of hair loss while taking semaglutide, Salinger suggested taking a two-pronged approach: "First, understand what's happening — this knowledge often helps patients feel better," she said. "If you're still actively losing weight, you unfortunately can't stop the shedding related to that process. But you can prevent other causes of hair loss that would make it worse or longer-lasting."

This typically means getting blood tests to identify nutritional deficiencies and working with your doctor or nutrition professionals to maximise nutrient intake despite your reduced appetite.

The bottom line? For the right candidates, these medications can be life-changing and offer significant health benefits — particularly for those with obesity or type 2 diabetes. However, being proactive about your nutrition and monitoring for early signs of hair loss can help you manage this distressing side effect sooner rather than later.

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Feature image: Getty.