Weight-loss jabs: users report nail problems and hair loss more often
A survey presented at the EADV dermatology congress links GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic to nail and hair problems. It does not prove cause and effect.
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People who use GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro report problems with their nails, hair and scalp more often. That is the finding of two surveys presented at the 2026 congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), ScienceDaily reported on Oct. 12, 2026. The researchers compared 575 users with 1,329 people with type 2 diabetes or obesity who had never taken such drugs, from France, the United States, Brazil and Mexico.
According to the data, 66% of users reported some kind of nail change, compared with 53% of the comparison group. Discoloration was reported by 46% versus 17%, nail detachment by 39% versus 9%. Unusual hair loss was cited by 50% of users (comparison group: 34%), thinner hair by 42% versus 19%. The studies rely on self-reported symptoms and show associations, not causation; they were supported by a maker of dermatological care products.
According to co-author Bruno Halioua, anyone who notices such changes should mention them to their doctor rather than discontinue therapy on their own. The drugs are now widely known: according to the Ipsos Health Service Report 2026, published on Oct. 8, half of respondents in 32 countries have heard of GLP-1 medications. The researchers now plan studies with standardized clinical examinations.
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