Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that affects people after they
experience any kind of stress or change to their body. This is common during weight
loss as it can put stress on the body causing hormonal changes and nutrient
deficiencies.
Telogen effluvium is when something disrupts your hair’s normal growth cycle and
causes more hair to go into the resting stage leading to more of your hair falling out than
usual. Most healthy people typically lose up to 100 strands of hair per day, whereas if
you have telogen effluvium, you may lose up to 300 strands of hair per day. Good news!
This is temporary and hair will typically grow back within three to six months.
When it comes to Tirzepatide and Semaglutide, hair loss is not considered a side effect
nor is it thought to be directly correlated with the medication itself, but more so from the
weight loss. In clinical trials for Wegovy, 3% of people reported hair loss at higher
doses, compared to 1% of people who got a placebo. In a clinical trial for tirzepatide,
nearly 6% of people taking the highest dose reported hair loss compared to 1% of those
who got a placebo.
While taking weight loss medications, people are typically eating less and may not be
getting enough of vital nutrients and proteins in their diets. Another important factor is
exercise. Incorporating exercise will increase blood flow to the scalp increasing hair
growth and volume. All in all, rapid weight loss and restrictive diets can lead to
nutritional deficiencies triggering telogen effluvium. Here at Timeless Rx, we go in depth
regarding your diet and encourage each of our patients to include enough protein, iron,
and B vitamins including biotin and zinc. Nutrafol is a great supplement offered here at
Timeless Rx that targets multiple hair growth obstacles. If you have or if you are
experiencing hair loss, please give us a call at Timeless Rx to set up an appointment to
address these concerns.
