Scientific research has shown only around 5% of people experience hair loss when taking Mounjaro, and this hair loss often goes away on its own within the first few months of treatment.
Here, we’ve put together a full guide on everything you need to know about Mounjaro hair loss. We’ll cover how common it is, the causes, how long it lasts, and how to prevent and reverse hair shedding.
We’ll also explore the stages of hair growth, look at how shedding works, and answer some FAQs.
Three key takeaways:
Hair shedding can often be managed by eating a nutrient rich diet, taking supplements, and managing stress.
Mounjaro can cause temporary hair loss in a small number of people, due to rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal changes.
Hair loss when taking Mounjaro is usually temporary and reversible, with hair growing back in 3-6 months.
Does Mounjaro cause hair loss?
Hair loss affects up to 1 in 10 people, according to the manufacturers. So, while some people may experience hair loss, it’s not that common.
If hair loss occurs while you’re taking Mounjaro, it’s unlikely to be the medication itself causing this hair loss. It’s more likely to be a result of either nutrient deficiencies or rapid weight loss. The reassuring news is that this is temporary, usually lasting just a few months.
Can Mounjaro help with hair growth?
There’s some evidence that Mounjaro may actually help reverse hair loss in some people, because the conditions that Mounjaro helps to improve; obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and inflammation, all link to hair loss.
In a recent case report, a 57-year-old man treated with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for insulin resistance experienced near-complete hair regrowth within 12 months. Researchers suggest Mounjaro may help prevent follicle shrinkage linked to alopecia, though more studies are needed.
Another 2024 case study reported a man in his forties with folliculitis decalvans (FD), a rare scarring hair loss condition, saw major improvement after starting Mounjaro for weight loss. After decades of failed treatments, his scalp healed, most of his hair grew back within nine months, and he lost 23kg. Authors highlight the potential role of GLP-1 medications in supporting hair follicle health, calling for further research.
Why Mounjaro can trigger hair loss
Mounjaro can trigger hair loss in people for a number of reasons, including:
Rapid weight loss
When you lose a lot of weight quickly, your body registers this change as a shock to the system as your stored energy (fat) levels drop down quickly.
To save energy, your body focuses on important jobs like digesting food and keeping your immune system working. This can sometimes cause a condition called ‘telogen effluvium’, where you may notice more hair shedding.
Nutrient deficiencies
When taking Mounjaro, you’ll need to eat less to reduce your calorie intake. But this reduction in how much you eat can lead to nutrient deficiencies if you don’t plan your meals properly. This can cause hair to stop growing.
Studies have shown that hair loss can be improved by supplementing vitamins and minerals like:
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin E
iron
zinc
Stress
One 2023 study found that 73% of participants who experienced hair loss reported feeling stressed.
The people studied reported factors like personal relationships and financial issues as sources of stress, with this stress being linked to increased hair loss. If you’re experiencing stress due to factors outside of your weight loss treatment, this may trigger hair loss when taking Mounjaro.
Hormonal changes
Shedding the pounds can disrupt the balance of your hormones, and these shifts can interrupt the hair growth cycle, increasing the rate at which your hair sheds.
How common is Mounjaro hair loss?
Hair loss is experienced by up to 1 in 10 people on Mounjaro according to the patient information leaflet. But it’s important to note the ‘up to’ part here, as studies show the actual numbers to be around half of that.
In a study of 2,539 adults conducted over 72 weeks, those taking between 5mg and 15mg of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) once a week experienced hair loss at a rate of between 4.9% and 5.7%, depending on the dose.
In the same study, those taking the placebo also experienced hair loss, despite not receiving a dose of tirzepatide.
How to stop Mounjaro hair loss
There are steps you can take to minimise and put a stop to hair loss on Mounjaro. But, if you do experience some, it helps to remind yourself that these changes are normally reversible and don’t last in the long term.
For many people, hair shedding will naturally slow or stop as your body adjust to your new, healthier weight.
Can you stop Mounjaro hair loss?
In most cases you can stop or minimise hair loss. Here are our top tips from Ayesha Bashir, prescribing pharmacist:
Pace yourself
Losing as much weight as possible as fast as possible may seem tempting, but losing weight steadily is better both for long-term results and for hair health.
Restricting your calories too much and losing too much weight too quickly places stress on your body.
This increases your chances of telogen effluvium, and can cause nutrient deficiencies which can lead to hair shedding.
Talk to your prescriber about your current dose
As with certain other Mounjaro side effects, hair loss is linked to higher doses.
If you’re currently at a low dose and experiencing hair loss that you think might be linked to Mounjaro, talk to your prescriber. They may advise you stay at your current dose until the shedding settles down.
Pay attention to nutrition
It’s essential to make sure you’re eating right and getting all the nutrients your body needs when you’re on weight loss injections.
Not only will this help you help you stay on track with your weight loss goals, it’ll also help prevent side effects like fatigue and help nourish your hair to keep it strong.
Will my hair grow back after stopping Mounjaro?
Yes, for most people, hair will start to regrow after stopping Mounjaro.
This is because the type of hair loss that people experience when taking Mounjaro doesn’t damage the follicle, leaving them able to grow hair back to its usual thickness for most people after stopping treatment.
For most people, this typically takes around 3-6 months, though it may be quicker or longer for some people, depending on whether they have any nutrient deficiencies that were causing the hair loss during their weight loss phase.
The link between rapid weight loss and hair shedding
The link between rapid weight loss and hair shedding is a condition called ‘telogen effluvium’, which is when rapid weight loss places stress on the body.
There’s little scientific research into the specific effects of GLP-1 medicines like Mounjaro on hair loss, probably because it isn’t the medication itself that causes it.
Telogen effluvium explained
Telogen effluvium is a form of hair loss involving hair thinning or an increase in hair shedding. It’s more common in women than men. Usually, the cause is a change in environment that your body registers as a shock, disturbing the hair cycle.
It isn’t just medications that can trigger this sense of shock or stress. It could also be due to:
physical injury from an accident
having surgery
exposure to toxins
blood loss
mental and emotional stress
Any sudden change that your body registers as stress or a shock to the system can cause telogen effluvium, including rapid weight loss.
Hair growth cycles
Your hair typically grows in a cycle that has three phases:
the growth, or ‘anagen’, phase
the transitional, or ‘anagen’ phase
the resting of ‘telogen’ phase.
Telogen effluvium is when more of your hair goes into a “resting” phase than normal.
Usually, only about 15 out of every 100 hairs are resting, while the rest are growing. But with telogen effluvium, the number of resting hairs doubles. These resting hairs then fall out, which is why you notice more shedding.
The good news is that once your body gets used to your new weight and routine, your hair growth usually goes back to normal.
How long does Mounjaro-related hair loss last?
For most people Mounjaro-related hair loss usually lasts around around 3-6 months. It is caused by telogen effluvium.
If you’ve been experiencing hair shedding longer than this, talk to your prescriber. They may suggest delaying an increase in your dose until the shedding calms down, or recommend hair medications like minoxidil or finasteride to help your hair grow back thicker.
Hormonal changes and hair growth
Your hair normally grows in a cycle that has three phases:
the growth, or ‘anagen’, phase
the transitional, or ‘catagen’ phase
the resting, or ‘telogen’ phase
You're more likely to experience hair loss from Mounjaro when hair is in the resting cycle.
Eventually, new hairs in the growth phase form underneath the hairs in the resting phase and eventually push them out of the hair follicle, which is why they shed.
It’s perfectly normal to lose around 100 hairs a day when hair is cycling as it usually would. This is why you might find hairs on your hairbrush or in the sink or the shower.
When you’re experiencing telogen effluvium, the anagen (transitional) phase slows down.
This means that less hair enters the growth phase with, around 30% of the hair follicles entering the telogen phase, meaning less new hair is growing to replace the hair that naturally sheds. This is what causes hair loss.
Once your body starts getting used to your new weight, it will typically adapt to the changes you’ve made in your diet, eating, and exercise habits and your hair cycles should resume their usual phases of growth.
Oestrogen and Mounjaro hair loss
Mounjaro helps you lose body fat, and since fat cells make some oestrogen, your oestrogen levels can drop.
When oestrogen levels change, it can affect your hair cycle and cause more hairs to rest and fall out, similar to telogen effluvium.
The good news is this type of hair loss is usually temporary and your hair can grow back once things balance out.
Nutritional deficiencies linked to hair thinning
One of the best ways to reduce any potential hair thinning is to make sure you’re getting the right nutrients in your diet.
Key nutrients to watch
So what vitamins are good for Mounjaro hair loss? Well, there are a few. Studies have linked hair loss to deficiencies in:
vitamin B12
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin E
iron
protein
Some studies have also linked zinc hair loss, so including zinc in your diet is a good idea for healthy hair.
Early signs of Mounjaro-related hair loss
Hairbrushes aren’t just for singing into, they can also be a way of keeping tabs on how strong your hair is and whether shedding has increased past what’s normal for you.
Early signs of Mounjaro hair loss to keep an eye on include:
You notice more shed hairs appearing in places like the sink or shower when you wash your hair, your hairbrush, or on the pillow after sleeping.
Your hair seems thinner than usual around the temples, on the crown, or where your hair naturally parts.
Your hair grows more slowly than it typically would (because less of it is in a ‘growth’ phase in hair’s natural cycle).
“Nobody knows your hair better than you, and how you feel about yourself is important. Keep an eye on the places you usually notice shed hairs - like the shower, sink, pillow, or your haircare products. You could even ask your regular hairdresser or barber if they’ve noticed any changes the next time you have an appointment. If shedding is a concern for you, talk to your clinician. But remember, it’s a sign that your medication is working to deliver positive changes, and for most people, it’s temporary and will grow back”
Hair loss can present differently in men and women. However, the key differences in how hair loss presents for different sexes mostly applies to what health professionals call ‘pattern’ baldness.
You’ve probably heard the term ‘male pattern baldness’. There’s also ‘female pattern baldness’ although it is far less common.
This type of hair loss is genetic and that’s why it tends to follow a familiar pattern. For men, it typically starts at the temples, resulting in the common ‘receding hairline’, or the crown, forming a bald spot. Female pattern baldness tends to be most noticeable where the hair parts.
With telogen effluvium, the type of hair loss some people have when taking Mounjaro, there’s no difference in how it appears between men and women. The hair shedding is typically more spread across the scalp for both sexes.
The good news is that this spreading appearance makes the shedding less noticeable, but it can be more noticeable in women or men with long hair, due to the way long straight hair lies across the scalp.
For people with shorter hair, the shedding can be less obvious. Shorter hairs can also be harder to spot once they’ve shed, as they’re not as noticeable on the hairbrush or in the shower.
Mounjaro hair loss treatment
While Mounjaro hair loss is typically temporary and short-lived, there are also plenty of hair loss treatments you can try, including:
Hair growth supplements
Hair growth supplements can prevent and reverse shedding and thinning, depending on the cause.
Some provide vitamins and minerals that help strengthen the hair and follicles, while others affect hormonal changes to promote hair regrowth and prevent shedding.
As your appetite decreases from taking Mounjaro, you might find it harder to eat enough to get the recommended amounts of every nutrient you need. If you have a deficiency in any of the following, you might want to try supplementing:
vitamin B12
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin E
iron
zinc
You can also try combination supplements that contain multiple nutrients and are formulated specifically with hair in mind, like Nourkrin.
Topical treatments and shampoos
Topical treatments and shampoos you can try to help your hair regrow include:
Minoxidil: Minoxidil is a cream that you apply directly to the scalp. It works by improving blood circulation to the hair follicles to promote hair regrowth.
Hair growth shampoos: These work by cleansing the scalp thoroughly to remove follicle blockages caused by impurities and nourishing the hair with active ingredients like caffeine and protein to activate growth and strengthen it.
Scalp serums: Scalp serums are liquid treatments usually applied with a pipette (dropper) to thinning areas to stimulate blood flow in the scalp and support follicle health. They typically contain ingredients like biotin, caffeine, copper peptides, niacin, and saw palmetto.
Stress management techniques
Stress is a common trigger for hair shedding, so managing it can help reduce Mounjaro hair loss. To help you rediscover your chill, give these a try:
meditation
deep breathing exercises for relaxation
journaling your thoughts and feelings
practicing sleep hygiene by keeping the room cool, not using screens in bed, and blocking out disturbances like noise and bright light
having a ‘digital curfew’ and turning your devices off an hour or two before bed
taking walks
practicing yoga
spending quality time with friends and family
“Stress affects many aspects of our health, including the health of our hair. Even if you’re too busy to take a yoga class, there are some easy wins for stress reduction that you can build into your daily habits that won’t take up extra time. Stuff like sitting quietly for a few minutes and taking a few deep breaths while you have something in the microwave or the oven, even while you’re waiting in traffic. Or turning your phone off an hour or two before bedtime instead of staying up scrolling. You may find it even gives you some time back!”
Try these foods to make sure you’re keeping your hair as strong and thick as possible:
Vitamin B12
meat like beef, turkey, and chicken
fish like salmon, tuna, plaice, pollock, and sardines
eggs
dairy products like cheese, yoghurt, and milk
If you’re plant-based, you may need to take a B12 supplement, as this nutrient is only naturally found in animal products.
Vitamin C
citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits
berries like strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants
kiwis
papaya
red and green bell peppers
kale
tomatoes
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Vitamin D
beef liver
oily fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and trout
egg yolks
vitamin D-fortified foods like plant milks, cereals, mushrooms, and eggs
The best source of vitamin D is sunlight, which helps your liver to produce it naturally, so getting some sunlight when you can is a must.
But if you live in the UK, where the weather is less sunny, it’s a great idea to include some vitamin D-fortified foods on your shopping list.
Vitamin E
almonds
asparagus
avocadoes
peanuts
peanut butter
pumpkin
mangoes
red peppers
spinach
sunflower and soybean (edamame) oil
sunflower seeds
wheatgerm, found in breakfast cereals
Iron
beef or lamb liver (but avoid this if you’re pregnant)
red meat
beans like kidney beans, chickpeas, and edamame (soy)
nuts like almonds, walnuts, and cashews
dried fruits like apricots
fortified breakfast cereals
dark leafy greens like spinach
soy flour and soy-based meat substitutes
Zinc
seafood like mussels, oysters, and crab
avocadoes
hemp seeds
green peas
lentils
spinach
wheatgerm
whey protein powders
Protein
beans like kidney beans, black beans and chickpeas
soy products like tofu and tempeh
meats like lamb, beef, chicken, and turkey
eggs
cheese like mozzarella and light cheddar
yoghurt
seeds like chia and flax
Experts agree that it’s better to get your nutrients from food where possible, as the body absorbs them better.
But, If having a smaller appetite than you did before starting Mounjaro is making it challenging to hit the recommended daily intake for certain nutrients, you can always try vitamin and mineral supplements to make sure you’re getting enough of the good stuff.
How to stop Mounjaro hair loss
To prevent or minimise Mounjaro hair loss before it becomes an issue, our pharmacists recommend that you:
Focus on eating a balanced diet including key nutrients like vitamins C, D, and E, iron, zinc, and protein.
Stay well hydrated, to promote healthy circulation.
Monitor your vitamin and mineral levels - your doctor can order blood tests to check for deficiencies.
Manage your stress levels.
If you’re worried about any of the above, or if you’re noticing the early signs of hair shedding and you’re concerned, speak to your doctor.
FAQs
Does Mounjaro cause hair loss?
Yes, Mounjaro can cause hair loss in a small number of people. However, for most people, hair loss is temporary, short-lived, and treatable.
How can I stop Mounjaro-related hair loss?
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent Mounjaro hair loss. Addressing nutrient deficiencies, managing stress, staying hydrated, and using topical creams, shampoos, and hair regrowth products like minoxidil can minimise hair shedding and promote regrowth.
Will my hair grow back after stopping Mounjaro?
Yes, in most cases, people who experience hair loss when taking Mounjaro find that it grows backwithin 3-6 months as the body adjusts to the medication. If you’re concerned about Mounjaro hair loss, speak to your doctor.
How common is hair loss with Mounjaro?
Mounjaro hair loss affects between 5-10% of people taking the medication, but the medication itself isn’t the cause. It’s typically the rapid weight loss which the body interprets as stress that causes hair shedding.
Is Mounjaro hair loss temporary or permanent?
For most people, Mounjaro hair loss is temporary. Most people taking Mounjaro find that hair grows backwithin 3-6 months as your body gets used to the medication.
What vitamins are good for Mounjaro hair loss?
Vitamins B12, C, D, and E, and minerals like iron and zinc are all important for healthy hair. It’s better to get vitamin D from the sun where possible, and the rest from food. But if this is challenging, you can take supplements.
How can you stop Mounjaro hair loss in women?
Oestrogen levels affect women’s hair growth and fat cells produce oestrogen, meaning weight loss can affect women differently. You doctor can order blood tests to help monitor your oestrogen levels to make sure your hair keeps growing as well as possible.
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