A new analysis of patient records shows that adults with type 2 diabetes who take GLP-1 receptor agonists face a higher rate of alopecia than those on other common diabetes medications.
The study, published July 22, 2026, in The BMJ, examined electronic health records from Penn Medicine covering patients treated from January 2019 to September 2024.
After adjustments for age, sex, body mass index and other factors, GLP-1 users showed a 37 percent higher risk of alopecia compared with SGLT-2 inhibitor users and a 68 percent higher risk compared with DPP-4 inhibitor users.
The increased risk was confined to non-scarring alopecia, a form that may allow hair to regrow. Absolute rates remained low at roughly 6 to 7 cases per 1,000 person-years.
Researchers noted that rapid weight loss associated with the drugs could contribute to the effect through nutrient deficiencies or hormonal shifts, though the study could not confirm causation.
