GLP-1s are being linked to an increased risk of nail loss but the reason is still unclear, says dermatologist
A recent study found nail detachment is more than four times as common among GLP-1 users, but Dr Samantha Eisman urges caution.
Two recent small scale studies have found higher rates of hair and nail problems among GLP-1 users.
Presented at the 2026 Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) in Vienna, they raise questions about whether the nail changes are simply the consequences of weight loss or caused by the medications themselves.
The first, a case-control study of nail health, compared 575 GLP-1 users with 1329 people with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes who had never taken the drug.
Nail detachment, or onycholysis, was reported by 39% of users, compared with 9% of controls. Overall, 66% of users reported at least one nail disorder, compared with 53% of controls, while nail discolouration affected 46% versus 17%.
