Illustrative AI-generated consultation image retained from the original post; it does not show study participants.
A symptom survey can draw attention to a possible problem without telling us that a medicine caused it. That distinction matters when reading the hair and nail findings presented at the EADV Congress 2026 in Vienna.
Researchers compared 575 people using GLP-1 receptor agonists with 1,329 nonusers who had obesity, type 2 diabetes or both. Nail detachment was reported by 39% of users and 9% of controls. In a companion analysis of the same participants, unusual hair loss was reported by 50% and 34%, respectively.
These were cross-sectional studies using participants' reports. About half of users said their nail problems had begun before treatment. The findings therefore describe differences between these surveyed groups; they do not show that 39% of people beginning treatment will develop nail detachment. The announcement says prospective follow-up and standardised examinations are planned.
The research received institutional support from DUCRAY Laboratories, part of Pierre Fabre. People noticing nail changes, hair shedding or scalp irritation should discuss them with their clinician rather than stop treatment on their own. Further research is needed to clarify timing, causes and reversibility.
