Research: Weight loss drugs increase the risk of nail removal

However, approximately half of drug users stated that they had nail problems before starting treatment. The findings were presented at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in Vienna.

Researchers compared 575 GLP-1 users from France, the USA, Brazil and Mexico with 1,329 people with type 2 diabetes or obesity who had never used these drugs.

According to EADV's press release, 66 percent of users reported at least one nail condition, compared to 53 percent of the control group. Nail discoloration was seen in 46 percent of GLP-1 users compared to 17 percent in the control group.

Charles Taieb, Director General of the European Market Care Assessment and author of the study, said the findings show a clear relationship but also underline an important point. Taieb stated that not everything that happens during GLP-1 treatment is necessarily due to the treatment itself.

The study relies on participants describing their symptoms. The research was conducted in a cross-sectional structure, capturing their experiences at a single point in time, rather than following patients throughout treatment with standardized dermatological examinations. This means that it cannot be proven that the changes were directly caused by the drugs.

Source: TRT Haber Sağlık RSS (Open Press / Translated Full Text)