Do Bald Men Have More Testosterone? (Based on Science)

No, balding doesn’t mean you have high testosterone, and the myth could be as old as the ancient Greeks [1].

A similar theory also came up in the 20th century.

The whole idea was that castrated men don’t produce any testosterone, and therefore, if they didn’t go bald, then it had to be testosterone that influenced the hair follicles.

But how much testosterone you have or don’t have doesn’t dictate whether or not you will go bald earlier or later in life.

What affects bald men has much more to do with genetics than testosterone levels.

Let me explain.

According to the Natural Communication journal 2017 meta-analysis involving 10,846 cases and 11,672 controls, the impact of certain genetic markers determines the strength of hair follicles and, ultimately, hair loss [2]. It showed that 39% of male pattern baldness is explained by 63 genetic loci.

T-levels influence hair loss, but the amount of testosterone is not the sole determinant of hair loss onset or rate.

Some enzymes transform testosterone into a more active form, directly shrinking hair follicles.

Dozens of genes influence how receptive follicles are to this process.

More on this process later.

So, what does testosterone do in men? Men with both high and low T-levels could have the type of genes that make them more susceptible to balding.

While burly bald men might find it easier to attract female sexual partners, it’s not their testosterone that’s doing it.

Related Articles:

• What Causes Low Testosterone Levels in 30 Year Olds?
• Does More Body Hair Mean More Testosterone

The Hair Loss Myth

There are probably more medical myths around what’s happening to bald men than any other aging effect.

And unfortunately, one reason I believe these myths are still circulating comes down to the lucrative industry of hair loss treatments.

Overly simplistic ideas going back to the ancient Greeks might be a convenient way to do your marketing. But it’s not the way to approach scientific research. 

Many bald men jump on the idea of sex hormones to grow more hair and buy into the concept of hormone creams and pills.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male sex hormone responsible for developing male traits, is closely linked to male pattern baldness.

The endocrinologist who helped me with the research for this post also pointed me to some research on alopecia in men.

The research from Medline Plus has shown that baldness in men can be linked to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen responsible for developing male traits [3].

As mentioned before, this form is basically an offshoot of testosterone, as it is a result of its conversion through an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase [4].

"Excess androgens, or male sex hormones, and hormonal imbalances are the most common cause of hair loss, such as androgenetic alopecia."

-Michele Green, M.D., Cosmetic Dermatologist

So, it’s partly true that hormones can influence the growth of new hairs, but not in the way that most people believe.

It’s also important to note that for medical conditions like alopecia, there may be good reasons to opt for hair loss treatment. But that’s something you should discuss with a doctor.