Can Steroids Cause Hair Loss? (According to a Doctor)

Steroids can make your hair fall out because their intake can disrupt the normal production of hormones, which means your body will undergo certain hormonal changes.

According to research, hormonal changes are the primary reason for hair loss on the scalp in men, known as male pattern baldness (MPB) [1].

Changes in hormonal levels are inevitable in aging men, and they are one of the main reasons why they show thinning hair.

While this is true, most men who take steroids for medical or sports use have also been shown to thin out their hair.

Here's a more detailed explanation.

Steroids can affect your hair by increasing the levels of androgenic hormones, particularly testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Testosterone levels increase with steroid usage, which is the main reason men take them, as they can help increase muscle strength and size.

However, as T levels increase in the body, DHT levels may also increase due to the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Thus, hair loss may become a problem.

Research shows that androgenic alopecia, a condition where men lose hair in a well-defined pattern, is one of the most notable effects of increased DHT in the body [2].

Excess of this sex hormone causes healthy hair follicles to shrink, resulting in easier and faster hair loss. Furthermore, it can interfere with new hair growth, making it more difficult for the hair to regrow [3].

“Pattern hair loss is caused by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes a change in the hair follicles called ‘miniaturization’, where the follicle becomes progressively smaller and eventually stops producing hair.”

- Nely Aldrich, MD, FAAD

You can stop hair fall by discontinuing your steroid regimen.

Also, taking them as prescribed by your doctor may reduce the adverse effects of anabolic steroids on your appearance.

In case you have suffered hair loss, you have treatment options like hormone therapy or hair transplants.

By doing this, you may be able to achieve hormonal balance and regrow your hair.

Other hair loss treatments may include improving blood flow to the hair follicles, which helps in stimulating hair growth.

Knowing that steroids can harm your hair, it makes sense to boost your testosterone levels naturally with supplements containing safe and effective ingredients. That means you can build muscle mass faster without suffering adverse side effects.