Is Hair Loss From Testosterone Reversible
Testosterone hair loss doesn’t last long and can be reversed if you follow the right treatment. It helps if you first rule out any underlying medical conditions. Your doctor can identify hormone-based hair loss by looking at the patterns and bald spots. He may advise a medical test if required. Hair regrowth is not an overnight process. It takes a few months of following a healthy lifestyle.
Genetics Of Male Pattern Baldness Why Are Men More Susceptible Than Women
The gene that determines DHT sensitivity is found on the female X chromosome.
Men have one X chromosome, and one Y chromosome. If that single X chromosome contains the sensitivity gene, they inherit the sensitivity.
On the other hand, women have two X chromosomes and no Y chromosome. That means that they get a second chance. Both X chromosomes would have to possess the sensitivity gene, which is a rare occurrence.
Its that most basic genetic makeup, XY for men and XX for women, that sets up a relatively high statistical occurrence of baldness in men, but a low occurrence in women.
Most testosterone myths have developed as a result of observing differences between men and women, and people assumed the natural differences in testosterone levels was the determining factor.
Thats simply not true in the case of male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness is primarily a hereditary trait, and some genetic predictions can be made: If you have a high occurrence of male pattern baldness in your family, the chances are high that you, as a man in that genetic line, have the genetic factor, too.
How Trt Can Contribute To Testicular Atrophy
Testosterone replacement therapy works by supplementing pure testosterone into the bloodstream. This results in a quick and near-immediate elevation of testosterone which can be just what is needed to establish better baseline testosterone levels.
Through the injection of testosterone, you essentially circumvent the bodys natural testosterone-producing mechanism which involves the testicles.
Because testosterone levels are within a healthy range, your body naturally reduces its own production of testosterone. As a result, over time the testicles can decrease in their effectiveness in producing testosterone.
While not immediately noticeable, when you decide to get off TRT, it can become extremely apparent that your endogenous testosterone levels are even lower than when you started.
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Hair Loss From Testosterone Use
Many men who have started testosterone therapy have reported that they have started to lose their hair. The increased testosterone can contribute to male pattern hair loss by triggering the genetically predisposed hair follicles on the scalp to fall out.
Since we know male pattern baldness is primarily driven by DHT , the active form of testosterone, if you pump in extra testosterone into the body, you are going to get more DHT and therefore more stimulation on your hair follicles. Interestingly, DHT signals some hair to fall out and some to grow .
It should be noted that not all men lose their hair when they undergo the therapy. It has been suggested that men who are genetically predisposed to hair loss and male pattern baldness are the most susceptible.
How Trt Can Contribute To Hair Loss
When you think about testosterone and hair, you would most likely think that the two are positively associated. During adolescence, testosterone peaks, and during this time new hair growth is experienced. While testosterone can increase the growth of body hair, it can have a drastically different effect on the hair follicles of the scalp.
The main reason that testosterone can cause hair loss is due to the natural conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone . DHT has been found in elevated levels in the scalps of men who are experiencing androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness.
When undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone levels are elevated which can lead to more conversion of testosterone into DHT.
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Is There Scientific Evidence For Trt Causing Hair Loss
In Testosterone Replacement Therapy , the patient is given external testosterone. Therefore, many people believe that increased testosterone levels may produce increased DHT inside the body which will ultimately result in loss of hair and cause baldness.²
Another reason which leads to the assumption that TRT may affect hair loss adversely is the bi-product of testosterone. Since the testosterone levels of the body are increased due to therapy, it may produce DHT which disrupts the natural predisposition of hair follicles present on the head. Due to which some people may experience a reduction of hair growth in the beginning of treatment.¹
But these are all assumptions that are yet to be supported by solid scientific research. Countless studies and researches have been done on this particular topic, but the findings always show contradictory results of Testosterone Replacement Therapy due to varying age and genetic factors. Ultimately, it all comes down to the hereditary differences of individuals that may lead to hair loss caused by TRT in some man while others show a symptomatic positive response.¹
Hair Loss Treatments Medications
This is also a complicated area. I have attempted to distill the research down to the best treatments for hair loss or thinning hair. The point that I also want to get across is that any time we put a medication in our body, there are other effects aside from the desired effect we want. Patients need to understand this, and make an informed decision before they decide to use a medication. Too often the adverse effects are not understood or reviewed before a medication is started. It makes sense to think of each medication in terms of not only its benefit, but also the unintended side effects.
This is not a complete list, but rather a review of the most proven methods to help slow or stop hair loss. There are essentially two categories of medications DHT blockers and medications that stimulate hair growth. I also review newer medications that show some promise.
1. Oral Finasteride
The Good: Finasteride works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha reductase type 2 . As a results Finasteride has been shown to decrease hair loss, increase hair growth and improve hair quality . Most guys who take it, will tell you thats exactly what they experience. Finasteride has a short half-life , which means it needs to be taken daily, but overall it seems to be very effective.
2. Topical Finasteride
3. Dutasteride
4. Topical Dutasteride
5. Topical Minoxidil
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Can Testosterone Replacement Therapy Such As Testosterone Gel Cause Hair Loss
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Myth: Balding Is Preventable
Well drop you the bad news. Balding is not preventable. The problem is your hair follicles get triggers from DHT, which makes them weaker and shorter.
There are no known studies or treatments that can prevent hair loss. The mere fact that its a genetic problem lends more credence to this issue.
You can, however, do something about it. For one, you can accept it and move forward with other self-improvements like testosterone replacement therapy. This can help you to turn back the clock on your body.
Another is to opt for surgery. Hair transplantation is a practical solution to male pattern baldness. It transfers hair grafts of a few follicles at a time, removing old follicles and adding fresh, new ones.
There are also some over the counter medications that you can take to help with hair loss. These medications have other uses, with one of their side effects being hair growth. Its best to talk to qualified dermatologists before you take any of these steps.
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Myth: High Testosterone Hair Loss Links To Virility
Theres a long-standing conjecture that bald is macho because it means you have more testosterone. If youre one who ascribes to this, we got news for you.
More testosterone means more manliness, right? Wrong. Men may have different levels of testosterone, but this is not what will cause your baldness.
Why does this idea exist in the first place? Thats because many balding men tend to be hairy on other parts of their body. Some even have lush beards and volumes of body hair.
People associate bald men with better sex lives, stronger, more muscular bodies, and more male-oriented activities. That is due to a perception of more testosterone in them.
Theres the notion that bald is more virile than their full-hair counterparts is false.
Female Hair Loss Causes Is It Testosterone
While this is surprising to many people, pattern baldness doesnt only occur in men we see cases of female hair loss, the causes of which are, most commonly, hormone related.
For many women, having a full head of healthy hair is associated with youth and beauty two qualities that, as a woman, you would probably like to keep for as long as possible.
Womens hair loss due to hormones can be damaging to your self-image and how you perceive your quality of life.
While it receives much less attention than the male version, female pattern hair loss is a real problem for some women.
Rather than try to manage that problem at the surface level, its much more important to look at the root causes.
In fact, it is often the case that female hair loss is due to a hormonal imbalance.
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Dr Justin Rome: Can Testosterone Replacement Cause Hair Loss
Androgens like DHT are known hair loss culprits, so is excess Testosterone also bad for hair health? Learn more about testosterone replacement and hair loss.
Dr. Justin Rome, M.D.
For men who want to look good and feel their best as they get older, they may be looking into ways to help reduce hair loss as well as potentially undergoing testosterone replacement therapy if their levels are low. This often comes along with a lot of questions, as there are a few myths out there regarding testosterone replacement therapy and how it can affect your hair.
Having normal amounts of testosterone in your body can be fine for your hair, as hair loss has more to deal with how your specific hair follicles respond to another hormone which can be derived from testosterone called dihydrotestosterone . For men who have a genetic sensitivity to DHT, their hair follicles are more sensitive to the damaging effects of the hormone, and may experience hair shrinkage, shortening, and the eventual loss of the hair from DHT hanging around. It is this genetic sensitivity to DHT that is the main culprit behind male pattern hair loss, and not necessarily the testosterone itself.
Artas Robotic Hair Transplant
A hair transplant is also another terrific way to get natural-looking results without the side-effects of medications. The ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant Procedure uses a state-of-the-art robot that assists surgeons with hair transplant surgeries.
The benefit to using a robot is that the arm of the surgeon can weaken and tire after working for several hours non-stop. The arm of a robot will be as precise and accurate 3 hours into the procedure as it was when it first started.
Another benefit to ARTAS is that there is no incision so its less painful and no stitches are required. It will be very hard for someone to detect the hair transplant.
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Dht: The Hormone Behind Hair Loss
Dihydrotestosterone is made from testosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. It can also be made from DHEA, a hormone more common in women. DHT is found in skin, hair follicles, and the prostate. The actions of DHT and the sensitivity of hair follicles to DHT is what causes hair loss.
DHT also acts in the prostate. Without DHT, the prostate doesnt develop normally. With too much DHT, a man can develop benign prostate hypertrophy, also known as an enlarged prostate.
Will The Hair Grow Back After Stopping Testosterone
Receding hair due to TRT may be reversed, if you wean off testosterone injections properly. Your hair follicles can recover, as long as they havent accumulated too much DNA damaged and shrunken completely.
Medications and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, reducing stress, and consuming more plant foods rich in polyphenols might speed up the recovery process.
Unfortunately, once the process has advanced and you have completely lost your hair, medications are no longer effective in reversing it.
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The Best Natural Testosterone Boosters Of The Year
Discover The Natural Testosterone Supplements That Really Work
After many years of intensive research into low testosterone, reading countless clinical studies and trying and reviewing both drug based and natural testosterone treatments, I have compiled my list of the natural testosterone boosting supplements that I believe are the best around today.
The products listed are proven to be 100% safe, delivering maximum results without any risks, they use clinically approved formulas and also offer full cash back guarantees to protect their customers.
How Hormone Replacement Treatment Affects Your Hair
Most of us have heard about hot flashes and mood changes during menopause, but what about hair thinning? Many women experience hair loss during menopause, but hormone replacement treatment may be able to help. Thinning hair during menopause can seriously affect your sense of well-being and your self-esteem. However, youre not alone with menopausal hair loss. An estimated 21 million women in the U. S. will experience hair loss at some point in their lives, many of them during and after menopause. Our providers can help you determine underlying causes of hair thinning during menopause and help you find personalized treatment plans to help you feel better.
Hormone replacement treatment can help improve your quality of life during menopause.
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What Does Testosterone Do To Your Hair
Testosterone is an androgen present in both males and females. It plays a vital role in the development of your sexual organs.
Your hair growth life cycle is affected by various hormones in your body. Androgens are also one of those hormones that support scalp hair growth to a limited extent. As androgens’ primary function is to develop sexual characteristics during puberty, they target hair growth in the genital areas.
As you age, scalp hair follicles become sensitive to androgen actions on the hair growth life cycle, making you lose scalp hair in different patterns. It is called Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss .
Here’s how it looks:
- Gradually receding hairline with hair loss at temples and mid-frontal scalp eventually forming a ‘U’ shape pattern in males.
- Diffuse hair loss, especially on the crown part of the scalp, can be seen. Hairlines do not recede, but you can spot widening on the mid-frontal scalp.
- Men may experience balding. Female scalp is rarely prone to baldness, but loses hair density.