Whether exogenous testosterone causes androgenic alopecia hair loss

Androgenic alopecia is a topic of increasing concern. Does the use of exogenous testosterone to boost overall testosterone levels cause androgenic alopecia hair loss?

I did a little poll on that question. Of the 351 male testosterone users, 43 experienced hair loss after using testosterone, and 351 reported no hair loss after using testosterone for more than a year, and some even had thicker hair after using extrinsic testosterone. The proportion of participants with and without hair loss is shown in the figure below.

Relationship between exogenous testosterone and hair loss

The reason why it is believed that exogenous testosterone causes hair loss is because the higher the level of testosterone, the more DHT will be converted, and thus the androgenetic alopecia. This is indeed the theoretical cause of baldness.

People who use exogenous testosterone instead of other steroids usually do so for the purpose of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Therefore, the dose of testosterone used is relatively low, about 200-300mg/wee, and the maximum will not exceed 500mg/week. This dose is used to make up for testosterone levels that decline with age or that are low due to hypogonadism. The purpose of using testosterone in these people is to raise the overall testosterone level to the normal level, or at the position of the normal testosterone level. If testosterone did not affect his hair when he was young and his testosterone level was the highest in his life, chances are that it will not affect his hair after increasing his testosterone level.

People with a family history of hair loss are more likely to lose hair. Therefore, if your hair is more sensitive to DHT, you belong to the population prone to hair loss. Before you use testosterone, your testosterone level may not be enough to convert enough DHT to cause hair loss, and when you use exogenous testosterone to convert more DHT, it may cause hair loss.

Why do I not lose hair after using exogenous testosterone?

First of all, genetics plays a big part, and if your genetics are good, you’ll always be able to keep your hair easily.

Estrogen levels have a lot to do with hair health. Elevated levels of testosterone, in turn, lead to elevated levels of estrogen. Proper estrogen contributes to the health of hair and makes hair grow better. But too much estrogen can cause more side effects in men. Testosterone users will use aromatase inhibitors (AI) to lower estrogen levels. If estrogen is reduced to too low a level, it can make hair quality worse and may lead to hair loss.

In addition, stress and emotional problems can also cause hair loss. After the male testosterone level increases, it will enhance self-confidence and improve physical health to a certain extent. Therefore, if you are not prone to hair loss, hair quality can be improved.

For the vast majority of people who use exogenous testosterone, it is done thoughtfully. They no longer want to experience the side effects of low testosterone levels, compared to which hair is less important. They are willing to give up some others for something more important.

It can also be seen from the vote that the proportion of people who lose their hair because of testosterone is about 12%, and most people are well adjusted to testosterone.

You don’t have to give up your hair. Androgenic alopecia is due to DHT. Reducing the production of DHT while using testosterone can prevent hair loss. Of course, if you are prone to hair loss, hair loss should be prevented in time. Finasteride and Minoxidil are widely used to prevent hair loss.