Do Steroids Cause Hair Loss in Men

Other than the well known symptoms such as mood swings, acne, and heart problems, there is also the symptom of hair loss. While using steroids you are not guaranteed to lose your hair, but if hair loss, thinning, or receding is in your genes it may jump start it. If the men in your family typically begin to see it around the age of 40, using steroids may result in you seeing it years earlier.

If male pattern baldness runs in your family then you are putting yourself at serious risk of losing your hair.

How Steroids Work

Besides the other serious side effects to taking an anabolic steroid, if you are already noticing hair loss than taking steroids will only speed up the process. Rather than the immediate symptoms which are common with steroids you also need to take into consideration the long term repercussions.

Side effects other than hair loss are infertility and impotence, erectile dysfunction, acne, gynecomastia, unpredictable mood swings, high blood pressure, and even liver damage. More serious side effects include heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, and even certain cancers.

Steroids and Your Hair

When you’re talking about any kind of hair conditions hormonal changes will always be at the top of the list of triggers. There is a specific hormone called dihydrotestosterone, commonly referred to as DHT, and when it’s levels in the body are increased it destroys hair follicles.

DHT will attach itself to the hair follicle causing inflammation which results in the hair falling out over time. There are many different brands and forms of steroids but all of them will effect your hair the same way, some more than others.

If you are dead set on using steroids but have a history of male pattern baldness in your family, here are the steroids to avoid: Anadrol, Winstrol, Proviron, Masteron, Anavar, and Primobolan. These brands of steroids can greatly increase your risks of hair loss so they should be avoided.

Steroids for Medical Treatments

It’s been known for doctors to prescribe certain steroids as a treatment to a medical condition, however if you know that male pattern baldness runs in your family you may request another medication and explain the situation to your doctor.

These steroids may also affect men whose family genes don’t contain balding or thinning hair and are Dianabol and Trenbolone.

For those who are able to stop taking steroids, or who can avoid taking them to begin with, it’s recommended that you do. If not you may be sacrificing your hair.