Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, affects many men. In particular, there is some evidence to suggest that men taking Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) are at increased risk of hair loss.
Urologist Dr. Lena Malik sheds light on the scientific connection between TRT and male hair loss in a new video on her YouTube channel. She began by explaining that hair loss can be caused by a variety of issues and factors, including stress, poor nutrition, certain medications, and personal grooming habits such as tying long hair particularly tightly. Genetics also plays a big role here, so finding out if your parents experienced hair loss is a very good early indicator of whether you’re likely to experience baldness or thinning hair in the future.
How does testosterone affect hair?
Each day, 6 to 8 percent of the testosterone produced by a man’s body is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which serves a wide range of important functions in young men, including the formation of secondary sexual characteristics such as body hair and pubic hair. . “As you get older, that DHT can cause other problems such as prostate enlargement and hair loss,” Malik points out.
DHT binds to hair follicles and can weaken them over time. However, hair loss does not always occur. She continued, “Perhaps in men who are predisposed to having genetic abnormalities that make them prone to hair loss, increased DHT makes them more likely to see male pattern baldness that they might not have without it.” ”
However, studies of transgender men using TRT as part of their medical transition found that between 5 and 17 percent developed some hair loss during the first year of TRT. Another small study found that the majority of people who did develop alopecia had mild symptoms.
“Can testosterone supplementation accelerate male pattern baldness? Absolutely. But it’s probably because we’re already genetically predisposed to hair loss,” Malik says. “Ultimately, testosterone has a lot of benefits…so if hair loss is a big concern for you, yes, testosterone can accelerate hair loss, and it probably affects 1 in 5 people.” It’s important to know that you can develop hair loss if you start taking testosterone.
If you’re suffering from hair loss, whether you’re taking testosterone or not, Malik recommends seeing a dermatologist who can identify the underlying medical cause and potentially offer treatment. Masu.
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