Can Testosterone Boosters Cause Hair Loss?

Testosterone is a hormone that both male and female bodies produce. However, the male body produces it in high amounts when it hits puberty and develops male characteristics. The level of this hormone affects sexual functionality, mood, and much more.

People also use testosterone boosters to increase the levels of this hormone which helps them in gaining more muscle mass. But could such a powerful hormone that offers so many benefits be connected to hair loss? After all, no one wants to gain muscles to experience baldness as a side effect.

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Testosterone Levels and Hair Loss

Hair loss can take place regardless of the levels of testosterone in your body. Before getting into the details of whether or not hair loss can occur due to high or low levels of this hormone, it’s important to discuss its different types.

Free Testosterone

This type of testosterone in the make body acts as a messenger to regulate different functions such as mental focus, bone density, muscle growth, and also hair growth. That’s why boys start to grow facial and pubic hair after hitting puberty.

DHT (Dihydrotestosterone)

DHT is a sex hormone with is more powerful and it plays a key role in growing hair (except head hair). It’s a modified form of male testosterone and it’s also more effective and potent. The higher levels of this hormone can lead to androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness) in males. This hormone can trigger reactions in hair follicles that can cause hair loss.

DHT and its Link to Hair Loss

If a male body has a higher level of testosterone, it can increase the production of DHT as well. However, not all men with higher testosterone levels suffer from these conditions. The hair loss caused by higher DHT levels doesn’t happen randomly.

First, you’ll start experiencing the thinning of the hair strands and then gradually develop pattern baldness. In males, the hair loss is denser in the crown and temple regions.

DHT inhibits the flow of protein and essential nutrients when it gets accumulated on the hair follicles. The thinning of hair stands occurs because your hair doesn’t get the required nutrients. In the worst conditions, it also disrupts the regrowth cycle of hair to cause permanent loss of hair.

This condition is also called DHT testosterone hair loss. It’s important to note that DHT is also found in females and it can also cause pattern baldness in them as well.

So, Can Testosterone Boosters Cause Hair Loss?

Luckily, testosterone boosters don’t contain ingredients that can cause hair loss. Keep in mind that there are many other factors that can lead to this problem and a particular ingredient can accelerate the process.

However, it’s quite a rare situation and you should consult a medical professional to find out if testosterone boosters are safe for you or not. Generally, we didn’t find any ingredient that directly increases the production of DHT in your body to cause pattern baldness.

Note: You must talk to a doctor before you start taking testosterone boosters because medical supervision and taking the right dosage are critical to avoid the side effects of these supplements.

Can Supplements Help You with Hair Loss?

There are many supplements based on specialized formulations that you can take to deal with hair loss caused by increased levels of DHT. They provide your hair follicles with the essential nutrients that need to regulate normal hair growth.

DHT Blockers

DHT blockers are also known as anti-androgen supplements that keep the DHT from causing reactions in your hair follicles. Dutasteride and finasteride are two of the most popular medications to combat hair loss caused by higher levels of DHT in your body.

There are also some specialized formulas for women such as spironolactone to reduce the effects of pattern baldness. This medication reduces the levels of testosterone to minimize the DHT level in the scalp. These supplements also enlarge your blood vessels so that more oxygen and nutrients can reach the hair follicles to support and promote hair growth.

Vitamin B Supplements

Supplements that offer vitamin B12 and B6 are also beneficial for your scalp health and overall hair growth. They regulate your body’s blood flow and provide hair follicles with the essential nutrients they need. Not only do they help you recover from pattern baldness, but they also improve the health of your thin strands.

Biotin Supplements

Biotin increases the activity of your hair follicle to maintain scalp health. It’s a natural vitamin that promotes the production of keratin to encourage hair growth. Other than that, it also strengthens your thin strands and helps you recover from baldness patches. Other than taking supplements, you can increase your biotin intake by eating natural foods such as meat, fish, nuts, whole grains, and egg yolks.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is yet another natural supplement that’s believed to help you recover from hair loss caused by higher DHT levels. It blocks the enzymes in your body that convert testosterone to DHT. This way it helps your hair follicles grow healthier and thicker strands. It can also help your body to maintain hormonal balance to minimize the symptoms of pattern baldness.

Are DHT Blocking Supplements Safe?

These supplements contain natural ingredients and are usually considered safe. However, you must not start taking them without consulting a medical specialist to ensure the safety of use. In addition, these supplements can lead to minor side effects such as headaches, vomiting, dizziness, breast tenderness, rashes, and acne, depending upon your medical conditions. In the worst cases, they can also lead to lower sex drive and erectile dysfunction.

Are There Any Other Causes of Hair Loss?

Other than higher DHT levels, there are many reasons that can cause hair loss in both males and females.

Aging

Age is by far the most common factor that leads to hair loss. The growth cycle of a person’s hair follicles naturally decreases with age and causes thinner strands and baldness. Unfortunately, even the most advanced medications can’t stop hair loss that happens with age.

Stress

Stress is yet another common culprit that causes hair loss, especially at an early age. The human body naturally generates more cortisol during stress periods and studies show that it can cause hair loss. So, it’s important to look at your stress levels before you start taking medicines to control pattern baldness.

Genes

Most of your features and characteristics are determined by your genes and your hair is no exception. According to studies, baldness is linked with the AR gene present in the “X” chromosome that you get from your mother. Additionally, there are more than 60 different genes that determine the pattern of baldness in men, and only six of them are present in the “X” chromosome. More than 80 percent of people who experience baldness had a father with the same condition.

Treatment Shock

It’s a side effect of testosterone replacement therapy that can lead to hair loss. This treatment refers to the medical drugs that aim to artificially increase the testosterone levels in a person. It’s important to note that testosterone replacement therapy and testosterone boosters are two different things.

Natural Ways to Avoid Hair Loss

While you can use DHT blockers or undergo a hair transplant treatment, they’re not the only ways to get rid of pattern baldness. The following are some natural remedies that can help you avoid hair loss or minimize hair loss symptoms.

Head Massages

According to studies, the amount of blood flow increases the health of your hair follicles to encourage the growth of healthier and thicker hair. Opting for a regular scalp massage is a great way to achieve that and it also doesn’t bring any side effects.

Avoid Hot Showers

If you like to take hot showers, consider avoiding it if you’re experiencing hair loss. Hot water opens up hair follicles and skin pores making them more vulnerable to damage and resulting in hair loss. It certainly doesn’t mean that you should take cold showers even during winter, but try to use lukewarm water, especially for your scalp.

Improve Your Diet

Your diet plays the most important role to ensure your health and wellbeing. The first thing you want to make sure to reduce hair loss is to keep yourself hydrated. Drink at least 3.7 liters of water a day (2.7 liters for females). You should also eat a natural and balanced diet. Consider adding eggs, fish, meat, whole grains, and nuts to your diet to provide your hair follicles with the essential nutrients they need for healthier hair growth.

Final Words

While some people believe that testosterone supplements cause hair loss, this is frequently due to misconceptions about medical testosterone therapies. These frequently result in elevated testosterone that can increase the production of DHT, which is the most prevalent cause of baldness.

So, if you’re attempting to combat low testosterone using a natural testosterone booster, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you continue to notice indications of hair loss, consult a health specialist to discuss medicinal treatments like DHT blockers.