Can High Testosterone Cause Hair Loss? Here’s the Science

Many factors, including fluctuations in your hormones, can cause hair loss. The relationship between testosterone and male pattern hair loss has long been discussed by researchers, but too much testosterone isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Having a certain kind of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can lead to hair loss and is a common cause of shedding in men. In this article, we’ll take a look at how hormones can interact with hair follicles, how your genetics are involved, and the treatments available to tackle DHT-related hair loss, including what Hairy Hair can do to help tackle your thinning.

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone that is responsible for bodily functions in men and women. It plays a pivotal role in development during puberty as it causes body hair growth, muscle mass, and penis development.

Sex hormones like testosterone are necessary for sexual and reproductive functions relating to fertility, erectile function, libido, and sperm generation.

What is DHT?

DHT is an androgen (male sex hormone) that interacts with the hair growth cycle. An enzyme in your body known as 5-alpha reductase causes testosterone to convert into DHT. Too much of this androgen can lead to thinning or pattern baldness.

This is because it causes healthy hair follicles to shrink through a gradual process called miniaturisation. As hair follicles shrink, they stop producing hair over time, and this causes hair loss.

How Does Testosterone Impact Hair Loss?

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is linked to a genetic response to high levels of DHT. This is the most common form of hair loss, with the National Institutes of Health estimating that between 30-50% of men by age 50 will experience it.

DHT on the scalp is linked to excessive hair loss or shedding, but high levels of this androgen aren’t necessarily the cause of your thinning. However, your predetermined genetic response to male pattern baldness will more likely cause hair loss. If you’re more sensitive to androgen activity, including enzyme conversion, then you’re more likely to lose your hair.

Hair loss and thinning run in the family on both sides, but they are particularly prevalent on our maternal side, which increases the risk of developing pattern baldness. Androgenetic alopecia forms as a receding hairline or patchy hair loss at the crown that gradually progresses over time. With female pattern hair loss, hair will thin at the hairline, and it’s less likely to cause total baldness.

Does High Testosterone Cause Hair Loss?

Regular testosterone at high levels is unlikely to cause shedding. While increased DHT levels are seen on the scalp of those who have androgenetic alopecia, it doesn’t cause the hair loss itself. 

Bald men don’t have higher testosterone levels, but they are more likely to have high levels of DHT. Research from JAMA Dermatology looked at the connection between androgens and hair loss in men and didn’t find any significant relationship. This affirms the idea that male androgenetic alopecia has more to do with the sensitivity to the hormones than the hormone levels being high.

Can Low Testosterone Cause Hair Loss?

At the other end of the scale, low testosterone is not known to be linked with baldness. Decreases in testosterone are a natural occurrence as men age, but can also be caused by conditions like thyroid disease or testicular cancer. It can also be related to poor diet or medication. 

This issue is also famously known as low T and can cause loss of muscle mass, erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, and weight gain, but it is not necessarily associated with hair loss. 

If you have low T, you may be prescribed hormone replacement therapy. An increase in testosterone shouldn’t cause excess shedding, but if you’re sensitive to DHT, it can accelerate hair loss.

What Else Causes Hair Loss?

Genetic predisposition and how sensitive you are to DHT are the main factors behind pattern baldness, but these can combine with other issues to worsen your condition. These include:

• How old you are will influence the strength of your hair follicles.
• Health conditions like anaemia and autoimmune disorders can increase shedding by disrupting the hair growth cycle.
• Your environment can also weaken your hair from pollution or harsh chemical treatments.
• Lifestyle factors like stress, poor diet and lack of exercise can cause imbalances in hormone production and interfere with nutrient delivery to your scalp.

How Can You Treat Testosterone-Related Hair Loss?

If you happen to be more sensitive to DHT activity in your body, then it’s important to look at treatments for your shedding. Acting at the first signs of hair loss will give you a better chance at preventing extensive thinning and regaining your lost strands. 

There are a few treatment options if you’re struggling with thinning. The primary solution that a dermatologist or hair expert will recommend is finasteride. This operates to block DHT conversion to give your hair follicles a chance to produce strong and resilient strands.

High DHT levels are just one potential cause of hair loss, and you may need a comprehensive approach with multiple treatments. Minoxidil is another popular option, which acts as a vasodilator to improve nutrient delivery to your scalp by widening the blood vessels.

Getting the right nutrients in your diet and having a healthy lifestyle can also help ensure that your follicles are getting the necessary vitamins and minerals for growth.

How Can Hairy Hair Help with My Hair Loss?

Knowing how to tackle pattern baldness can be challenging. While having a high amount of testosterone doesn’t necessarily mean you are more likely to have androgenetic alopecia, you may be sensitive to DHT. Treating an imbalance of hormones will allow hair to grow back if this is the cause of your thinning.

This is a genetic form of hair loss, so you can’t prevent it from happening, but there are things that you can do to limit the damage that it does. Hair loss is usually a multifactorial process with many different factors affecting how much you’re losing or how your hair will regrow. Regulating DHT levels with DHT blockers is just one of the ways to stay ahead of your balding, and a multi-ingredient treatment can give you a better chance of treating the condition successfully.

If you’re worried about your hair loss and want to take action today, contact Hairy Hair. Our targeted treatment combines powerful ingredients that address a range of hair loss issues simultaneously. It aims to lower DHT levels and helps increase nutrient delivery to your hair follicles. The treatment is rounded out with hair-boosting vitamins that support hair regrowth and aid in lowering inflammation on the scalp.

To start your hair loss treatment journey, just fill in a quick online form. Once we have some information about you and your hair loss, we can put together a personalised treatment plan. A qualified Australian GP who is an expert in hair loss will then call you to outline the details and answer any questions you have. Your prescription will then be shipped right to your home for completely remote and discreet management of your hair loss.