Some Steroids May Cause Hair Loss: What You Can Do

If you are an athlete, you may have taken anabolic steroids to help you bulk up. However, while these steroids can improve your muscle mass, they can have an unintended consequence for your appearance. By themselves, steroids will not cause thinning hair. However, if you already have a genetic disposition to hair loss, the medications can accelerate the process. If you have not yet suffered hair loss, you can prevent the condition by stopping your steroid regimen. Fortunately, even if you are already starting to look a little thin on top, Dr. Konior offers a number of hair loss treatments. After evaluating your needs and the balding pattern, he will choose the most suitable option for you. To learn more about hair loss after steroid use, contact our Chicago practice today.

How Steroids Can Affect Your Hair

Hormonal changes are the primary reason for male pattern baldness. In particular, increased levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) will damage hair follicles. DHT will attach to follicles, causing inflammation. Eventually, these damaged hairs will start to fall out. Many steroids will raise the levels of DHT in your body, leading to significant hair loss. Not everyone is prone to balding, however. Your hair follicles may be genetically programmed to withstand higher levels of DHT. In these cases, steroids will not cause balding.

Which Steroids Cause Hair Loss?

If you are genetically prone to male pattern baldness, you should avoid the following steroids:

• Anadrol®
• Anavar®
• Dianabol^TM
• Masteron®
• Primobolan®
• Proviron®
• Trenbolone
• Winstrol®

On this list, all but Dianabol^TM and Trenbolone are DHT-based steroids. In some cases, testosterone shots and other supplements can also lead to hair loss.

Preventing Hair Loss

Of course, the best way to prevent steroid-induced hair loss is to stop taking steroids. Along with hair loss, these supplements can have far more serious consequences for your health. The risks of steroids include:

• Infertility and impotence
• Erectile dysfunction
• Acne
• Gynecomastia
• Mood swings
• Liver damage
• High blood pressure
• An increased risk for heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and certain cancers

We understand that there may be psychological reasons that you take steroids. Talking to a counselor may help you to stop.

Treatments for Steroid-Induced Hair Loss

While we recommend eliminating steroids from your fitness regimen, we know that you may have already suffered significant hair loss. We offer a number of hair replacement techniques to restore your full head of hair, as well as your self-confidence. Options include:

• Lateral slit technique
• Stick-and-place technique
• Follicular unit extraction (FUE)
• Follicular unit preparation
• Donor strip harvesting
• Megasessions

Dr. Konior will carefully plan your procedure using the hair replacement method that is most appropriate for you. Your personal preferences will play a significant role in this process.

Contact Us for a Consultation

To reverse the effects of steroids on your hairline, contact our office and request an evaluation.