Apart from testosterone hormone determining the male sexual development and reproductive function, it also determines body hair growth. While there are a lot of functions that the testosterone hormone can do in men, the common myth for baldness or androgenetic alopecia is said to have some association. Does more testosterone hormone in the body cause baldness or less testosterone baldness? Know here:
While baldness affects more than 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health, Androgenetic alopecia can begin during a person’s teenage years and the likelihood of it occurring increases with age. Over 50 percent of men over the age of 50 experience some form of hair loss. In women, hair loss is most common after menopause.
Androgens (or testosterone) are important for the development of male physical characteristics, such as increased muscle mass and bone density, a deeper voice, and body hair growth. In addition to these physical effects, androgens also regulate mood, deep voice, muscle growth, sex drive, and sperm production.
Do high testosterone levels affect baldness?
“The male pattern baldness is caused by a combination of genetic and hormonal factors. Testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) -an offshoot of testosterone in the body that binds to the receptors in hair follicles causing them to shrink and eventually stop producing new hair,” said, Dr Priyanka Reddy, a dermatologist, founder of DNA skin clinic in Bengaluru and co-founder of Zennara, a skin, aesthetics, and wellness clinic in Hyderabad.
It is a myth that having high testosterone hormone levels leads to baldness in men, said Dr Sudheendra G Udbalker, consultant dermatologist, Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru. “DHT has a role in baldness. In fact, many men with high testosterone levels do not experience hair loss, and many men with low testosterone levels do. This indicates that other factors, such as genetics, also play a significant role in the development of baldness,” he added.
Experts also said that high levels of testosterone may also contribute to hair growth in unwanted areas, such as the face and body.
After 40 years of age in males, the testosterone levels in males decrease every year gradually. There are two scenarios wherein testosterone affects hair loss in males. “Firstly, in some individuals, low testosterone can cause hair loss that contributes to baldness. For those individuals, testosterone supplements can be given to promote hair growth,” said Dr Praveen Kumar Thota, urologist, Fortis Hospital, Chennai.
Secondly, he said, “In individuals with high testosterone, the hair follicles are sensitive, and they may be having hair loss contributing to baldness or alopecia.”
People with high testosterone and alopecia need to follow a diet where they need to stop eating foods that pump up testosterone (for example, watermelon). Dr Thota said, “People who have high testosterone and are prone to genetic or familial history should start a balanced diet without fail.”
How does genetics affect baldness?
“It is not only the hormones, but genes do play a role. We all carry the gene that is linked to baldness but our lifestyle, eating habits, stress, and any associated illness allow those genes to show up and cause baldness,” said Dr Udbalker
Experts said that it is not the amount of testosterone or DHT that causes hair loss, it is the sensitivity of your hair follicles, and that is all in your DNA. The Androgenic receptor (receptors that allow the body to respond appropriately to androgen hormones) gene controls the receptors on your hair follicles that interact with testosterone and DHT. If your receptors are extra sensitive, even a tiny amount of DHT can trigger hair loss or baldness may be aggravated.
However, men with close male relatives with male pattern baldness have a much higher risk of developing male pattern baldness.
How does the testosterone hormone affect the skin?
In individuals who are experiencing acne, experts say that the high levels of testosterone can increase sebum production (an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands, which sit in the middle layers of the skin, near hair follicles) leading to oily skin and clogged pores.
Excess sebum and clogged pores can create a breeding ground for bacteria, resulting in inflammation, pimples, and blackheads.
In addition, high levels of testosterone may also contribute to hair growth in unwanted areas, such as the face and body.
How to test your testosterone levels?
Testosterone can be measured by a simple blood test where we will find out the total level of testosterone in the blood. There are two kinds of values for testosterone in the form of free testosterone and total testosterone.
“Free is the readily available testosterone in the body which circulates in the blood. The total binding testosterone is the amount of hormone which is bound to the albumin present in the blood. These tests are preferably done in the morning when the hormone is highest seen,” said, Dr Mohammed Shahid Ali, consultant, urology, andrology, robotic surgery, and renal transplantation, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru.
How to treat baldness?
While baldness is natural and not a disease, experts say good nutrition, adequate sleep, stress relief practices, and good scalp hygiene can help delay the process. Though there are over-the-counter (OTC) solutions available, doctors do not recommend using those without consultation.
Dr Reddy said that there are clinical procedures like platelet-rich plasma, growth factor treatment, and mesotherapy that can help control the progression of the condition. “Some amount of hair growth can be expected when timely treatment is taken, but when the follicle shrinks very small, it is irreversible. In scenarios where hair cannot be grown, hair transplantation can be done (not everyone can afford this),” he added.
