Both men and women suffer from hair loss and many different factors can contribute to this problem. While alopecia areata is the most common form of hair loss found in both genders, many people wonder if low testosterone levels can cause hair loss.
In this blog post, we’ll answer this question as accurately as possible, but we’ll also review some of the most common forms of hair loss and their causes.
Answer To The Question Can Low Testosterone Cause Hair Loss
According to Prolonglabs.com, a lack of testosterone can cause hair loss but it’s more common for the hair to be body hair and facial hair than it is to be hair on the top of your head. The reason is that DHT is responsible for hair growth on your body and facial hair. Since DHT is a byproduct of testosterone, if there’s low testosterone then there’s less DHT which means the hair loss symptoms take place.
Although it is more common for it to be body hair, hair loss on your scalp can still occur if your testosterone levels are low.
What Are The Signs Of Low Testosterone?
To get an early grasp to see what’s going on you have to pay attention to the signs. Below are some side effects of having low testosterone.
Erectile Dysfunction
The first sign is often erectile dysfunction. If you have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection then it’s important to check your testosterone levels ASAP.
Decreased Libido
If you have a decreased libido or sexual desire, it could be due to low testosterone. Decreased sex drive is a strong sign of low testosterone levels.
Loss Of Muscle Mass & Strength
If you experience loss of muscle mass and strength that is a sign that your testosterone levels are low. Testosterone helps you maintain lean muscle mass, so when this decreases it’s likely due to low testosterone.
Decreased Energy Levels
Another sign is decreased energy levels. If you have less energy it could be due to low testosterone. The reason for this is that the hormone helps produce ATP, which gives you the energy to do various things throughout your day.
Lack Of Progress In The Gym
Another common sign of low testosterone is a lack of progress made in the gym. It’s very hard to make any gains without the proper levels of testosterone. If you feel like your workouts aren’t as productive as they used to be, it could be due to low testosterone.
Decreased Mental Clarity
A lack of mental clarity is another sign of low testosterone. This is because your brain needs enough testosterone to function properly and if this isn’t present then it can affect your ability to think.
Moodiness and irritability
Another sign of low testosterone is moodiness and irritability. If you feel like your emotions are out of control or if you get irritated easily then it could be due to low T levels.
Depression
Another sign of low testosterone is depression. It can be hard to handle daily life when you are depressed, which could lead to feeling hopeless and sad.
Can Testosterone Treat Low Test Hair Loss?
Testosterone is a great way to treat hair loss caused by low testosterone, but it is more likely to be effective on your facial hair and body hair than it is with the hair on your head (although there’s always a chance). The reason for this is that DHT is more responsible for the growth of hair located on your face and body than it is on your scalp.
Keep in mind there’s always a chance that the testosterone treatment can speed up the process of balding, since if you already have male pattern baldness then it’s more likely that the testosterone therapy will make it happen faster.
If you are more concerned about spotty facial and body hair then testosterone therapy can be quite effective.
How Does Low Testosterone Effect Women When It Comes To Hair Loss
Men aren’t the only ones that suffer from hair loss when having low test levels. Women can experience thinning of their hair as well, but it tends to be less severe. One reason for this is that women don’t have the same amount of testosterone as men do.
Also because low test levels lower DHT (responsible for body hair growth) many women experience lower body hair growth when dealing with low test levels. This is less of a problem for women because they don’t want excess body hair.
When it comes to hair loss on the scalp for women, it’s less common because they naturally produce less testosterone which also means they produce less DHT, to begin with.
Some women can be more sensitive to DHT than others just like some men can be more sensitive to it than other men. The hair loss just doesn’t happen the same way. In most cases women won’t get a huge receding hairline when losing their hair, they will just lose thickness throughout their scalp.
The good news is that a lot of women who suffer from hair loss from low test levels will see an improvement when they start testosterone therapy.
Other Reasons For Hair Loss
When going to treat your hair loss, you have to keep in mind that there is more than one reason your hair could be falling out. For example, the hair on your body can be falling out for one reason but the hair on your scalp could be falling out for a completely different reason. Below are some other reasons for hair loss.
Too Much Testosterone
If you produce too much testosterone in your body it will be converted into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and this is what causes hair loss. You can have low testosterone with normal DHT levels, which means if you supplement your low testosterone with exogenous testosterone, the increased levels of DHT will cause hair loss.
Genetics
Sometimes hair loss is just in the cards for some people. Genetics is a huge factor when it comes to hair loss. If your parents have experienced hair loss then chances are you will as well as you get older.
When it comes to genetic hair loss you can have normal DHT levels but your hair follicles are more sensitive to DHT than the average person, therefore they are more prone to be affected by it.
Stress
Stress is a huge factor in hair loss. If you have experienced something traumatic or stressful it can cause hair fall to increase. Stress can put your hair follicles in a resting phase which can temporarily cause hair loss.
Poor Diet
Having a poor diet and a lack of nutrients can affect your hair. Not eating enough protein, iron, and zinc can cause thinning of the hair to occur. This can come from extreme calorie restriction. It’s important to have a well-balanced diet that’s rich in nutrients.
Age
Pretty much everyone experiences a little bit of hair loss as they get older. There is nothing you can do to stop the process. Hair as we age is more likely to get lighter in color and thinner in texture.
Conclusion
We hope this article gave you a little more information about hair loss caused by low testosterone levels. If your hair is falling out and you have been struggling to find the reason for it then we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
It’s important to remember there isn’t just one reason that your hair could be falling out and if it’s not due to low testosterone levels then you have to find out what caused it.
If you are experiencing hair loss due to low test levels then testosterone replacement therapy will improve your chances of growing back that lost hair.
References
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15603-low-testosterone-male-hypogonadism
https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/testosterone-hair-loss#high-testosterone-vs-low-testosterone
https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/hair-loss/ways-food-can-contribute-to-hair-loss
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