Posts Tagged: Testosterone

After Hair Transplant What are Effects of DHT on Donor Hair?

November 25th, 2008

Q: Hi! I wanted to ask if after a hair restoration surgery the transplanted hair will eventually fall out? Because the surgery is to restore hair mainly for people with genetic hair loss which results from DHT, won’t the DHT make the new follicles implanted fall out as well?

A: Hair loss is due to the action of DHT (a byproduct of testosterone) on hair follicles that cause them to shrink and eventually disappear (the process is called miniaturization). The follicles on the back and sides of the scalp are not sensitive to DHT and therefore don’t bald (miniaturize).

When you transplant hair from the back and sides to the bald area on the front or top of the scalp the hair follicles maintain their original characteristics (their resistance to DHT) and therefore they will continue to grow.

Topic: Growth After Transplant

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 11:38 am

Can Hair Loss be Caused by Weight Lifting and Increase in Testosterone Levels?

April 7th, 2008

Q: My son, 25 years old, is seeing hair loss around the hairline. According to your website, he is probably a stage II. He may have a little hair loss at the vertex; right now it is hard to tell. He is very muscular and loves weight lifting, but no drug enhancement. Is there a relationship between weight lifting and hair loss, since I have read that weight lifting increases testosterone levels?

A: Yes, weight lifting does increase testosterone, which in turn increases DHT. This can accelerate hair loss, although the effect is generally very slight.

Rather than modify his exercise program, your son may want to consider taking finasteride (Propecia). This requires a doctor’s prescription.

Topic: Causes of Hair Loss

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 8:36 am

Does Propecia Hair Loss Medication Effect Beard Growth?

July 6th, 2007

Q: I am a 21 yrs old male having serious hair loss over the last few years. I also have very little facial hair. Since Propecia is a DHT blocker can it inhibit beard growth?

A: As you suggest, it would be reasonable to assume that since DHT stimulates beard growth, blocking DHT (with finasteride) would tend to inhibit its growth. In practice, this does not seem to be the case, i.e. we don’t find that Propecia has any affect on facial hair. The reason is not clear.

It is interesting to note that testosterone stimulates growth of axillary and pubic hair, but not scalp hair. Scalp hair growth is not androgen dependent, only scalp hair loss is.

DHT stimulates terminal hair growth of the beard, trunk and limbs, external ears and nostrils. Of course, it also is responsible for the bitemporal reshaping of hairline as one passes into adulthood and causes male patterned baldness (androgenetic alopecia).

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:48 pm

Should One Use Multiple Hair Loss Medications, Such as Both Avodart and Propecia?

February 9th, 2007

Q: I’m 52 years old and have been taking Propecia (finasteride) for two years. It seems to maintain the status quo with no apparent regrowth. I am considering adding a dose of Avodart (dutasteride) once a week in conjunction with the daily Propecia. My question is twofold: (1) Since dutasteride blocks production of both enzymes (type I and II) that produce DHT from testosterone, is it redundant to take the finasteride that only blocks the type I enzyme?

A: It is redundant to take both.

However, you may not be taking the optimal dose of dutasteride which seems to be at least 0.5mg a day for hair loss.

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 9:15 am

Can Hair Loss Accelerate Due to Non-steroid Nutritional Supplements?

January 23rd, 2007

Q: Some non-steroid athletic nutritional supplements claim to increase testosterone. Assuming they worked, would increasing testosterone increase DHT and hair loss?

A: Yes, if they were effective in increasing testosterone then they may accelerate hair loss.

Topic: Vitamins, Herbs, Supplements

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 5:30 am



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