Does Too Much Testosterone Cause Hair Loss? KSL Explains

One of the most popular questions we’re asked is: Does high testosterone cause hair loss and balding? The truth is, testosterone levels don’t directly cause hair loss but hair loss is more likely if you have high testosterone levels.

Testosterone plays a big role in the way hair grows and recedes. Although higher testosterone levels are not alone a cause for hair loss, they are commonly linked with faster hair loss and thinning and are a frequent factor that influences the speed at which genetic hair loss proceeds.

Part of the link refers to men with male pattern baldness, the most frequent cause of hair loss, affecting a staggering 53% of men from ages 40 to 49 [1]. This is prompted by a combination of hereditary predisposition to the condition, technically called androgenetic alopecia [2], and some genes that influence hair growth cycles.

Today’s guide, compiled by the expert hair restoration surgeons at KSL Clinic’s nationwide network, explores how testosterone and hair loss are associated, how the natural processes in our bodies can influence hair loss, and the best treatment options to restore your hair to thick, full growth.

Understanding the Connections Between Testosterone and Hair Loss

As we’ve summarised, our hair follicles can react in different ways to hormone levels in our bodies and how those hormone levels fluctuate and change as we mature. When we start to convert more testosterone into DHT, some hair follicles shrink as the DHT binds to the roots.

Shrinking follicles can contribute to hair loss and are far more likely in those with a familial history of pattern baldness who are genetically predisposed to balding, often at an earlier age.

Although it isn’t the DHT or the levels of testosterone in your blood that cause hair to shed or follicles to shrink, the more sensitive your hair follicles, the more inclined you are to see increasing and progressive shedding, which accumulates into visible hair loss.

We often associate hair loss primarily with men. This is because testosterone is the main hormone produced by men that contributes to male characteristics like facial hair, greater proportionate muscle tissue, and a deeper voice. 

However, when men reach adulthood, testosterone no longer needs to influence these characteristics and starts being converted into DHT.

Using DHT Blockers to Combat Testosterone-Related Hair Loss

There are several medications called DHT blockers that either stop DHT from binding with hair follicles or reduce the amount of testosterone that is converted into DHT. In the UK, one of the most popular options is minoxidil. [4]

Other solutions, depending on the underlying causes of hair loss and your medical history, can include laser light therapies, topical DHT blockers in the form of creams and shampoos, and finasteride. [5]

DHT blockers have known effects, although they can take time to have an accumulative impact on hair growth. Most people find that after a few months, and within a year at most, they see an improvement in the volume and thickness of new hair growth.

However, a drawback is that DHT blockers cannot prevent hair loss entirely. They work by slowing down the process or limiting the amount of thinning you see over a short period of time. Pattern hair loss cannot be controlled completely, which usually means that hair loss will continue, although at a slower rate.

Managing Male Pattern Baldness and Genetic Hair Loss

Dr Matee, the Director of Surgical Services for KSL Clinic, says, ‘The strategy we recommend for controlling and limiting hair loss, promoting thicker and healthier growth, and combating higher levels of DHT production will depend on the experiences, aspirations, and medical history of every client.

Modern hair restoration offers myriad solutions, from topical medications to non-surgical interventions, with platelet-rich plasma therapy often seen as a go-to advanced clinical pathway to reactivating dormant follicles and boosting cellular activity and healing in the scalp.

However, if you have experienced continued hair loss or found that medical treatments to slow down pattern baldness have reached the limits of their usefulness, a hair transplant may be advisable as a minimally invasive procedure that can offer a permanent solution to correct hair loss across the scalp.’

Timings are key. During a free consultation, KSL Clinic surgeons will evaluate your scalp and hair and determine your current stage of hair loss. 

Scheduling a transplant too early could mean you require further procedures in the future as pattern baldness progresses, whereas leaving it too late might mean having insufficient donor follicles to complete the process successfully.

If you’d like more information about whether your hair loss is connected to testosterone and DHT, to meet with an experienced surgeon to discuss the right ways forward, or to learn about non-surgical therapies and hair transplant procedures, please book your consultation with your nearest KSL Clinic practice today.