Hair loss in men is not an uncommon phenomenon. Roughly eight out of ten men experience hair fall or thinning at some point in their lives. The medical term for hair loss in men is androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. However, baldness in professional male bodybuilders today seems to be far more common than among the average population. Some of the best bodybuilders in history, like eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman and seven-time champion Phill Heath, are among many who haven’t regrown hair even after retiring from bodybuilding.

The widespread phenomenon along with research into male pattern baldness has led many to believe that steroids are the culprits behind hair loss in bodybuilders. Yet, how true is this conception? While the list of bald professional bodybuilders might be long, many bodybuilders have dealt with gradually thinning hair and receding hairlines. Recently, five-time Classic Physique Olympia winner Chris Bumstead and his former coach Iain Valliere underwent hair transplants. Hence, an in-depth look at hair loss and its relation with steroids might help shed some light on the subject.

What happens when you lose hair?

Before understanding how steroids might affect hair, one must understand how hair grows and the natural process of male pattern baldness. A typical hair follicle grows in four stages. During the first two stages, the hair follicle grows to its full length. It remains unchanged in the third stage and falls off in the fourth. However, during the fourth stage, a new follicle also starts growing beneath the matured follicle and replaces it after it falls off. During hair loss, this process is disrupted. The follicles are either thin and, in many cases, the pores close entirely.

Unfortunately, many adult males start experiencing signs of hair loss as early as their twenties. It often starts at the temple and progresses toward the top of the head. Changes in hormones after puberty cause hair to thin and fall off. The specific hormone responsible for male pattern baldness is dihydrotestosterone or DHT. This is also where people link steroid use with alopecia in bodybuilders.

How can steroids accelerate hair loss?

Steroid use in bodybuilding is an open secret at this point. The most commonly used performance-enhancing drugs are testosterone or derivatives of testosterone. However, testosterone is the reason why male pattern balding exists. Inside the body, the hormone undergoes a natural process with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase to form DHT.

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Hence, exogenously injecting testosterone might result in increased production of DHT, accelerating hair fall. According to the Chicago Hair Institute, “DHT will attach to follicles, causing inflammation,” resulting in damage and eventual hair loss. The Chicago Hair Institute also advised that people exhibiting signs of male pattern baldness should refrain from popular PEDs like Dianabol and Trenbolone. These are also among the most popular steroids among professional bodybuilders.

Interestingly, hair fall in bodybuilders has increased over the decades. While not proven, it coincided with the increase and potency of PED use in the sport. 76-year-old, seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, and 81-year-old, three-time champion Frank Zane all sport nearly a full head of hair. Many 80s legends, like eight-time champion Lee Haney, have also preserved their hair. However, many elite bodybuilders from the mass monster era often do not. As bodybuilders chased muscle, they also increased their doses.

Modern bodybuilders often take more and different variations of PEDs compared to 70s legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hence, while male pattern baldness might play a greater role in hair loss, pro bodybuilders inject the hormone that produces the byproduct responsible for hair fall.

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