Steroids are compounds with diverse effects, often mimicking natural hormones. The term “steroids” encompasses various substances with distinct actions. While some are therapeutic, others can have undesirable consequences, particularly for hair health. This article clarifies the distinctions between steroid types and their impacts on hair, explaining when they might be part of a treatment plan and when they can lead to hair loss.
Corticosteroids: When They Help Hair
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation. Their anti-inflammatory properties make them useful in treating specific types of hair loss involving immune system overactivity or inflammation around hair follicles.
Corticosteroids are prescribed for alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks hair follicles. By dampening this response, they can halt the attack and allow hair to regrow. They also treat scarring alopecias like lichen planopilaris and discoid lupus erythematosus, where inflammation damages follicles.
These medications do not directly stimulate hair growth in healthy follicles or address common forms of hair thinning like male or female pattern baldness. Their benefit comes from treating the underlying inflammatory or autoimmune process causing hair loss. This creates an environment where follicles can recover and resume their normal growth cycle.
Anabolic Steroids: Why They Cause Hair Loss
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic variants of testosterone. They promote muscle growth and increase bone density. However, their androgenic properties, which influence male characteristics, often contribute to hair loss.
AAS can lead to hair loss by increasing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the body. Anabolic steroids, as synthetic testosterone derivatives, significantly elevate DHT. DHT is a potent androgen that binds to receptors in genetically susceptible hair follicles, particularly in individuals prone to androgenic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness).
DHT binding causes hair follicles to gradually shrink, a process called miniaturization. Miniaturized follicles produce thinner, shorter hairs until they stop producing hair. Individuals using anabolic steroids, especially those predisposed to pattern baldness, often experience accelerated hair loss or baldness onset. Anabolic steroids do not promote hair growth; instead, their use exacerbates or initiates hair thinning and loss.
Administration and Potential Side Effects
Corticosteroids for hair loss are administered through various methods, depending on the condition and its severity. Topical solutions, creams, lotions, or foams are often applied directly to the scalp for localized inflammation. For targeted treatment, intralesional injections deliver a corticosteroid solution directly into affected scalp areas. Oral corticosteroids may be prescribed for widespread or severe cases, though this route carries a higher risk of systemic effects.
Topical or injected corticosteroids may cause localized side effects like skin thinning, pigmentation changes, or mild burning. Oral corticosteroids, especially with long-term use, can lead to more significant systemic effects. These include weight gain, fluid retention, increased blood sugar, mood changes, and a weakened immune system. Such effects necessitate careful medical supervision.
Misuse of anabolic steroids carries many adverse effects beyond hair loss. Common concerns include accelerated hair loss and male pattern baldness. Other significant health risks are severe acne, liver damage, and cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure and cholesterol abnormalities. Anabolic steroid use can also disrupt natural hormone production, leading to infertility, testicular atrophy in males, and menstrual irregularities or voice deepening in females.
Key Considerations for Hair Health
Steroids are not a universal solution for hair growth; their application is specific to the underlying cause of hair loss. A professional medical diagnosis is important before considering treatment. A healthcare professional can accurately identify the type of hair loss and determine the appropriate course of action.
Self-medicating with any steroid, especially anabolic steroids, is dangerous and ineffective for promoting hair growth. Anabolic steroids accelerate hair loss in individuals predisposed to pattern baldness. While corticosteroids benefit specific inflammatory or autoimmune hair loss conditions under medical guidance, they are not a general remedy for hair thinning or balding. Consulting a dermatologist or other qualified healthcare professional is the recommended approach for personalized advice and treatment.