Bodybuilding is the use of resistance exercises to build the musculature of an individual’s body. This is typically done in progressive stages of intense muscle strain and high caloric intake. Due to the concentration of men in this field, as well as the perception of this kind of training as a male activity, many people wonder about the connection between bodybuilders, testosterone and hair loss.
How Body Hair Transplants May Benefit Body Builders Taking Androgen Supplements
In this video, Dr. U discusses the role of body hair transplantation for body builders taking androgen supplements who are concerned about male pattern baldn…
Watch Dr. Umar Explain The Connection Between Testosterone and Hair Loss
Watch the Q&A video below to hear Dr. Umar’s explanation of hair loss in bodybuilders, as well as the possibility of body hair transplants in these cases.
Supplements: Hormones and Hair Loss
As Dr. Umar explains in the video above, bodybuilders may use training supplements. These supplements can take the form of hormone enhancements. Often, in these cases, androgen male hormones are involved.
How Supplements Work
The body produces testosterone naturally. The levels of this hormone increase during exercise. Some bodybuilders may use supplements that increase testosterone levels during exercise. These hormones may help bodybuilders get the results they want, such as increased muscle mass. Adversely, however, they may notice accelerated hair loss. This loss is typically on the top of the head. This area experiencing loss is sensitive to DHT.
Testosterone supplements used by Body builders generally fall into two categories:
A. Supplements that boost your body’s production of testosterone:
- Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG): usually given as injections.
- Creatine
- Extracts and synthetics found in several Over the counter supplements found usually on the internet or health food stores such as GNC
B. Direct testosterone and other androgen augmentation.
These are typically taken as injectables.
Most of these supplements are considered performance enhancers and would disqualify athletes from participating in many national and international sports tournaments..
DHT is a byproduct created when testosterone breaks down in the bloodstream. Increased levels of testosterone translate to more DHT in the bloodstream. For those who have the hair loss gene, the androgen receptors on hair follicles are sensitive to this androgen compound. Therefore, when DHT attaches to the androgen receptor of a hair follicle, the follicle shrinks over time until it disappears.
The process above is why bodybuilders with the male pattern baldness gene may notice more hair loss.
Do Body Builders Grow More Chest Hair?
While a bodybuilder may notice their hair thinning at the top of their head, they may also notice accelerate body hair growth. Typically, this takes the form of a thicker beard, more chest hair, and hair growing in other body areas. Why? Because these hairs (Body and beard hair) thrive under the influence of male hormones. Think of it this way; you do not start growing beard and body hair until you attain puberty, when in men, testosterone level begins to rise with onset of maturity.
When coupled with the loss of head hair, this body hair growth begs the question — can this hair be transferred onto the scalp?
Body Hair To Head Transplant
As Dr. Umar explains in the Q&A video above, there are caveats to the aforementioned query, but generally, the answer is yes. This can be achieved through a body hair to head transplant, in which hair is extracted from hair body areas and placed in areas of loss.
Body hair, such as hair from the beard and chest areas, thrive in bald areas due to their resistance to DHT. As such, the advent of new, advanced hair transplant technology capable of safely extracting body hair, such as the Dr.UGraft system, allows even severely bald individuals hope for hair restoration.
Below is a patient who benefited from an advanced Dr.UGraft FUE hair transplant surgery.
Interested in using body hair for a hair restoration procedure? Use the button below to consult with Dr. Umar for free.
