Will hair loss from steroids grow back?

Hair loss can be tough to deal with at the best of times. But if you’re taking steroids to help you look and feel your best, noticing your hair thinning can feel like a real punch to the gut. The benefits of steroids come with a price, and for some men, that price is hair thinning.

If you’ve noticed your hair thinning after using steroids, you’re probably wondering: Will hair loss from steroids grow back? The answer depends on a few things, like the type of steroids you’re using, how long you’ve been taking them, and whether you’re already prone to hair loss.

The good news? There are things you can do to help protect your hair and improve regrowth.

Can steroids cause hair loss?

Many men taking steroids, whether that be illegally as a performance enhancer or as prescribed by a doctor, will experience hair loss. However, while steroids can cause hair loss, whether you will experience this depends on the type of steroids you’re taking and your individual hair loss risk.

There are two main types of steroids in the medical world:

1. Anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are your synthetic testosterone (1). Doctors may prescribe them to help men with naturally low testosterone levels, but some athletes or gym-goers misuse these drugs to improve muscle growth and boost sports performance.

Anabolic steroids can lead to hair loss, especially if you’re taking steroids as performance enhancers rather than to treat medical conditions (1). However, while around 14% of men will experience hair loss (2), others won’t. It all depends on whether or not you’re prone to balding. If so, taking anabolic steroids can trigger hair thinning and speed up the process.

2. Corticosteroids

Also known as glucocorticoids, corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that can be useful for treating various medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, joint problems (like arthritis and tennis elbow), sciatica, eczema, and even allergies (3).

Like anabolic steroids, hair thinning is also a side effect of corticosteroids (4). However, the reverse can also be true—corticosteroids can be used to treat alopecia areata, a type of hair loss that occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Corticosteroids can help hair grow back in these cases by reducing scalp inflammation (5).

How do steroids cause hair loss?

Anabolic steroids can cause hair loss primarily by changing the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT is a hormone that the body naturally makes from testosterone (6). By taking steroids, you’re increasing your levels of testosterone, meaning more DHT is produced (7).

But how is this linked to hair loss? DHT can bind to receptors on the hair follicles, causing them to reduce in length and diameter and disrupting the normal growth cycle (8). This causes hair to gradually thin. In fact, several studies have shown that men with male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) have higher levels of DHT in their systems (8).

However, not all men with high levels of DHT experience hair loss—as the name suggests, androgenetic alopecia also has a big genetic part (8). Some men are more sensitive to DHT than others. If you belong to this group, you’re more likely to experience hair loss after taking steroids.

Will hair loss from steroids grow back?

Will hair loss from steroids grow back? In most cases, the answer is yes. If you stop taking steroids, all side effects, including hair loss, will usually go away. Of course, it will take time for your hair to grow back, and you could be looking at several months or even years for complete regrowth.

That said, whether hair regrows also depends on the cause and extent of the hair loss. If your hair loss is caused by corticosteroids, it will likely be temporary and reversible. But if your hair loss is due to high DHT levels from anabolic steroid misuse, it may not fully reverse even if you stop taking them. That’s because regrowth can be difficult once DHT triggers hair follicle shrinkage.

However, even if it can’t reverse the damage, stopping steroids can prevent hair thinning from worsening. The sooner you stop, the better your chances of recovery.

What to do if you think steroids are causing hair loss

If you’ve noticed your hair thinning after taking steroids, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to manage the situation. The right approach depends on whether you're using steroids as a prescription or for bodybuilding and performance-enhancing benefits:

• If you’re misusing anabolic steroids, the best course of action is to stop taking them. The sooner you quit, the better your chances of regrowing your hair and avoiding long-term damage. If you’re struggling to stop, speak to a healthcare professional. They can provide confidential support to help you quit safely.
• If you’re using corticosteroids or anabolic steroids for a medical condition and suspect they’re causing hair thinning, don’t stop taking them suddenly. You’ve been prescribed this medication for a reason. Instead, talk to your doctor. They may be able to adjust your dosage or switch you to a different medication.

In both situations, specific lifestyle changes can also help improve hair and scalp health, helping to reduce hair thinning and improve regrowth:

• Try using a caffeine-based shampoo like Alpecin C1 or Alpecin Caffeine Liquid. These products help strengthen hair at the root, stopping as much from falling out (9).
• Hair health is impacted by what we eat (10). Prioritise a nutrient-rich diet with plenty of protein, iron, antioxidants, and vitamins.
• If you struggle to get all the nutrients you need through your diet, hair supplements like Nourkin may help improve your scalp and hair health.
• Chronic stress can contribute to hair loss, so try to build relaxation techniques like exercise, meditation, or yoga into your daily routine.

What hair loss treatments are available?

Clinically proven hair loss treatments do exist, the two most well-known being Minoxidil (Regaine) and Finasteride (Propecia). These are among the most well-established hair loss treatments, helping to slow down hair loss and even promote regrowth.

Now, these medicines are only licensed for hair loss caused by male pattern baldness (MPB) rather than steroid-induced hair loss (11). Nevertheless, if steroid misuse has triggered male pattern baldness by increasing DHT levels, these drugs may be an option.

If you're unsure whether your hair loss is due to MPB or steroid use, a healthcare professional can help determine the best course of action and find the best treatment for you. Remember, in some cases, steroids themselves may also be a suitable hair loss treatment—it all depends on the cause, so speak to a doctor if unsure.

Looking for more advice? Check our hair loss guide for guidance from the experts at Oxford Online Pharmacy, or view our hair loss treatments for products that can support your hair regrowth. Our pharmacist-led team works closely with independent UK doctors to support your care safely and discreetly.

References

1. NHS. Anabolic Steroid Misuse [Internet]. NHS. NHS; 2022.
2. Albaker W, Alkhars A, Elamin Y, Jatoi N, Boumarah D, Al-Hariri M. Anabolic–Androgenic Steroid Abuse among Gym Users, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Medicina. 2021 Jul 10;57(7):703.
3. NHS. Steroids [Internet]. NHS. 2023.
4. Yasir M, Sonthalia S, Goyal A. Corticosteroid adverse effects [Internet]. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
5. Suchonwanit P, Kositkuljorn C, Mahasaksiri T, Leerunyakul K. A comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of three corticosteroid treatment regimens in patients with alopecia areata. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2020 Jun 9;33(2):756–61.
6. Kinter KJ, Anekar AA. Biochemistry, Dihydrotestosterone [Internet]. PubMed. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020.
7. de Ronde W, Smit DL. Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse in young males. Endocrine Connections. 2020 Mar;9(4).
8. Ho CH, Zito PM. Androgenetic Alopecia [Internet]. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing; 2019.
9. Bussoletti C, Tolaini MV, Celleno L. Efficacy of a cosmetic phyto-caffeine shampoo in female androgenetic alopecia. Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia: Organo Ufficiale, Societa Italiana Di Dermatologia E Sifilografia [Internet]. 2020 Aug 1; 155(4):492–9.
10. Rajput R. Influence of nutrition, food supplements and lifestyle in hair disorders. Indian Dermatology Online Journal. 2022;13(6):721.‌
11. NHS Choices. Hair loss [Internet]. NHS. 2019.