Will taking steroids for bodybuilding affect my transplanted hair?

Question

I am 28 and was suffering from MPB and lost pretty much all the hair from top of my head and it’s been a month since got the transplant done. As the hair transplanted have been taken from donor area and it’s resistant to DHT, will taking steroids for bodybuilding will affect my transplanted hair, as I have got the transplantation done on the whole upper head area including crown.

Serkan Aygin, MD · Answer

Steroids are not safe to use if you don’t have the recommendation of a doctor. If you are genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia, your body already has higher levels of DHT than it needs – taking steroids is known to produce more DHT, which, in turn can accelerate male pattern baldness.
Steroids will not cause hair loss, but they will play a large part in drastically increasing your hair loss if you already have male pattern baldness.
In theory transplanted hair follicles will be safe from DHT and high amounts of androgens. Nevertheless, you should consider that your remaining native hair follicles may not be resistant to DHT and may undergo hair loss if DHT is allowed to "attack" them. If those remaining hairs undergo miniaturization, you may require another hair transplant surgery.

Jayanthy Ravindran, MS, DNB, MRCS · Answer

Since the transplanted follicles are resistant to DHT, they will not fall out in normal circumstances. The use of steroids may not only affect the transplanted hair but also the native hair present on the scalp. The general usage of steroids for body building is not advocated due to its potential adverse effects.

Karthik Ram, MRCS, DNB · Answer

Hi, Thank you for sharing your query. Definitely steroid usage will not affect the transplanted hair. But i dont recommend steroid supplements for body building .

John Kahen, MD · Answer

Hi, How are you. Steroid use will not affect the transplanted hair. Reason being is because the transplanted hair is genetically programmed to grow for life. However, Steroid use will be bad for native hair and will in fact ensure you to lose more hair. I would strongly advise against it.

Cory Torgerson, MD, PhD, FRCSC - Account Suspended · Answer

Steroids will accelerate the loss of any hairs that are affected by the DHT that causes hair loss in MPB. However, the hair that is used in a transplant is immune to the DHT, so it will not fall out.

Sara Wasserbauer, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Steroids can definitely have an adverse effect to native hair and the body overall. As far as transplanted hair typically it has been shown not to be affected.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

The use of steroids will impact your native hair and it may impact the transplanted hair. I don't believe that this has been studied but taking steroids is not good for your overall health

Will taking steroids for bodybuilding affect my transplanted hair?

Answers (7)

More Hair Transplant Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (7)

More Hair Transplant Questions

I have frontal diffuse thinning, is hair transplant a viable option for me? (Photos)

What are your thoughts on consuming the Keto diet after a hair transplant?

What can I do about my uneven hairline?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS