Anabolic Steroids may cause hair loss in about 25% of Users

Side Effects of Anabolic Steroids: Hair Loss Among the Topic Side Effects

I work with many athletes and bodybuilders who experience hair loss from anabolic steroids. Patients often want to know the answer to a simple question “How likely is a particular side effect - like hair loss?” It can often be quite challenging to give precise estimate on the risk of a given side effect. I’ve spoken about this subject before:

When a study comes out that gives me assistance in formulating these sorts of estimates, I generally take to the study. One such study was the recent study by Josué Cruz Dos Santos et al published in the European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education.

Josué Cruz Dos Santos et al 2024

Consider now the recent study by Josué Cruz Dos Santos and colleagues. The authors estimated the risk of side effects in Brazilian male athletes using anabolic steroids. In the study, the substances most used by the athletes were Sustanon 250 or Durateston, Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca or Deca-Durabolin), and Testosterone. The most reported acute side effects were acne at 33.8%, irritability at 32.1%, hair loss at 23.7%, and nervousness at 23.7%. The most-reported chronic side effects were arterial hypertension at 36.0%m liver disease at 28.0%, and cancer at 8.0%.

Comment:

Anabolic steroids have the potential to cause a range of side effects. About 25 % of patients will experience hair loss. Like everything in life, the occurrence of various side effects does not mean a patient will stop their anabolic steroids. The risk of continuing will need to be balanced by the benefits of continuing. When it comes to hair loss, some users of anabolic steroids will consider treatment for the hair loss with topical or oral 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors or a range of other evidence-based treatments. Others will consider a hair transplant. Others will lower their dose of the anabolic steroids. Others will stop their anabolic steroids.

As I say to patients, there is no one single right or wrong answer!

REFERENCE

Josué Cruz Dos Santos et al. The Use of Anabolic Steroids by Bodybuilders in the State of Sergipe, Brazil. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2024 May 16;14(5):1451-1469.