There are many different types of steroids, some of which are prescribed legally to treat a variety of medical conditions, and some of which people use for performance enhancement.
Both types of steroids can cause hair loss in men and women. However, confusingly, sometimes steroid injections can also be prescribed to treat certain types of hair loss.
In this guide, we’ll explain which kinds of steroids cause hair loss, how injections are used to treat hair thinning, and which hair loss treatments are available.
Three key takeaways
Several different kinds of steroids can cause hair loss in both men and women.
Hair loss from steroids especially affects people who are genetically predisposed to male or female pattern baldness.
Treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, and caffeine shampoo, alongside lifestyle changes, can help stop and reverse hair loss from steroids.
Which steroids cause hair loss?
There are many different types of steroids that are both medically prescribed and used illegally by athletes, some of which can cause hair loss.
Anabolic steroids
The main type of steroids that can cause hair loss are anabolic-androgenic steroids (often shortened to ‘anabolic steroids’). This group of medications are what people often think of when they hear the word ‘steroids’.
Doctors sometimes prescribe anabolic steroids to treat certain medical issues like muscle-wasting conditions, but people often use them without a prescription to enhance their athletic performance or physique.
Generally, the anabolic steroids that have higher androgenic activity are more likely to cause or speed up hair loss. Androgens are the group of male sex hormones that includes testosterone and DHT.
Examples of androgenic-anabolic steroids that can cause hair loss include:
stanolozol (Winstrol)
metandienone
trenbolone (‘tren’)
testosterone
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids (such as prednisone), which are often prescribed to treat inflammatory conditions like asthma, allergies, eczema, and arthritis, can also cause hair shedding in some people.
This shedding is due to corticosteroids causing hormonal changes in the body. However, in some cases, corticosteroids can also be used to treat some kinds of hair loss, like alopecia areata.
Why do steroids cause hair loss?
Anabolic steroids work by mimicking the effects of your body’s natural testosterone to enhance muscle growth, strength, and endurance.
Testosterone-like anabolic steroids can be converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body.
Male and female pattern baldness is caused by genetic sensitivity to DHT. So, if your DHT levels increase, this can cause hair loss in either men or women if you’re genetically predisposed to it.
Does hair loss from steroids grow back?
The reassuring news is that, for most people, hair loss caused by steroids, along with other side effects, will go away once you stop taking them.
It may take months or more for the hair to grow back, but hair regrowth is likely for most people, depending on the extent of the hair loss and what caused it.
However, if the steroid-related hair loss was caused by increased DHT levels leading to hair follicle shrinkage due to genetic sensitivity, it may not grow back.
Even if you’ve experienced hair loss that isn’t reversible, though, stopping steroid use can prevent further thinning.
Avoiding hair loss on steroids
If you’re taking steroids and you’re worried about hair loss, you should discuss stopping them with your medical professional.
If you have experienced hair loss, regrowth is likely once you stop taking them, but even if your hair doesn’t grow back, stopping will prevent more hair loss in future.
You can also try:
using products to increase blood flow to the scalp
focusing on a balanced, nutrient-rich diet high in protein, iron, and antioxidants
managing stress with techniques like yoga, meditation, exercise, and quality sleep
“Steroids, whether legally prescribed or used illegally for sports, can lead to hair loss in some people. While hair loss can be troublesome, and you might decide you’d like to stop using steroids to reduce it, you should only ever do so under medical supervision for safety reasons.”
Ian Budd, UK GPhC Regulated Pharmacist at Chemist4U
Steroid injections for hair loss explained
Corticosteroid injections are sometimes prescribed to treat alopecia areata, a type of hair loss caused by an autoimmune reaction that causes patchy hair loss.
When treating alopecia with corticosteroids:
a health professional will usually inject the corticosteroids directly into the patches on the scalp where hair has been lost.
the injections work by reducing inflammation around the hair follicles.
most people will need several every 4 to 6 weeks.
if the corticosteroids injections are effective, most people will see some hair regrowth within 3 months.
Corticosteroid injections are one of the most effective treatments for people experiencing patchy hair loss.
If you’re experiencing hereditary hair loss which has been accelerated by steroid use, there are options you can try to prevent further thinning and regrow lost hair.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil improves blood flow to the scalp and stimulates your follicles to regrow hair by widening blood vessels. It’s proven to be safe and highly effective at reducing hair loss.
Both oral and topical minoxidil are available. Topical minoxidil is usually a spray or foam applied twice a day. It’s widely available over the counter.
In comparison, oral minoxidil is a tablet and requires a prescription. It’s prescribed to treat hair loss ‘off-label’ (for a different condition than that which it’s licensed to treat).
Finasteride is a medication that comes in tablet form. When prescribed to treat hair loss, finasteride works by blocking the enzyme that forms DHT when it combines with testosterone in the body.
When your body stops producing as much DHT, further hair loss slows and thinning hair begins regrowing. Finasteride is taken once a day to help stop and reverse male pattern baldness.
Caffeine shampoos contain active ingredients like proteins and caffeine. These ingredients stimulate blood flow to the scalp and remove impurities that block follicles. This can help strengthen hair to prevent further loss.
In men, five common side effects of anabolic steroids – the most common type – include testicular shrinking, reduced sperm count, breast development, erectile dysfunction, and prostate issues. In women, they are a deepening voice, body hair growth, breast shrinkage, an enlarged clitoris, and irregular periods.
Will hair grow back after stopping prednisone?
Hair loss due to taking corticosteroids, including prednisone, will typically grow back for most people after they stop taking the medication. You should only stop taking corticosteroids under medical supervision.
Do steroids cause hair loss in women?
Yes, steroids can cause hair loss in women, particularly if you have a genetic sensitivity to DHT, which steroids can increase levels of.
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