Category: Hair Loss Causes

Hi Dr,

I lift weights and I was told by a personal trainer that when you work out your legs, it shoots the testosterone throughout your body. My question is this: can that accelerate hair loss? I asked the pt if it increases testosterone & he said no it just sends what you have throughout your system. Can you tell me if this is something that can accelerate hair loss? Thank you.

Exercises should not increase hair loss, though I do not know if the testosterone shooting through your body occurs from leg exercises. If you’re suggesting that your personal trainer is saying that leg exercises accelerate testosterone and therefore hair loss, I’d believe he’d be incorrect, but there are sources of evidence that suggest he may have a point. In other words, I really don’t have a clear cut answer for you.

The use of steroids or exogenous testosterone will cause hair loss in those who are genetically prone to it (has the genes for balding), but it is not clear that diet or exercise will produce enough testosterone to cause balding.

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I was wondering if balding is common, or am I just singled out to be bald while most men are not?

The incidence of balding varies with age, according to an article published by Dr. O’Tar Norwood in his 1975 male pattern baldness article in the Southern Medical Journal. This is reflected in the below diagram (and quoted text), borrowed from the textbook titled Hair Transplantation, by Dr. Walter Unger.

“(A) Incidence of different degrees of male pattern baldness compared by age. (B) Differences in incidence of male pattern baldness between Hamilton’s and Norwood’s studies, with Hamilton’s findings being consistently 20% to 30% higher.”

The frequency of balding is dependent upon age. Dr. Norwood reported it at about 35% in the 50 year old male, Dr. James Hamilton reported it at about 55% in the 50 year old male. As age goes up, the frequency of balding is higher, peaking in both authors studies at about 65 years old (55% and 85% incidence of balding in Norwood and Hamilton, respectively). It should be noted that Dr. Hamilton introduced his hair loss classification scale in the early 1950s, and Dr. Norwood revised this some 20 years later.

I seem to look at pornography a lot and masturbate. As a result I’ve experienced hair loss around my thighs. What are some ways to regrow that hair and how long does it take to regrow?

I am sure that there are may ways to masturbate, but I have no idea what in the world you would be doing to cause traction alopecia on your thighs. Am I asking the right question here?

If you are particularly bothered by hair loss on your thighs you can try Rogaine (minoxidil), which may help. Transplants should be your last step and assuming that you have traction alopecia, you should stop (or alter) the action that is rubbing on your thighs.

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hey doc,
I’ve noticed that some of my everyday falling hairs are lighter at the follicle than at the end where they are black. At first i thought this could be miniaturization but then a read this article (Student Health – Hair thinning and hair loss) which says “In late anagen, there is a gradual thinning of the hair shaft and a lightening of the pigment in the hair. This hair is then shed.” Is this correct and it is just the normal hair cycle before the hair goes into the catagen phase?? Thank you very much for you help.

We cycle hair asynchronously, so only about 10% or less of your hair is going out of anagen. Don’t focus too much on the hair that you lost. In normal periodic hair shedding we may lose both miniaturized and normal hair, since most adult men (50%) experience some degrees of balding at some time. A miniaturization study can tell you what you’ve got left and whether you are actually balding or not.

For more on hair growth cycles, see Hair Follicle Cells Growth Stages.

Hi Doc, I’ve been shedding hair everyday for the past year or 2, usually within 50 a day. I went to 2 physicians and they told me that my hair is fine and im not losing hair and they even did the test by pulling my hair. But I do see that my hair is thinner than before. I really dont know what’s causing my hair thinning. Is it because I wash my hair 2 times a day everyday, and I use blowdryer and hairspray to style my hair everyday? Also I want to ask you if I use blowdryer and hairspray to style my hair everyday, will it cause brain cancer? What should I do to stop shedding? Do I really have to use Rogaine to grow thicker hair? Please give me some advise this time, because last time you didnt answer my post. Thank you!

If you are male, the most common cause of balding is genetic hair loss. This is also known as androgenic alopecia (AGA) or male pattern balding (MPB).

Hair dryers do not cause brain cancer — otherwise I would expect to see a brain cancer epidemic. If you blow your hair too hot, you could potentially damage the hair, but I suspect you would stop yourself before you start to burn your hair and skin.

If you are concerned about hair loss, I would consider seeing a doctor who can diagnose the cause of your hair loss. There are medical and surgical options.

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