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Is
it true that bald men produce more hormones and so are more virile
?
No, although most of us like to think so! Virility has long been
associated with testosterone levels. Men with high testosterone
levels are supposedly more strong and virile. However, research
has shown that there is no difference between the extent of baldness
and the number of children fathered by a man. It is true that steroid
hormones encourage an increase in muscle mass and sometimes it is
true that high testosterone levels lead to male pattern baldness.
Some weightlifters take anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass
and they may also find that their rate of hair loss from androgenetic
alopecia also accelerates.
However, the extent of male pattern baldness is not a direct indicator
of testosterone levels. The extent of hair loss from pattern baldness
is due to a complex interaction of several factors. Essentially,
the extent of hair loss is dictated by the amount of "free"
testosterone in the body and the level of enzyme activity to convert
free testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within the immediate
vicinity of the hsusceptible hair follicles. The amount of free
testosterone depends on the ratio of androgen hormones (that can
be converted to testosterone) to androgen antagonists.
For example, a the level of hormones produced man may have high
testosterone production but also high androgen antagonist production.
The result is that there is very little free testosterone in his
body and consequently he may be less likely to have extensive male
pattern baldness. A man may have moderate testosterone production
but very low androgen antagonist production. The result is the moderate
testosterone producer has more free testosterone in his body than
the high testosterone/antagonist producer. This individual is more
susceptible to extensive pattern baldness, but the actual extent
of baldness will also depend on how active the 5 alpha reductase
enzyme is. If he has high enzyme activity and conversion of testosterone
to DHT then his hair loss may be more extensive. Low level 5 alpha
reductase activity will make extensive baldness less likely.
There are many other mechanisms within the steroid pathway that
can modify susceptibility to baldness. Consequently no direct relationship
can be shown between the level of hormones produced and the exntent
of hair loss.
Is
it true that bald men produce more hormones and so are more virile
references
- Knussmann
R, Christiansen K, Kannmacher J. Related Articles Relations between
sex hormone level and characters of hair and skin in healthy young
men. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1992 May;88(1):59-67.
- Damon A, Burr WA, Gerson DE. Baldness
of fathers and number and sex ratio of children. Hum Biol. 1965
Dec;37(4):366-70.
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