What effect does estrogen have on hair growth and balding? This issue is not very clear in the literature. But there are some known facts about estrogen?s positive role in supporting hair growth and also hair loss following estrogen reduction (both at synthesis level and estrogen receptor level)
1. Aromatase activity in hair follicle can convert up to 60% of testosterone to 17beta-Estradiol, therefore resulting in less testosterone available to be converted to DHT, which is a known assassin of hair follicles.
2. estrogen prolongs the anagen phase of hair growth (a good thing for hair growth)
3. Increased IGF-1 level is associated with increased hair loss in men
[in post menopausal women with breast caner anastrozole (arimidex) has been shown to increase IGF-1. But in young men (more applicable to male BBers) anastrozole has been shown to decrease IGF-1 by 18%--the only good aspect of arimidex when it comes to hairloss]
4. There are reported cases of tamoxifen (Nolvadex)-induced hairloss in women; this has been postulated to be due to reduced levels of estrogen.
5. Women have higher tendency to lose hair after pregnancy or after menopause; in both cases there is a significant diminution of serum estrogen
6. Topical estradiol creams were used in Europe in the past and to some degree still are used to help with male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopeica (AA).
Are we increasing the potential for hairloss by using nolvadex or arimidex? Well, in all honesty, genetics is the most important factor in development of male pattern baldness. But according to the literature, lowering estrogen can lead to more balding; not to mention worse cholesterol profile and more atherogenesis. I am not proposing that estrogen blockage should be stopped, but just giving out some info for Bros to make educated choices.
Peace,
BD
1. Niiyama S, Happle R, Hoffmann R., Influence of estrogens on the androgen metabolism in different subunits of human hair follicles, Eur J Dermatol 2001 May-Jun;11(3):195-8
2. Paus R, Cotsarelis G. The biology of hair follicles. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:491-7.
3. Ayoub JP, Valero V, Hortobagyi GN. Tamoxifen-induced female androgenetic alopecia in a patient with breast cancer [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1997;126:745-6
4. Abadjieva TI. Treatment of androgenetic alopecia in females in reproductive age with topical estradiolbenzoate, prednisolon and salicylic acid, Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2000;42(3):26-9
5. Signorello LB, Wuu J, Hsieh C, Tzonou A, Trichopoulos D, Mantzoros CS, Hormones and hair patterning in men: a role for insulin-like growth factor 1? J Am Acad Dermatol 1999 Feb;40(2 Pt 1):200-3
6. Orfanos CE, Vogels L. Orfanos CE, Vogels L, Local therapy of androgenetic alopecia with 17 alpha-estradiol. A controlled, randomized double-blind study (author's transl), Dermatologica 1980;161(2):124-32
7. Hoffmann R, Niiyama S, Huth A, Kissling S, Happle R, 17alpha-estradiol induces aromatase activity in intact human anagen hair follicles ex vivo, Exp Dermatol 2002 Aug;11(4):376-80
8. Platz EA, Pollak MN, Willett WC, Giovannucci E., Vertex balding, plasma insulin-like growth factor 1, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, J Am Acad Dermatol 2000 Jun;42(6):1003-7
9. Mauras N, O'Brien KO, Klein KO, Hayes V. Mauras N, O'Brien KO, Klein KO, Hayes V, Estrogen suppression in males: metabolic effects, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Jul;85(7):2370-7.
1. Aromatase activity in hair follicle can convert up to 60% of testosterone to 17beta-Estradiol, therefore resulting in less testosterone available to be converted to DHT, which is a known assassin of hair follicles.
2. estrogen prolongs the anagen phase of hair growth (a good thing for hair growth)
3. Increased IGF-1 level is associated with increased hair loss in men
[in post menopausal women with breast caner anastrozole (arimidex) has been shown to increase IGF-1. But in young men (more applicable to male BBers) anastrozole has been shown to decrease IGF-1 by 18%--the only good aspect of arimidex when it comes to hairloss]
4. There are reported cases of tamoxifen (Nolvadex)-induced hairloss in women; this has been postulated to be due to reduced levels of estrogen.
5. Women have higher tendency to lose hair after pregnancy or after menopause; in both cases there is a significant diminution of serum estrogen
6. Topical estradiol creams were used in Europe in the past and to some degree still are used to help with male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopeica (AA).
Are we increasing the potential for hairloss by using nolvadex or arimidex? Well, in all honesty, genetics is the most important factor in development of male pattern baldness. But according to the literature, lowering estrogen can lead to more balding; not to mention worse cholesterol profile and more atherogenesis. I am not proposing that estrogen blockage should be stopped, but just giving out some info for Bros to make educated choices.
Peace,
BD
1. Niiyama S, Happle R, Hoffmann R., Influence of estrogens on the androgen metabolism in different subunits of human hair follicles, Eur J Dermatol 2001 May-Jun;11(3):195-8
2. Paus R, Cotsarelis G. The biology of hair follicles. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:491-7.
3. Ayoub JP, Valero V, Hortobagyi GN. Tamoxifen-induced female androgenetic alopecia in a patient with breast cancer [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1997;126:745-6
4. Abadjieva TI. Treatment of androgenetic alopecia in females in reproductive age with topical estradiolbenzoate, prednisolon and salicylic acid, Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2000;42(3):26-9
5. Signorello LB, Wuu J, Hsieh C, Tzonou A, Trichopoulos D, Mantzoros CS, Hormones and hair patterning in men: a role for insulin-like growth factor 1? J Am Acad Dermatol 1999 Feb;40(2 Pt 1):200-3
6. Orfanos CE, Vogels L. Orfanos CE, Vogels L, Local therapy of androgenetic alopecia with 17 alpha-estradiol. A controlled, randomized double-blind study (author's transl), Dermatologica 1980;161(2):124-32
7. Hoffmann R, Niiyama S, Huth A, Kissling S, Happle R, 17alpha-estradiol induces aromatase activity in intact human anagen hair follicles ex vivo, Exp Dermatol 2002 Aug;11(4):376-80
8. Platz EA, Pollak MN, Willett WC, Giovannucci E., Vertex balding, plasma insulin-like growth factor 1, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, J Am Acad Dermatol 2000 Jun;42(6):1003-7
9. Mauras N, O'Brien KO, Klein KO, Hayes V. Mauras N, O'Brien KO, Klein KO, Hayes V, Estrogen suppression in males: metabolic effects, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Jul;85(7):2370-7.
