02 Nov Ways to Stop Hair Loss after Steroid Cycle and Grow Hair Back
High levels of DHT are responsible for hair loss while you are on steroids. A few topical applications and DHT-blocking foods can effectively help reduce the effects.
Different types of steroids, such as anabolic ones and corticosteroids, serve different purposes.
Some help bodybuilders and athletes boost their performance while others are prescribed by the docs to ease severe symptoms like swelling and pain.
So, where do things go wrong, and how steroids cause hair loss?
The answer is simple!
Steroids boost DHT to an amount that’s much more than natural.
When your body is flooded with excess DHT, it shrinks hair follicles and affects new hair growth.
Some prominent ways to stop hair loss after steroid cycle include:
- Topical solutions for hair regrowth. (Minoxidil Topical Solution)
- Prescription drugs that inhibit the action of 5 alpha-reductase.
- Prioritize the intake of macronutrients to fuel hair growth
- Include DHT-blocking foods in your diet
- Keep exercising and practice good haircare
Also, you may regain your hair once you stop the usage of steroids. But it might take a few months to years, depending on your genetic disposition.
Today, we’ve detailed some healthy remedies to boost your hair growth and help you regain your mane after a steroid cycle.
How to Stop Hair Loss After Steroid Cycle and Grow Hair Back?
Hair loss after a steroid injection is common among athletes and bodybuilders.
In fact, people who are on steroids for medical purposes also see such effects.
But the question is can one stop this hair loss? Is Hair Loss from Steroids Reversible? Or will hair grow back after hair loss from steroids?
Absolutely YES!
Many natural remedies have been in use to help you get back your tresses.
Top 4 remedies to grow hair back after a steroids cycle:
#1. Minoxidil – The Only Topical Hair Regrowth Solution Approved by the FDA
Minoxidil is easily available in stores in the form of foam and solution. It’s a topical application that helps in hair regrowth and is mostly used in male pattern baldness.
However, it’s not particularly used for treating baldness; hence, don’t confuse it with a hair transplant remedy.
2% Minoxidil topical application is a solution that’s also useful in improving hair thinning among men and women.
It mainly belongs to the vasodilators group. People have extensively used it as a topical treatment and have gotten results.
Minoxidil is one of your best bets to get hair back through a topical application. And our team, here at Horizon Clinics, does think it’s worth exploring as one of your options.
However, it’s not recommended for individuals below 18 years of age.
How to Use It?
It is good to first clean and dry your scalp before you apply the solution or the foam.
However, you can even apply it to damp hair.
If you wish, you can try a Minoxidil topical solution to regrow thicker and healthier hair.
Solution:
>> Get a Minoxidil Solution for Scalp Application
For using the solution, fill the applicator up to 1 milliliter of medication or take 20 drops. Also, refer to the instructions mentioned on the box.
Now, part your hair where you feel your hair is thinning down and spread out the solution evenly.
Gently massage your scalp and let it dry before using any other product.
Foam:
Rinse your hands before using the foam.
Take ½ capsule of foam and rub it gently on the affected area. Let it dry out completely before going to bed.
It might take time to show results, so don’t lose your patience and continue using it until you see results.
However, if your scalp gets irritated on applying the solution, discontinue using it.
Another remedy that has the greatest number of votes for the hair regrowth formula under the how-to stop hair loss after steroid cycle Reddit review is Pumpkin seed oil.
#2. Pumpkin Seed Oil
Steroids that cause hair loss usually work by either stimulating DHT production or by amplifying the effects of 5-alpha reductase.
The latter is an enzyme contributing to hair loss. Pumpkin seed oil works efficiently to reduce the effects of this enzyme.
A study was conducted in 2014 on 76 men suffering from hair loss. These men were tested for the effects of the oil for 24 weeks.
After 24 weeks, men who took 400mg of the oil daily had an almost 40% increase in their hair count.
Hence, using this oil for your hair loss can be a really effective solution. You can get this oil either from health stores or online stores.
#3. Finasteride
Finasteride is a prescription medicine that comes under several brand names like Proscar and Propecia. It is used especially for treating BPH disease which is caused by an enlarged prostate.
Its efficacy for fixing male pattern baldness came to notice after prominent studies pointed out the effects of topical Finasteride for androgenetic alopecia.
It stops hair loss by inhibiting the action of enzymes that convert testosterone into DHT, which is actually a primary reason for hair loss in many men. The best part about this product is that it only increases the scalp’s hair and body hair remains unaffected, which makes it one of the best hair loss treatments for steroid users.
How to Use?
Before using Finasteride as a treatment, one should know how to use it properly to stop hair loss from a steroid cycle.
So, it is an oral tablet and doesn’t come in injections. This prescription medicine can be taken at any time in the day as there is no best time to have it. But if you are suffering from serious steroid-related hair loss issues, try to use it at the same time regularly as it is believed to maximize the effectiveness.
#4. Dutasteride
Drugs like Dutasteride support hair growth by blocking the 5 alpha-reductase, similar to Finasteride. However, Dutasteride is considered more effective because it blocks 90% of 5 alpha-reductase, and, on the other hand, Finasteride stops only 70%.
So, anyone who uses Dutasteride will surely be able to reduce and even stop steroid hair loss in no time. This prescription drug is commonly known by its brand name, Avodart. So, if your doctor advises you to take Avodart, don’t get confused.
How to Use?
If you have decided to use Dutasteride for treating steroid-induced hair loss, remember that the effectiveness of this product will depend on how properly you use it.
Healthcare professionals advise taking Dutasteride or Avodart in a dosage of 0.5mg daily, which is much less in comparison to Finasteride.
Simply put, taking one capsule of Avodart daily can help increase hair growth on the scalp area. However, not many scientific studies are available regarding the dosage of Dutasteride. This is why one should always try to talk to their doctor before consuming these types of medicines.
These hair loss remedies can work even better when you put in extra effort in terms of diet and exercise.
Although all healthy diets work effectively to boost your heartiness, you can try something unique for hair growth.
Such unique and special diets usually contain vital nutrients for hair growth.
The following section emphasizes such a hair-growth-promoting diet!
Steroids and Hair Loss: Diet for Hair Growth
How to stop hair loss after the steroid cycle?
The major answers that you get from these questions are medications or some topical solutions like the ones mentioned above.
But the fact is that for healthy hair growth, diet is equally important as the other factors.
But hair is not a vital organ, and, hence, your body doesn’t prioritize it for enough nutrients.
Hence, it gets only a small amount of all those nutrients that go inside your body.
Because of this, your hair is expendable and often shows the first signs of any side effects of deficiencies. Thus, the hair ideally needs a healthy diet.
Your hair cells need a rich balance of proteins, iron, and Vitamin C along with the regular intake of a balanced meal.
Hence, one should focus on diets rich in these nutrients for healthy hair:
#1. Proteins
High-protein diets help in obtaining enough proteins for your hair cell renewal and nourishment as well.
Almost 80 to 85% of your hair is made up of a protein called keratin.
When you take enough dietary proteins, hair cells receive enough keratin to stay in the growing phase.
Hence, you must focus on the correct proportions of protein in your diet. You can start by including at least 120g of protein in your breakfast.
Here’s a list of protein-rich foods that you can include in your diet:
1. Eggs
Eggs are one of the best sources of vitamins and minerals with rich levels of proteins.
Though whole eggs are good in protein, egg whites are what you need for the best protein source. One large egg will give you 6 grams of protein.
2. Almonds
Almonds are rich in nutrients, fibers, Vitamin E, and proteins. The protein content is 6 grams with 15% of calories.
You can even try out pistachios and cashews as alternatives to almonds. However, they are not suitable for people who are allergic to nuts.
3. Broccoli
This is one of the healthiest sources of protein with rich Vitamin C and K content.
They also provide bioactive nutrients that prevent cancer. A single cup of broccoli gives you 3 grams of proteins.
4. Lean Beef
Lean beef is high in protein as well as Vitamin B12 with other vital nutrients. Every 3 ounces of lean beef contains 25 grams of protein.
5. Quinoa
Quinoa is a superfood known among people who want to lose weight. Who knew it could also help hair growth?
It contains rich levels of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients help Quinoa yield many health benefits. One cup of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein!
#2. Iron
Iron is a mineral crucial for healthy hair. The most important function that it performs is helping in the production of red blood cells. These cells help in the better circulation of oxygen through the blood.
The deficiency of iron often decreases blood circulation to the scalp leading to hair loss.
Hence, you can try out the following foods on your platter for healthy hair:
1. Shellfish
All shellfishes are healthy sources of iron but the best ones are clams and oysters. For example, 100 grams of clams contain 3 mg of iron.
However, these levels often fluctuate, and sometimes clams might have lesser iron.
2. Spinach
Every 100 grams of spinach has 2.7mg of iron.
Though this is non-heme iron, it gets easily absorbed into your body. Spinach also contains Vitamin C and is also important for healthy hair.
3. Legumes
Legumes like chickpeas and soybeans are rich in essential nutrients including iron.
One cup, which is about 198 grams of legumes, contains around 6.6mg of iron. In fact, you can try out black beans whose one cup will give you 1.8 grams of iron.
4. Red meat
100 grams of red meat offers 2.7 mg of iron. Apart from this, it is also rich in protein, zinc, selenium, and Vitamin B complex.
5. Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are one of the tastiest and healthiest snacks ever. Every 28 grams of pumpkin seeds is loaded with 2.5 mg of iron!
In addition, it’s also rich in many other nutrients that your body needs.
#3. Vitamin C
Free radicals usually block hair growth and, hence, hamper hair health.
Vitamin C is an active antioxidant that helps eradicate these free radicals and protects hair from damage.
In addition, it also helps in the synthesis of collagen which is an important component of your hair.
Hence, adding the following foods to your diet can give you a rich amount of Vitamin C for healthy hair:
1. Kakadu Plums
These are the famous superfoods of the Australian native.
It has the highest concentration of Vitamin C which is around 5,300 mg every 100 grams of plums. They also provide many other healthy nutrients to your body.
2. Acerola Cherries
One cup of acerola cherries is loaded with 822 mg of Vitamin C.
Studies also show that Acerola cherries help fight cancer and prevent damage from UV rays.
3. Chili Peppers
A single green chili pepper contains around 109 mg of Vitamin C. They are also rich in capsaicin which helps reduce pain and inflammation.
4. Guavas
Single guava is loaded with 126 mg of Vitamin C and is also rich in antioxidants.
5. Blackcurrants
Around 56 grams of blackcurrants are loaded with 101 mg of Vitamin C.
Apart from this, they also contain antioxidant flavonoids that can reduce oxidative damage in your body.
These three notable nutrients are quite important for your hair.
Support the effects of these nutrients by also having foods that block the hair-loss-causing hormone, DHT!
DHT Blocker Foods
The 5-alpha reductase enzyme is usually responsible for converting testosterone into DHT.
Hence, by blocking DHT, you can help stop hair loss after the steroid cycle. The following can help fulfill that purpose:
#1. Green Tea
Green Tea contains epigallocatechin, which helps protect your hair follicles. Applying green tea to your scalp can prevent hair damage caused by the DHT.
However, we still need more studies to establish the link between green tea and DHT’s effects on hair.
#2. Onions
Onions are rich in antioxidants like quercetin.
According to studies, quercetin has an inhibitory effect on the production of DHT by blocking the action of the enzyme 5-Alpha reductase.
Now, you know why onion juice is so favored to boost hair growth.
#3. Turmeric
According to studies, curcumin leaves of turmeric lower the DHT levels by acting on the enzyme.
#4. Edamame
Edamame contains proteins and fibers along with isoflavones which help lower DHT levels.
They do so by blocking the activity of the enzyme responsible for hair loss.
Want to do something more? Follow certain exercises to boost hair growth effectively.
Since now you must have a general idea on how to stop hair loss after the steroid cycle with your diet plan, it’s time to focus on exercises too.
Exercise regulates many healthy biological activities in our body.
Theories suggest it can also help hair loss by driving blood circulation to the head, reducing stress, and improving sleep quality. Let’s find out more in detail.
How to Stop Hair Loss after a Steroid Cycle [With Exercises]
Some of the major benefits of exercising that help in reducing hair loss include:
- Reducing stress – Stress is bad for hair as it releases cortisol that can hamper your hair growth. Exercise reduces stress and helps prevent hair loss.
- Lowering the DHT levels – Exercises bring a balance among the hormones to maintain healthy levels of DHT.
- Enhancing sleep schedules – Poor sleeping habits contribute to stress and hair loss. Hence, with exercise, your sleeping schedule improves and, along with that, hair growth too.
Some of the best exercises that can help control hair loss include:
#1. Jogging
Jogging makes you sweat out opening the pores of your scalp and flushing out the toxins through them.
It’s also helpful in improving the blood supply to different areas including your scalp.
#2. Scalp Massage
Give yourself a calming scalp massage to improve blood circulation through your hair follicles.
The circulation helps in better nourishment of the hair follicles making them stronger and healthier.
#3. Upside Down Exercise
Balance your body using your head on your yoga mat to reap the benefits of this exercise. This will help boost your hair growth and yield many more benefits for your hair.
#4. Lifting Your Legs
Wondering how can lifting a leg help stop hair loss after a steroid cycle?
Well, it helps in promoting a healthy thyroid gland that makes sure your scalp gets healthy blood flow. It may help treat hair loss caused by steroids by affecting hair follicles.
Along with following the above diet patterns and a healthy exercise routine, there’s one more thing important for your hair.
Staying away from harsh medications!
Various types of medications lead to hair loss and they must be avoided if you want your hair to stay healthy.
Precautions for Steroid Users to Reduce Hair Loss
People who are already using steroids should follow some tips to avoid hair loss even during the use and after the cycle is over.
1. Monitor Dosage
It’s a well-known fact that the use of steroids is not something that’s recommended if alternatives are available. But if you have chosen to use it, then at least do it in moderation.
Many athletes overdose steroids to get ahead in competitions. This may result in numerous side effects, and hair loss is one of them.
Also, give your body a break from the use of steroids as prolonged use of these synthetic products is also linked to side effects like hair loss. This is where cycling and PCT come in for which you should plan even before starting to use steroids.
2. Reduce Stress Levels
If you are using steroids, then probably you are too serious about achieving your desired physique. Most of the time, especially the beginners take so much stress during the process. This leads to an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol.
When the cortisol levels are high, it results in telogen effluvium, a condition where the hair follicles get affected negatively which results in hair loss in large amounts. That’s why it is recommended to manage your stress levels while using steroids to reduce hair loss.
3. Try Natural Steroids
There’s no denying that steroids are good at sculpting a desirable physique, but they also come with some heavy side effects apart from just hair loss. That’s the main reason why the sale of natural steroids is on the boom right now as they are marketed as 100% safe and legal replacements for harmful steroids.
Legal alternatives essentially offer a way for men and women to still use steroids but without side effects like hair loss. Not to mention, they are also legal for use. Brutal Force and Crazy Bulk are the two most know fitness brands that provide natural steroids. You can go through the differences between Brutal Force vs Crazy Bulk to choose the best one according to your needs.
4. Reduce the Inflammation
Many athletes have claimed to experience itching and burning sensations on the scalp while on the steroid cycle. This happens because of the inflammation around the hair follicles, which also results in hair loss. However, one can manage it with self-care routines like applying soothing lotion or cream on the scalp.
Along with these tips, avoiding some of the medications can also help you prevent and stop hair loss after a steroid cycle.
Avoid These Medications to Prevent Hair Loss
Many drugs can cause severe hair loss. Hence, you should avoid the following medicines as much as you can:
- Blood Thinners
- Statins
- Antidepressants
- Amphetamines
- Anti-gout medications used to treat uric acid patients
- Beta-blockers that treat glaucoma patients
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Parkinson’s disease drugs
- Stomach disorder drugs
Apart from this, what concerns us the most are antirheumatic drugs.
Antirheumatic Drugs
People using antirheumatic drugs often suffer hair loss. This is because of the drugs blocking cell growth to fight inflammation.
Some of these drugs target all cells, which unfortunately includes hair cells.
Researchers also claim that hair loss can occur because of the drug’s ability to hamper the transmission of messages.
NOTE: Keep in mind to listen to what your doc says. If you’ve started taking any of these medications and are experiencing side effects, inquire if switching to another medication is an option.
The healthcare professional may be able to work out a suitable solution for you.
Finally, the most important thing is to not despair.
Stopping Hair Loss – Tips for Healthy Hair
The more you are aware of the factors that can cause hair loss, the more you save your hair from damage.
Hence, the first golden rule for preventing hair loss is educating yourself!
#1. Educate Yourself
Find out whether your prescription of medicines has any possible chances of causing side effects.
If yes, try asking your doctor for a substitute for that medication.
For example, most steroids cause hair loss, but some steroids can save you from such severe hair loss.
The safest steroids for hair loss prevention are the ones that don’t raise your DHT levels.
Hence, educate yourself with questions like which steroids don’t cause hair loss and which ones do.
#2. Open Up About Your Concerns
As soon as you spot signs of hair loss post your medications, consult your doctor about why it is happening.
Many patients don’t feel that their hair loss could be because of the medicines.
But always consider the possibility if symptoms are visible after starting the medication and immediately report it to your doc.
#3. Take a Supplement
Multivitamins can help in preventing hair loss as they keep nutrient levels stocked.
There are certain hair growth-boosting supplements available in the market too, such as biotin.
But before taking such supplements, make sure you consult a doctor.
#4. Minimize Heat Styling
Some heating items can also cause severe hair loss.
Hence, try avoiding such styling products and take a break from them now and then to prevent damage.
#5. Practice Healthy Hair Care
Conditioning your hair and taking care of it are the most useful ways of protecting your hair from external damage.
Avoid tying your hair in tight ponies as they weaken the follicles and pull at them.
#6. Try Thickening Hair Shampoos
There are many shampoos available in the market that promote hair volumizing and thickening.
Go for such nutrition shampoos to encourage the appearance of a fuller head of hair.
#7. Try Caffeine Hair Growth Shampoo
Many who want to fix steroids and hair loss issues don’t want to rely on synthetic products and medicine.
These shampoos will also increase hair growth by stimulating hair follicles. Caffeine has the property to penetrate the skin, which makes it easier to reach the hair follicles.
#8. DHT Blocking Shampoo
These stop hair loss just like other DHT blockers, such as Dutasteride and Finasteride. DHT-blocking shampoos usually contain ingredients, such as saw palmetto, biotin, and pumpkin seed oil to influence the action of DHT on the scalp.
However, there’s very limited evidence of the effectiveness of these shampoos.
#9. Hair Loss Treatments
Consider medical treatments like scalp reduction as the last resort to cover bald spots if nothing else works.
This involves reducing or covering bald areas of the scalp by moving scalp skin that already has hair on it. However, scalp reduction is a little outdated, considering there are other options with good success rate.
#10. FUE Hair Transplant
Steroids increase the body’s DHT levels, shrink the hair follicles, and result in hair loss. This means that hair loss by steroids can be fixed with a treatment that works directly on the follicles, and this is where FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant can work.
It is a method in which the surgeon extracts hair follicles unit one by one. It differs from the classic technique as it doesn’t give the customer a great scar. People prefer this technique more than the classic one because it’s less painful, doesn’t damage any existing hair, and has a faster recovery rate.
FAQs
Following are some queries that you might need to go through to better understand the relationship between steroid use and hair loss.
#1. Will hair grow back after the steroid cycle?
Yes, if you follow healthy measures, it can grow back. Hair loss because of medications is temporary and normally resumes when you go off the medication.
However, it might take time to resume, it could be months to years.
#2. Is hair loss from steroids permanent?
No, it’s not permanent. The hair growth resumes when you stop taking steroids. But this could take time.
In some cases, it could even take years for your hair to grow back.
#3. Will one cycle of steroids cause hair loss?
This depends on your genetic composition. It might not show effects in a single cycle for some people but could immediately react for others.
The steroids usually heighten the DHT levels, which is responsible for hair loss.
#4. How do I reduce DHT?
You can try out the above-mentioned foods to block out DHT. Other methods include avoiding steroids that cause hair loss and looking for alternatives.
Some of the DHT-blocking foods include:
- Coconut oil
- Pumpkin seeds
- Green tea
However, before you start suppressing your hormones like this, it’s best to get in touch with a doctor and find out the best possible step forward.
Balancing hormones is a delicate balance, and, in fact, DHT affects muscle growth and can also play a role in other physical characteristics. Thus, it’s better to get in touch with your doctor in case you’re experiencing the effects of excess DHT or unbalanced hormone levels.
#5. What helps stimulate hair follicles?
You can stimulate your hair follicles to grow with the help of the following methods:
- Massaging scalp
- Using aloe vera gel on your hair
- Oiling your hair with coconut oil
- Using rosemary oil
It’s important to not overwhelm yourself with all the remedies all at once. Go step by step and give time for each solution to work as you build your personalized haircare routine.
Summing Up
If you’re currently on a steroid prescription, your first action step is checking whether they are directly responsible for altering DHT levels. Ask your doctor for alternatives where possible.
There are steroids that don’t cause hair loss by not raising DHT.
If you’ve already completed the cycle and are suffering hair loss as a consequence, don’t panic.
The hair growth rarely stops permanently and can resume after you stop taking the medication.
The only thing is you’ll have to be patient. Meanwhile, try taking good care of your hair.
The blog lists diet and exercise targeted at hair growth. Try implementing them for some time to see if it works for you.
The key to using all of these hair loss remedies is starting as soon as you start noticing hair loss. Once you are past a certain point, it gets really difficult to get back the kind of hair you once had.
Drop any more queries about hair loss after the steroid cycle in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you.
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