Testosterone and Increased Hair Growth

Increased hair growth can be a blessing or a curse depending on where on the body the hair growth is located. Hormones control our hair growth rates, density and distribution. The hormone testosterone plays a key role in our hair growth and development as we age.

What Is Testosterone?

• Testosterone is responsible for increased facial hair.

  Testosterone is a hormone that is actively produced by both genders, but is most active in men. It belongs to a group of hormones known as androgens, which are primarily responsible for increased facial and body hair. Children do not produce measurable amounts of testosterone.

Function/Mechanism

• Body hair growth increases with age.

  As testosterone levels rise with age, hair follicles respond by producing more body hair.

Sensitive Regions

• The chin and top lip are common body hair areas.

  Hair follicles are most sensitive to testosterone in the following regions: the genitals, underarms, chin, upper lip, around the nipples, and the abdominal midline.

Considerations

• Testosterone can also lead to hair loss.

  Both positive and negative correlations between testosterone levels and the amount of hair on the body have been demonstrated in studies. Testosterone induced hair growth, or loss, depends primarily on the area of the body in question.

Negative Growth Effects

• Women are also affected by testosterone levels.

  High testosterone levels suppress hair growth on the scalp and lead to thinning and baldness in both men and women.