Approximately 6% of men worldwide [1] have used anabolic-androgen steroids (such as Anavar) at some point in life. These synthetic hormones can be prescribed for multiple medical reasons. However, especially when misused by athletes for quick muscle enhancement, some anabolic steroids can cause hair loss (among other health problems) [2X]. That’s why many people who take this synthetic hormone wonder whether using Anavar can cause hair loss as well. Keep reading to learn the answer.
There are no records in medical literature of Anavar use making men’s hair fall out, but there are a few reported cases where it has been associated with female pattern baldness. However, since 55% of women develop this condition at some point [3], more research is needed to prove that their hormonal hair loss was due to their Anavar treatment.
This article tells you all you need to know about the relationship between Anavar and hair loss. It explains the mechanisms which make this side effect possible, presents scientific data regarding reported cases and reveals the symptoms to look out for. Finally, it offers helpful insight into how to achieve hair regrowth if you are among the few who experience Anavar hair loss.
Key takeaways
Anvar can rarely cause hair loss in women with a genetically high sensitivity to androgens. A meta-analysis of 27 studies performed on a total of 1000 patients [4] revealed that only 14 patients taking oxandrolone developed androgenic side effects (hair loss, unwanted hair growth, acne, deepened voice, or increased libido). These 14 patients were women who experienced new or worsened female pattern baldness.
However, it must be kept in mind that 55% of women develop androgenetic alopecia at some point in their lives, even if they don’t use Anavar [3]. 12% of women even do so by 29 [5]. So it can be easy to misattribute naturally occurring hormonal hair loss to using this steroid.
The FDA drug label for oxandrolone lists androgenetic alopecia as a potential side effect in women, but not in men [6], as do other scientific sources [7]. So far, there are no formal reports of Anavar use causing hair loss among male users. However, men who use excessive doses of this medication for bodybuilding purposes (over 20 mg/day), without medical advice, may be less likely to formally report side effects or take part in clinical trials for regular Anavar use.
Unfortunately, since there are no specific studies on this topic, the real frequency of Anavar hair loss in either gender is difficult to determine.
Anavar is one of the commercial names of the anabolic steroid oxandrolone. This is a synthetic hormone with anabolic and androgenic properties (also known as an anabolic steroid) derived from the male hormone testosterone [4][7][8].
Anavar works mainly by promoting muscle growth, enhancing metabolism and optimising protein synthesis [9]. Its therapeutic uses [10][11][12]:
Anvar is available as oral tablets of 5mg or 10mg. Doses recommended for medical purposes can vary between 2,5mg and 20mg per day [7].
Some athletes (especially bodybuilders) use this steroid to increase their muscle mass quickly. To this end, they often exceed the recommended dosage by significant amounts. However, this is a dangerous practice. Prolonged and/or excessive use of Anavar without medical supervision can lead to serious health problems (e.g. liver issues, bone and muscle issues, neurological issues, etc.) [10][13]. Furthermore, the use of anabolic steroids is prohibited in most athletic competitions.
Androgenetic alopecia normally occurs when a naturally occurring male hormone – dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – binds to those androgen receptors, making the hair follicles shrink and stop producing healthy hair [14].
However, Anvar is also an androgen, structurally similar to DHT. Thus, it can also bind to androgen receptors in your hair follicles (although its binding is weaker compared to DHT), causing the same type of alopecia in predisposed people.
Due to its unique chemical structure, Anavar is less likely than DHT to cause hair loss. That is because it has a much higher anabolic-to-androgenic ratio than testosterone (10-13:1 vs 1:1) [10][15]. This means it is created to maximise impact on building muscle mass and protein synthesis while having fewer virilising side effects such as hair loss or acne [15][16].
However, certain women with androgen sensitivity are still susceptible to developing female pattern baldness (or experience more severe symptoms if they already have it) from oxandrolone use. That is because male hormones, even those like oxandrolone, can still cause imbalances in some women’s bodies.
Unfortunately, there is very little research into non-therapeutic doses of Anavar. One meta-analysis of anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse in men revealed that hair loss was sometimes reported as a side effect by male athletes who used high doses of steroids (sometimes up to 100 mg/day). However, the authors mention that not all these synthetic hormones can produce this effect, and they had insufficient data to discern which ones could (most participants used several kinds) [17].
There is some evidence that a higher dose of oxandrolone can indeed increase the risk and intensity of unwanted side effects [12][13]. However, there are no specific studies to show the relationship between exceeding the recommended dose of Anavar and losing your hair.
Since it can, in rare cases, bind to androgen receptors in your hair follicles, Anavar can cause or worsen androgenetic alopecia. This condition manifests with the following symptoms in women [14]:
Female pattern baldness:
If men were to experience Anavar hair loss as well, they would experience new or worsened male pattern baldness. These are the symptoms they might expect:
Male pattern baldness:
The risk of losing your hair from using Anavar is extremely low when you use the recommended dose. However, it can become higher if you are in at least one of the following categories:
Unfortunately, Anavar hair loss cannot be fully prevented. Its occurrence is determined by a genetically increased sensitivity to androgens. However, there are some things you can do to reduce unnecessary hair loss while using this medication:
Normally, Anavar hair loss should stop and may even reverse once you have ceased treatment. However, at this time, no studies show how long that might take, depending on medication dosage and treatment duration. If you have already developed advanced hair loss, you may require hair growth treatment to see an improvement in your hair density.
Yes, taking other anabolic-androgenic steroids alongside Anavar can increase your risk of developing hair loss (or experiencing worsening symptoms). Moreover, this can also happen in men. Some researchers report a 10% increase in self-reported hair loss within a year among men who take anabolic steroids, in general [18]. Another study found that 40% of athletes who use such performance enhancers report experiencing alopecia [19].
However, it largely depends on what other steroids you are taking. Most available studies lump several kinds of anabolic steroids together and only measure the total quantity of androgens. But not all these hormones have the same side effects. There is still too little data to say exactly which of these you should avoid taking alongside Anavar to avoid hair loss. So the best thing to do is simply follow your doctor’s recommendations and only take what they prescribe, the way they prescribe it.
In most cases, anabolic steroid-induced hair loss resolves on its own after ending treatment. However, there are several you can try to reduce hair shedding while taking Anavar (or to stimulate regrowth after treatment cessation):
In some patients, both the Anavar and DHT contribute to triggering or worsening their androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride or Dutasteride work by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts some of the testosterone in your blood into DHT. So taking these medications can reduce your DHT levels, leaving only the Anavar to bind to the androgen receptors in your hair follicles. This could help treat your Anavar-induced alopecia.
However, Anavar cannot be converted into DHT by 5-alpha reductase [20]. This means that inhibiting the activity of the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme using Finasteride would not help mitigate the hair loss effects of the Anavar itself, only those of the DHT.
Anavar is normally safer than most other anabolic-androgenic steroids, and its side effects are rare and usually mild. Here are some of the best-known [13][10][22]:
However, please note that these side effects are listed for the therapeutic doses of Anavar. Athletes and bodybuilders who abuse this medication may experience different or more severe symptoms because the dose they take is often much larger than recommended for health purposes.
Anavar can be particularly harmful for certain categories of people. So if you are in one or more of these situations, be sure to let your doctor know before prescribing this medication [21][22]:
Several conditions can make your hair fall out, even if you are not taking oxandrolone. Here are some of the most common:
If you are experiencing new hair loss alongside your Anavar treatment, best to book a consultation with a trichologist. Our dedicated specialists will carefully examine your hair and scalp to rule out other types of alopecia. Then, they will recommend the best hair loss treatment for men (or, by case, the most effective hair loss treatment for women).
It’s crucial to get your hair loss professionally diagnosed and treated because androgenetic alopecia will progress if left unaddressed. If your hair loss has become too advanced, you may benefit most from a permanent hair transplant. Fortunately, our surgeons are some of the world’s best, and the Wimpole Clinic has received the Hair Clinic of the Year award for 4 years running (2021-2024). You can see our results in our before and after hair transplant gallery.
If you would like to know more about Avavar hair loss, be sure to take a look at the answers to these frequently asked questions:
While there are no specific studies to show the impact of Anavar dosage on hair loss, research shows that anabolic steroids can generally cause hair loss in athletes [19]. One study revealed that alopecia was among the androgenic side effects reported by at least 40% of athletes who used synthetic hormones to build muscle mass [19].
The significantly greater dose of Anavar normally used by athletes may lead to more severe androgenetic alopecia. However, further research is needed to prove and quantify this effect.
Anavar is likely to have a virilising effect in women [4], which is why it may play a larger role in female hair loss than in males. Moreover, women are also predisposed to developing unwanted facial and body hair growth [10][4]. However, this side effect should be less frequent than in the case of a natural DHT excess.
No, Anavar cannot be synthesised into DHT, as unlike other anabolic steroids, it is already 5-alpha-reduced [20]. This means that the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that normally converts some of your testosterone into DHT cannot do the same with oxandrolone, the active substance in Anavar.
Some anabolic steroids can be partially converted into DHT [15] (or DHT-like metabolites). These synthetic hormones, such as methyltestosterone or norethandrolone, may carry a greater risk of hair loss than oxandrolone (Anavar). That is because DHT is more likely to bind to the androgen receptors in your hair follicles than oxandrolone.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Ahmad Moussa is an experienced surgeon. His qualifications include a Master of Science degree in General Surgery, Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Doctorate degree in Neurosurgery and Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Neurosurgery. He is a member of the British Medical Association and the Society of British Neurological Surgeons. Dr Moussa has over 15 years’ experience working in neurosurgery and is a GMC and Royal College of Surgeons certified Neurosurgeon.
His training and subsequent work as a consultant neurosurgeon in the NHS has included performing intricate brain surgery while patients are fully awake to be able to safely resect complex brain tumours. This level of skill, expertise and familiarity with the scalp has allowed Dr Moussa to successfully step into the rewarding world of hair transplant surgery.
Dr Moussa is trained in FUT and FUE hair transplant techniques including combining the two techniques together when required to achieve the appropriate number of grafts without overharvesting. He successfully carries out hair transplant surgery for both scalp and beard hair loss. Registered Number: 6065705
