Hair Loss from Weightlifting?

Dear Dr. Rassman:

I am a 49 year old attorney who runs 3 miles plus daily. Prior to law school, (27 years ago), I was a competitive powerlifter, (ranked in top 20 nationally). I stopped lifting during law school and for several years after but continued to run. I have returned to powerlifting several times in the last 15 years but each time, immediately upon my start of lifting, I experience significant, very noticeable hair loss. As I want to start competing again in the senior category I recently started lifting again and, again, my hair loss is very significant and is discouraging me from lifting.

In short, every time I start heavy lifting, I have very noticeable hairloss (male pattern type) but no hairloss when I do not lift. Virtually all hair loss I have experienced occurred when I was lifting. I am not taking any supplements or steroids although I did use steroids approximately 27 years ago.

I am aware that similar questions have been asked by people who say “it seems” hair loss may be occuring, but in my case, there is no question that there is very noticeable hair loss associated with heavy weightlifting and no hair loss otherwise.

I don’t know if this matters, but I do have rosaceae and dermatitus which is treated very effectively with Prascion.

It is certainly conceivable that weightlifting can cause a slight increase in your testosterone production and thus result in more dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but I would consider hair loss due to weightlifting improbable. I have been asked this question before and I will trust your observation and correlation. If your hypothesis is true, you would probably benefit from Propecia (finasteride). You should see a doctor for your concern and have them do a miniaturization study and track the hair loss progress over a period of time in which you are weightlifting.

The Prascion should not cause any hair loss.