Testosterone Level Normal But Still Dealing W/ Hair Growth/Loss? This Could Be Why --
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I Have Too Much Hair But My Hormone Tests Are Normal – How Can This Be?
Many of the women I see in my practice for increased hair growth have normal hormone levels; they, and often their doctors, find this baffling. If your testosterone is normal, but you shave daily, does this mean that hormones are not involved? This question is one I am asked over and over. The answer is clearly “no.”
Hirsutism is always due to testosterone stimulating the hair follicles. Why then do many women with hirsutism have normal levels of this hormone?
The answer is that some people have hair follicles which are extremely sensitive to testosterone. Think about body hair on men. Some have a little and others have a lot even though their testosterone levels are similar.
In women the situation is the same; whatever their testosterone levels, those with more sensitive follicles have more hair. Hair follicle sensitivity to testosterone is the single most important factor in increased hair growth. As I will discuss below, hair follicle sensitivity is highly treatable.
Some women have the opposite situation: hair follicles which are insensitive to testosterone and so have hardly any body hair. This is usual in Asians but is uncommon in whites or blacks.
Lab tests are important in medical evaluation of hirsutism but they have their limitations, too. The laboratory does not tell us what is wrong with someone, rather it aids in doing so. Tests are ordered when there are symptoms or other reasons to suspect a disease. But a negative test does not mean there is no problem, simply that the test has failed to tell us the cause.
I have never used Nioxin but I did a lot of reading on it. It claims to help you have a healthy scalp which can promote hair growth. Mostly it only promises to help your hair look fuller. So I never tried it.
I then did some research on Nizoral. It contains Ketaconazole which is beneficial for the treatment of dandruff but has also been shown to have anti-androgenic effects.
I bough some at the local drugstore. The over-the-counter version has 1% Ketaconazole. I used it approximately 2-3 times a week for the first couple weeks and then just once a week after that.
I noticed within the first few weeks that the tingly/tickly feeling on my scalp (often present with androgenic alopecia) that I'd been feeling for months went away. I found out that I could buy Nizoral online which has 2% Ketaconazole.
I was expecting more success with the 2% solution but I can't really say that it's done much more for me. My shedding has really tapered off. I probably don't lose more than 10 or 15 a day. Compared to 100 a day - that's great. BUT -- the shedding had already started to decrease significantly before using the shampoo. Additionally, I do get the tingly/tickly feeling from time to time but it rarely lasts more than a day.
I guess everybody is different. Some have reported success with Nioxin whereas others have success with Nizoral or some have success with neither. Some have said that using either of those shampoos has made their hair very dry but I did not encounter that problem.
That is some really good info. Would you like me to turn it into a sticky?
__________________ Me - 28
"Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see."
"I've tried to get away from it all, but I've failed, for I've come to see... although much I find, I can leave behind, I can't get away from me."
Interesting reading...I wonder if it is possible to become testosterone sensitive or develop sensitive follicles at any time in your life, or are you born with the tendancy?
If it is possible to change to being sensitive what triggers that?
I think it must develop at some point, otherwise I wouldn't have had a nice thick full head of hair up until all the PCOS symptoms started full blast.
I noticed that some hairs were starting to grow on my underchin area. Within a year I lost at least 1/4 of my hair on my head. I'm betting my follicles will always be sensitive to testosterone now.
I'm just wondering how low does it have to get before it stops affecting the follicles.
Very interesting report, my endo told me years ago that even without my raised testoserone level i probably would have been hairy anyway for the amount of hair that i have on my body... all i can say is its a shame its not on my head....lol
Squidge
__________________ -------------------------------------------
45(feels like 99 some days)
Dx - pcos 1982
Dx - diabetes 2 1999,
Tx - metformin slow release 2000mg. Insulin 5 times a day
Loads of other medications.
------------------------------- What is a friend?A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
Aristotle...
Thanks for getting back to me Heather. I am eating really well - only essential stuff such as fish, chicken, vegetables and rice - no desserts such as cakes, ice cream. As a result, I am able to maintain a decent weight. My hormones, as of my latest blood tests, are normal. And they have been normal for the past few blood tests as well. Apart from the reason - skin's sensitivity to testosterone activity - is there any other reason why I have excess hairs?
From November through Marchl, I was taking 100 mgs daily and then I upped it to 150 mgs daily. I just recently started taking 200 mgs of spiro daily - 100 in the morning and 100 before I go to bed.
The only changes I have noticed: little black hairs started growing on my breasts and chest and they are not there anymore, my hair line which runs from the nether regions upward has thinned out and the scalp shedding had decreased.
Other than that, the facial hair is still a problem and hair on my head has not grown back in.
Hi thanks for this post. I have had normal testosterone levels for two years and still have hair on my chin ,my arms are super hairy, and a line of hair up my belly. I can keep it under control by shaving once a day but ,I just started bc pills my dr thought it might help?. I do still take met 2000 mg a day. so what is spironolactone? does it help? just wanted to know
about me thanks so much for the info DAWNA
met 2000mg a day
levoxyl .125a day
bc pills 1-35
married 13.5 years 3 kids
apple shape totaly 164lbs goal 142
Spironolactone or "Spiro" is the generic version of Aldactone. It is actually a blood pressure medication with some diuretic properties but it is also prescribed for women with high testosterone because it helps to lower the level.
It is also a potassium sparing medication, which means it causes potassium to build up in your body instead of being excreted. Too much potassium in your system can be fatal. For that reason, women taking it are usually encouraged to have their potassium levels checks every few months to make sure that they're okay (depending on their dosage). They're also told to avoid potassium rich food (bananas, melons, grapefruit, oranges, tomato or prune juice, prunes, molasses, potatoes, avocados, nuts, baked beans, brussels sprouts, and skim milk).
From what I understand, similar to metformin, it is also metabolized in your liver so women are encouraged to have their liver enzymes checked ever few months as well to determine if there is any liver damage.
Spiro tends to mess with your period so it's often taken with bcp's to keep you regular. I had spotting and breakthrough bleeding for the first couple of months, not to mention I was exhausted and dizzy all the time and my breasts ached. It took a while for my body to adjust. Now I'm fine. Because it is a diuretic, I found that I had to take it only as certain times during the day otherwise I was up too many times in the night to go to the bathroom.
Because spiro affects testosterone, it's been found to cause birth defects in male fetuses, so one can't be pregnant while taking it or possibly become pregnant. Many doctors insist that you take bcp's to reduce the possibility of pregnancy.
I was taking 200 mg at one point but I'm again down to 100 mg daily. Sometimes, though, on the days when I feel really bloated, I'll take 100 mg in the morning and 100 mg before bed to help rid some of the water retention.
The most noteworthy improvement is my chest and belly hair. Course black hairs that were starting to grow in on my chest are now blonde and finer and the thick dark hair line that ran from my upper tummy right down to the groin area has thinned out immensely and is lighter.
Changes are supposed to be noticed after 3 months and fully at 6 months. I can't say I've noticed the facial hair improving, though, and I've been on it for 7 months. Admittedly, though I have not gotten worse so maybe it's effective after all. Right now the hair is confined to my "underchin" area which I shave in less than a minute about once a week. If I started to grow a beard I would freak out!!
My shedding of hair on my head has decreased considerably but that could also be due to the array of vitamins I'm taking which I started on around the same time as spiro. Most women admit that no improvement from spiro was seen with the head hair.
Kat took eulexin which I would like to try. Honestly, the doctors in my area are so conservative, I don't think I would find anyone to prescribe it for me because of the more serious risks.
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Originally posted by Kat Carney
The eulexin worked beautifully for me in stopping the hair loss and the excess hair growth. That said, I was also losing weight at the time, so the weight loss also helped with my androgen levels, too. I can't say that I 'recommend' eulexin - it's a VERY strong drug, so you should certainly talk with your doctor, and s/he should have a good medical history on you before rx'ing it. Plus you can't be ttc, or have ANY liver issues.
Testosterone Level Normal But Still Dealing W/ Hair Growth/Loss? This Could Be Why -- 
question for Hezzer 
Hi Dawna. To answer your question . . . 
Admittedly, though I have not gotten worse 
