DHEA and hair loss

[Aus]

I have just received the results of my recent blood test. The DHEA level came back a little low. Is this a possible cause of hair thinning?

The other Testosterone levels came back within the normal range.

Is it possible to have low DHEA levels and high DHT levels?

Or does this mean the current meds (finasteride) would have an adverse effect?

 

[pproctor]

I have just received the results of my recent blood test. The DHEA level came back a little low. Is this a possible cause of hair thinning?...

In women high DHEA levels are commonly associated with pattern alopecia. The most common cause is increased adrenal production of DHEA in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO).

That is, DHEA is definitely androgenic in females. Thus, high levels of it are associated with hyperandrogenic symptoms such as alopecia, acne, etc. The case is less clear in males, where DHEA dose not appear to be particularly androgenic.

Interestingly, I personally have seen a woman in which an odd pattern of loss ( a very high forehead, but little thinning behind the hair line) was associated with a very low DHEA level. Beats me, except that DHEA is the metabolic precursor for a lot of steroid hormones.

BTW, circulating DHEA is produced primarily by the adrenals, testosterone by the testes or ovaries, and DHT by the target tissue. So blood DHEA levels can vary independently of the others.

Peter H Proctor, PhD,MD