Stimulant use and male pattern baldness

[25-DM-4-LYFE]

Hello, i have been using various stimulants at medium/high therapeutic doses for the last decade or so - primarily methylphenidate and adderall. im in my early 20s and have started to notice significant hair loss in the distinctive male pattern (recession at the temples with an intact frontal hairline and crown) this would be relatively normal except nobody in my family is bald even in their 60s let alone their early 20s. im aware this still does not rule out genetics.

the mechanism of the two FDA approved treatments for androgenic alopecia are inhibition of the type II 5-alpha reductase enzyme in finasteride and (ostensibly) dilation of the hair follicle in minoxidil. there are numerous indirect mechanism by which dopaminergic stimulants could accelerate hair loss eg stress and malnutrition but i wonder if prescription stimulants could directly accelerate hair loss through any of the following mechanisms:
1.) constriction of the hair follicle, i understand this would not be significant construction - probably a small fraction of a millimeter in diameter but given the fact that these stimulants often behave as vasoconstrictors it seems possible.
2.) endocrine imbalance of some kind - specifically increased production of testosterone
3.) some effect on the 5-alpha reductase enzyme enhancing its ability to convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

any long term stimulant users experienced the same thing? any thoughts on the above hypotheses?

 

[yuppu]

I have only noticed hair loss if I tweak with out eating,eat more

 

[atara]

Hello, i have been using various stimulants at medium/high therapeutic doses for the last decade or so - primarily methylphenidate and adderall.

How often? Enough for appetite loss to regularly affect your eating habits?

 

[daddysgone]

While the mechanisms you suggested certainly seem logical, I have to imagine that if there were any direct links between stimulant use and hair loss, there would be documentation on this phenomenon due to the ubiquity of prescription stimulant use. -DG

 

[25-DM-4-LYFE]

well yuppu although this completely ignores all of the alternate mechanisms i proposed, you are right i eat very little - i have always been thin and itch my scalp frequently. i have heard numerous reports (online) of methylphenidate associated hair loss but i always imaged it was diffuse hair loss as opposed to specifically male pattern. i saw a dermatologist and he put me on minoxidil and finasteride but he did not do a microscopic analysis for follicle miniaturization, jut a cursory glance. obviously at this age i dont want gross greasy malodorous rogaine foam slathered all over my head twice a day. does anyone know of amphetamine or ritalin's effects on testosterone or follicle architecture?


i wonder about RC minoxidil analogs, there are some which are more potent.

 

[negrogesic]

I thought stimulants, particularly amphetamines, reduced levels of compounds like dihydrotestosterone (potent androgen that plays a big role in hair loss, thus the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors)....

 

[atara]

you are right i eat very little - i have always been thin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_loss#Causes

Iron deficiency is on there. I'll hazard a guess that cysteine/methionine deficiency (only methionine is considered essential, but cysteine requires methionine for the body to synthesize it) also contributes, since hair containes a lot of cysteine. Plus, iodine deficiency is the easiest way to get thyroid problems, which are also on the list.

Of course, it could also be lupus.

 

[Cepheus]

I've always held the opinion that excessive caffeine consumption results in hair loss.. I base this largely on the prevalence of baldness at academic institutions, particularly amongst those studying "real" science (the kind of people that stay up all night drinking coffee, crunching numbers / figuring out reaction mechanisms ;D). I figure its a combination of stress and caffeine (purely speculation though).

Just thought I'd chime that in :D.