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ADT and hair loss

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Posted 3/1/2024 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I thought I would broach this topic as hair loss has been mentioned as one SE while being on ADT. I have heard that facial hair loss as well as other areas of the body happen during hormone treatment. While I was being treated with Orgovyx, I lost arm, leg and pubic hair. I never lost hair anywhere on my head. It would seem that different types of ADT causes different hair loss. I am curious what causes this.
My hair has always been light brown and blond. My hair turned gray from getting older before ADT. Since I stopped ADT, the hair on my arms and legs have come back in black and gray. I find it interesting that ADT can cause hair color change, at least on me. I would also like to know if anyone here did not lose hair at all while being treated.
Have a great weekend all,
Jack
Posted 3/1/2024 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jack, Im just starting my 5th year on ADT so I figured I would give my experience. Basically my body hair all fell off other than my groin. My armpits, legs, arms everything. But strangely I had more hair grow back on my head. Nothing to brag about, but I definitely have a little more on the dome. No color changes either, but I was pretty much white when I started. I always expected to be able to shave less too.....but the beard seems to come in the same.
Posted 3/2/2024 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jack,
I just finished up 18 mths of ADT. I lost hair on my arms, chest, armpits and legs. My facial hair took longer to grow but I did not lose it. I just shaved less frequently. I've been off ADT for 3 mths and I haven't seen any measurable hair growth as of yet. I've been told it will come back slowly......we'll see.

Dave
Posted 3/2/2024 1:10 AM (GMT 0)

DaysBetween said...
Hi Jack, Im just starting my 5th year on ADT so I figured I would give my experience. Basically my body hair all fell off other than my groin. My armpits, legs, arms everything. But strangely I had more hair grow back on my head. Nothing to brag about, but I definitely have a little more on the dome. No color changes either, but I was pretty much white when I started. I always expected to be able to shave less too.....but the beard seems to come in the same.

so you're saying you went bald on ADT? or you were already bald but hair grew on your head while on ADT?
Posted 3/2/2024 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
"ADT" - leuprolide chemotherapy - works by completely disabling the hypothalamus gland which sits on and is intimately connected to the pituitary gland. When the hypothalamus is disabled, it does not tell the pituitary gland to do its job of producing/stimulating the bodies' production of hormones(pituitary is also disabled).

"FSH" - follicle stimulating hormone - is one of those hormones. FSH tells hair follicles to grow hair. Without FSH the follicles will not do that and the hair falls out. It returns after the chemicals leave your blood stream (if).

There are many more side effects from a disabled pituitary gland as well, some can be quite serious, some can be permanent. We have discussed this in detail here previously.
Posted 3/4/2024 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
I lost hair in my armpits, groin, and some near the thighs, but not lower legs, nor anywhere else. It all grew back relatively quickly even though it took a long time for T levels to rise. I was only on ADT for 6 months, so I might not be a good gauge. From the answers above though, it seems like we all react differently, like most things in medicine
Posted 3/4/2024 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I I used to be like fuzzy bear. Hairy back, hairy, chest, hairy arms, hairy legs and a widows, peak receding hairline. Now I am like fuzzy-wuzzy. I don’t have any hair either, but I did stop losing hair on my head. After almost 18 years of ADT I have to shave again as my beard has been coming back, but I wouldn’t call it gray anymore. It’s definitely pure white. I don’t let it grow except during elk season.
Posted 3/8/2024 12:42 PM (GMT 0)

F8 said...

DaysBetween said...
Hi Jack, Im just starting my 5th year on ADT so I figured I would give my experience. Basically my body hair all fell off other than my groin. My armpits, legs, arms everything. But strangely I had more hair grow back on my head. Nothing to brag about, but I definitely have a little more on the dome. No color changes either, but I was pretty much white when I started. I always expected to be able to shave less too.....but the beard seems to come in the same.

so you're saying you went bald on ADT? or you were already bald but hair grew on your head while on ADT?

No, when I started treatment the top of my head had wisps of hair. When the hair fell off the rest of my body, I actually grew some new hair on top.
Posted 3/8/2024 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
DaysBetween, although I wouldn’t recommend it, maybe you have found a new hair growth treatment for men who have gone bald.🙄 Thanks for all the replies to my questions. It would seem that ADT and hair loss can be different for all depending on which treatment is used and duration.
Again thanks and best wishes to all,
Jack
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