Grooming is an essential aspect of human life, as appearance is the first visible characteristic taken into consideration by anyone around. Deep voice, muscle mass, strong bones, and dense hair are some of the main attributes of men because of which women adore them. All these are triggered by testosterone, generally known as the male hormone or the man maker. It is also one of the key ingredients of your sexual health, sex drive, and libido. Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is a must for all to keep your testosterone levels balanced.
Low levels can severely impact your sexual functions, whereas high levels of testosterone will not directly harm you unless it gets converted into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). An increase in DHT levels can affect your hair follicles leading to baldness. Male pattern baldness (Androgenic Alopecia) and Prostrate cancer (due to stimulation of the prostate cells) are the problems aroused by DHT.
Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate gland, which is responsible for the creation of seminal fluid, nourishing, and transporting the sperm. This cancer type is not easily detectable at early stages. It may or may not show signs and symptoms in the beginning. Though it is not life-threatening cancer, it does affect your life slowly. Treatments can cure it; still it may show some serious side effects like Erectile Dysfunction.
Since DHT drives the growth of prostate cells and also increases hair loss, there is a higher chance that men suffering from androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness are at risk of developing prostate cancer. With a study conducted to know more about it on a group of 39,070 men, it was found that men with vertex baldness (bald spots at the top of their heads) were at a higher risk of having prostate cancer. This study was mainly conducted on men belonging to the age group of 55 to 75 years. They were questioned about the type and degree of baldness they had at the age of 45. It was found that almost 3% of the men were diagnosed to have prostate cancer. Among this 3%, nearly half of the men had Aggressive Prostate Cancer in which the cancerous tumors grow fast.
In contrast, men who had frontal baldness or moderate crown baldness had less or no connection with prostate cancer. Although, it was observed that they had a 40% risk or likely to have such a problem when compared to those who did not have baldness problems. But, this type of baldness was not related to non-aggressive prostate cancer.
Although DHT and testosterone are the prime suspects for such problems, doctors don’t exactly rely on these factors as the cause for vertex baldness, prostate cancer, or any associated risks.
“While our data show a strong possibility for a link between the development of baldness and aggressive prostate cancer, it’s too soon to apply these finding to patient care,” said a senior study author Dr. Michael Cook in a press release published by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Hence, more studies are required before this study starts impacting existing clinical practices. Please note that the study, however, can still be the base of further development into correlating baldness with prostate cancer.
Medically reviewed by Rishabh Verma, RP
