Effect of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Hair Growth: A Systematic Review of the Literature

    June 2023 in “ Clinical and Experimental Dermatology ”
    Gia T Tang, Sav Zwickl, Rodney Sinclair, Jeffrey D Zajac, Ada S Cheung
    Image of study
    TLDR Gender-affirming hormone therapy changes hair growth in transgender people, with feminizing therapy reducing hair and masculinizing therapy increasing it, but sometimes additional treatment is needed.
    The systematic review of 16 studies found that gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) significantly alters hair growth patterns in transgender individuals. Feminizing GAHT, involving estradiol and/or antiandrogens, can reduce facial and body hair growth and improve androgenic alopecia (AGA) in transgender women. Masculinizing GAHT, involving testosterone, can increase facial and body hair growth and may induce or accelerate AGA in transgender men. These changes may not always align with the individual's hair growth goals, necessitating additional treatment for AGA or hirsutism. The review also found that medications such as minoxidil and finasteride may be effective in preventing the progression of AGA. However, further research is needed to inform management strategies for hair disorders in trans individuals, particularly in relation to how GAHT affects hair growth and sexual function.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    17 / 17 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 98 results

      community 8 months on 5mg fin daily, 5% min twice daily, and hrt(mtf). Thought my hair was unrecoverable before but now I’m so happy.

      in Transgender  1898 upvotes 1 year ago
      A user named "LordGeek101" shared their positive experience with hair regrowth after using 5mg of finasteride daily, 5% minoxidil twice daily, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 8 months. The user is transgender (MTF) and mentioned that the larger dose of finasteride was recommended by their doctor for better chances of hair revival.

      community Jordan Peterson got a sick hair transplant!

      in Transplants  1080 upvotes 7 months ago
      The conversation is about Jordan Peterson allegedly getting a hair transplant, with various users mocking his way of speaking and debating the ethics of him potentially hiding the procedure. Some users discuss the natural look of the transplant and the implications of getting one at an older age.

      community Well… I Did It. Estrogen Saved My Hairline

      in Transgender  700 upvotes 2 weeks ago
      OP transitioned and used Spironolactone, Estradiol Valerate, Minoxidil, and dermarolling, resulting in significant hair regrowth. They advise this method may not be suitable for cis men.

      community I think we all hop on estrogen. It's the only angle

      in Satire  83 upvotes 1 month ago
      The conversation humorously discusses hair loss treatments, including Minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841, and topical 17 alpha estradiol, with some users joking about transitioning to female to avoid baldness. The overall tone is satirical, emphasizing self-acceptance and the lengths people might consider for hair restoration.

      community r/Tressless bros in a nutshell

      in Satire  633 upvotes 6 months ago
      The conversation discusses personal experiences with hair loss treatments, specifically Minoxidil and Finasteride, with some users regretting not starting treatment earlier and others experiencing side effects. Some users are considering or have switched to topical formulations due to side effects from oral medications.

      community I’m Feeling so discouraged and depressed - No one wants to prescribe finasteride to me.

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  68 upvotes 6 months ago
      A user in France is frustrated because three dermatologists refused to prescribe finasteride for their hair loss, suggesting it's not androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and offering expensive vitamin treatments instead. Other users suggest buying hair loss treatments like minoxidil and finasteride from various online pharmacies and considering a gender-affirming care physician for more understanding treatment options.

    Related Research

    7 / 7 results