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Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for the development of male characteristics, which includes increased body and facial hair. Some men may struggle to grow a beard because of genetics, but for others, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be the best way to turn a few scruffy hairs into a full beard.
As the primary male sex hormone, testosterone can impact nearly every area of the body’s development. This includes physical characteristics such as muscle mass and bone density, as well as mental and emotional development such as memory and mood. It is also the hormone that has the greatest impact on hair growth.
It is during puberty that testosterone generally starts to impact the growth of facial and body hair, but it can often be a slow beginning. A few tufts of hair may appear on the upper lip and chin long before they can be called a moustache and beard. For some men, their full beard will finally come during their late teens or early twenties, but others may always struggle to achieve more than those few tufts.
Hair growth comes in three stages: anagen, catagen and telogen. It is the anagen stage during which the hair is actually growing and your testosterone levels need to be high. Catagen is when the growth slows again whilst telogen is when hair might die or fall out before it starts growing again.
Of particular importance to the growth of facial hair is a more potent testosterone by-product called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Testosterone prepares the hair follicles for growth, but it is DHT, activated by the enzymes in the oil gland of your hair follicles, that is responsible for linear hair growth.
Men with high DHT levels and/or a greater sensitivity to DHT will grow beards at a younger age than others. Some men are less sensitive to DHT and, therefore, will not grow a full beard even with high DHT levels, but others may be suffering because their DHT levels are too low.
DHT does have another role other than in beard growth, but it appears contradictory. The hormone that helps men to grow a full beard can also build up in the hair follicles and speed up the thinning of the hair, which in turn can lead to male pattern baldness. That is why large and impressive beards can often be found on men who are completely bald.
Most men will see their testosterone levels naturally drop as they age and experience relatively few problems, but for some men, their low levels of testosterone can be damaging. If you are experiencing the symptoms of low testosterone, particularly if you are a younger man, you may benefit from testosterone replacement therapy. As well as tiredness, reduced muscle mass and mood swings, these symptoms may include trouble with your facial hair.
TRT can be delivered as an injection, tablet, patch, gel or implant and should help to bring your testosterone back to healthy levels (there is some debate over its usefulness if your testosterone levels are not clinically low). This should lead to an improvement in all of your symptoms, including seeing the growth of a full beard.
This article has been researched and written based on scientific evidence and fact sheets that have then been crossed checked by our team of doctors and subject matter experts.
References, sources and studies used alongside our own in-house research have been cited below, most of which contain external clickable links to reviewed scientific paper that contain date stamped evidence.
Our team of healthcare experts and GMC registered doctors are licensed to UK GMC standards. We strive to provide you with the latest evidence based, researched articles that are unbiased, honest and provide you with accurate insights, statistics and helpful information on the discussed topic to ensure you gain a better understanding of the subject.
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If you know your total testosterone reading from a previous blood test input the results to the left above to see if your testosterone levels are normal.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
The Total Testosterone Level You Entered Is Incorrect. Figure Must be in nmol/L you can use our converter here.
Your testosterone levels appear to be in the normal range.
You must be over 38, have had your ovaries removed or have suffered with premature menopause to warrant further hormone tests.
Please contact us to discuss your hormones, we need your total testosterone levels to validate your hormone deficiency. You can order a blood test here.
You may have low testosterone depending on the symptoms you have, please contact us to find out how we can help.
You appear to have higher than normal testosterone levels, please contact us for further investigation.
You appear to have normal testosterone levels. Contact us if you have any concerns.
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones Ltd which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
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