Does Using Testosterone Boosters Improve Beard Growth?

It is the testosterone that is responsible for beard growth in men aside from all the other primary male characteristics. If you have been experiencing a slowdown in beard development or thinning of your facial hair, and tried every other solution, you might eventually end up looking for testosterone boosters.

However, when it comes to supplements, safety is often one of the primary concerns aside from analyzing the effectiveness of the product. We have done thorough research on whether testosterone boosters actually improve beards or not. Here’s what we found-

Overview Of Key Facts

• Testosterone boosters can help in beard growth if you have a low testosterone level.
• Boosters may adversely affect if people already have high levels of testosterone present in their bodies.
• DHT may speed up the beard growth process and work adversely at the same time.
• It is important to find out the root cause behind the slow or no growth of a beard.

Science Behind Beard Growth In Men

There are two significant factors that are mainly responsible for beard growth in men – Hormones and Genes. When both are in the right form, you experience a healthy growth of beard. Here’s how-

Hormones

The two important hormones in the Androgen (sex hormone) group – Testosterones and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) have a major role to play in beard growth in men. DTH is formed when specific enzymes combine with testosterone in the body. Usually, up to 10% of testosterone converts into DHT. While these hormones are present in both males and females, they function more predominantly in men giving them their dominant characteristics like a low-pitch voice, bone density, sperm development, and of course, thicker facial hair.

When the right amount of testosterone and DHT interact and bond with the hormone receptors in the follicles of the hair under the skin, the light hair on your face (commonly called peach fuzz) turns thicker, often rough, and more pigmented. DTH then stimulates these hairs to keep growing and forming a beard. In fact, DTH being a pure androgen more powerful characteristic has an independent role in accelerating the growth of facial (body) hair and muscle development in men. There are studies showing that this hormone has a higher influence on the linear growth and density of facial hair.

It is, thus, safe to say that your accomplishment in growing a beard, to some extent, is attributed to the sensitivity of the follicles towards DHT.

All that said, it is also important to ensure healthy skin quality for the hair to grow properly. Weak follicles do not interact properly with the hormones and thus lead to improper beard growth.

Genes

While hormones sure are one of the main reasons behind beard growth, one should not forget that they do not have much to do unless for the right gene.

Even though testosterone and DHT are evidently required for the beard to grow, if your hair follicles are not responsive enough due to genetic variation, then the hormones alone cannot stimulate the growth of facial hair. In some men, the hair follicles are not sensitive enough to the chemical signals of testosterone and DHT. In such cases, genes can be one of the major factors to blame on. If your father or ancestors didn’t have bushy hair, it is likely you might be carrying the same trait.

Do Testosterone Boosters Help In Beard Growth

Testosterone boosters do have a positive impact on beard growth. As we mentioned earlier, if you have the right gene and an adequate amount of testosterone, you are bound to grow thick facial hair. Testosterone boosters elevate the levels of testosterone in the body some of which then convert to DHT. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) acts as a powerful agent which not only accelerates the pace of facial hair growth in men but also ensures the growth is dense.

However, it is important to note that the boosters are useful and effective only for those men who have low testosterone levels in the body.

If you have adequate production of testosterone, using boosters can have adverse effects on beard growth. That is because, in order for healthy hair production, the right amount of hormone is required. Say if you already have a healthy production of testosterone, a booster shot can raise the level even more, and this in turn will increase the DHT in the bloodstream more. Reliable sources say and science also links to the fact that higher concentration of DHT (beyond the required amount) tends to weaken the hair follicles leading to thinning of hair among other side effects.

Testing Your Testosterone Levels

If you have tried out every other way to improve your beard growth with no results as such, then it could be the hormones. However, before actually coming to a conclusion, it is best to test your testosterone levels.

Look for various symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Some of the common ones include-

• Low sex drive
• Long term fatigue
• Sleeplessness
• Lack of energy
• Inability to focus

If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms, then go for a blood test. You can either self-conduct the test using a home-test kit or visit a clinic and give your blood sample for them to test in the lab.

The hormone situation is determined by testing and evaluating any of the  three forms of testosterone in your body-

First, free testosterone is the active form of the hormone acting on the tissues and is not linked to the protein. Second, total testosterone which includes the free testosterone and the one that attaches to the protein. Third, the bioavailable testosterone which is the free testosterone, and the testosterone which is weakly linked to the blood protein (albumin).

Out of these, the most common test is the total testosterone test. However, depending on the cases, the healthcare workers may suggest you go for the other tests.

Other Causes Affecting Beard Growth

Earlier you read about the two factors that primarily influence beard growth – the most important one being testosterone and the other is the genetic impact. These are, however, not the only factors working behind how the beard grows. Others include-

Age

As men advance in age, they may notice a significant change in their beard growth and density. Many people may not have thick facial hair during their late teens to mid-twenties, but, as they near 30 and above, they may begin enjoying a bushy growth of beard. Sure this has to do a lot with testosterone production in the background.

Skin Conditions

Healthy skin is always a key to healthy hair growth be it the hair on the face or head. In order for the hair to grow properly, the hair follicles need to be healthy so they can receive the signals from the hormones to react. Some of the most common things that can lead to weak follicles are unwanted oil accumulation, dust, debris, and infection among others. This then interferes with beard growth.

Therefore, one of the most important things to promote beard growth is to keep the face clean at all times by following a skincare routine. Make sure to change your face towels, bedsheets, and pillow covers in a timely manner.

Iron Deficiency

Lack of iron in blood has long been associated with poor hair growth. Iron is a vital nutrient that produces hemoglobin in the blood. This is responsible for carrying oxygen molecules to every cell in the body including hair follicles. Shortage of hemoglobin in the body reduces the supply of oxygen in the cell which in turn inhibits the growth of hair.

Unhealthy Food Habits

A well-balanced diet is essential for good beard growth. Unhealthy food habits create a deficiency of several vital nutrients that can lower testosterone production. This can then hinder the growth of facial hair. Excessive smoking and drinking should also be avoided to get success in beard growth.

Other Things You Can Do To Improve Beard Growth

There is no doubt that testosterone boosters can accelerate beard growth in some cases. However, in other situations, they may not be that effective and you will have to try different ways to improve the quality of your beard. Here’s what you can do-

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water will keep your body hydrated, increase oxygen flow in the body and allow the nutrients to reach the hair follicles. Thus, balancing water intake with other things is necessary for healthy hair.

Regular Exercise

Exercise helps in blood circulation and thus increases the flow of oxygen in the body. Oxygen is essential to keep the hair follicles healthy and active for better functioning.

While cardio and other workouts help in pumping blood, resistance exercises boost testosterone production in the body. This aids in beard growth.

Follow Healthy Food Habits

Eating healthy and nutrition-rich food is key to improving beard health by stimulating testosterone production. Cutting down on sugar, and ensuring that you intake vitamin B, iron, zinc, and proteins through pulses, leafy vegetables, legumes, etc. are useful in growing and maintaining a thick beard.

Keep Yourself Stress-Free

Excessive stress can work against testosterone production which can slow down the beard-growing process drastically. Exercise, meditation, and quality sleep helps reduce stress.

Follow The Skin And Beard Care Routine

Taking good care of the skin and beard is a must if you are looking to keep your beard healthy and maintain growth and quality for a long. Use skin-friendly products for cleansing. You can also use beard oil and other gentle beard products to keep it hydrated. Following a good skincare routine will also keep the follicles healthy and boost hair growth.

Conclusion

So to answer the question does using testosterone boosters improve your beard- Yes, it does. Testosterone is an important element in facial hair growth in men. Therefore, if you have a low testosterone level, using testosterone boosters to stimulate beard growth can be helpful.

However, you should remember that if you already have an adequate amount of hormones in your body, using these supplements can have adverse effects on the hair. To avoid such a situation, we recommend you first go with more natural ways like diet, lifestyle change, and exercise before you get to testosterone boosters. It is also a good idea to check the level of testosterone before using the boosters to avoid overproduction of the hormone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Testosterone Boosters Help With Beard Growth?

Testosterone boosters can help in growing a beard in people with low testosterone production. However, hormones may not be the only reason for insufficient hair growth. There can be other underlying factors like stress, improper diet, lifestyle, or even genes.

Do Beards Grow Thicker With Age?

Yes, as you advance in age, the beard grows thicker. Oftentimes men who have partial beards around their early 20s may experience a much denser growth in their 30s.

Is insufficient Beard Growth A Sign Of Low Testosterone Levels?

Delay or insufficiency in beard growth can indicate low testosterone production, but may not always be the case. Slow beard growth or thin facial hair can be genetic at times or influenced by other factors.