Does thick skin hair indicate high levels of androgen?

Not really

Androgens (such as testosterone) do promote hair growth in the human body, but the density of vellus hair is not solely determined by androgen levels.

First of all, genetic factors play an important role in the density of vellus hair. Certain ethnic groups or certain family genes determine that some people are born with thicker vellus hair, which is actually not directly related to their androgen levels, because their androgen levels are within the normal range.

Similar studies have also pointed out that although androgens can promote hair growth, this does not mean that thicker vellus hair necessarily means higher androgen levels. The "sensitivity" of hair follicles to androgens is also a very important point, because this sensitivity varies from person to person and can directly determine the density of vellus hair.

In addition, the density of vellus hair on the skin is affected by different parts of the body. For example, the density of hair on the face, arms, and legs can vary significantly and can vary significantly between individuals. The distribution and density of hair also changes with age.

Therefore, if you want to accurately understand a person's androgen level, the most reliable way is through professional medical tests, such as hormone level tests in blood or urine, rather than judging solely by the density of hair on the body surface.

Author: Tang Jiaoqing, MD, attending physician of dermatology

Review | Feng Jun, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital