Teens and Steroids, Hair loss and severe acne! Yikes!
Jerry Brainum, in the April 2010 IRONMAN Magazine writes about Anabolic Steroids and the Skin, a troubling issue for teens and bound to get your and their attention. Mr. Brainum is an exercise and nutrition researcher and has been a respected sports journalist for more than 25 years.
Mr. Brainum writes that medical research and literature points to medical abnormalities such as liver and cardiovascular problems in athletes that use anabolic steroids. But the more common problems, and the ones that are bound to get yours and your teens attention are: Premature male pattern baldness in men and woman, excessive stretch marks, and severe acne.
Less hair on top, weird body hair and more zits, yikes! Just what your teen wants!
Bald and bad skin is a bad combo for me, not to mention a teen.
In a study of power lifters cited by Mr. Brainum:
- 53% had acne
- 47% had increased body hair
- 27% had a higher incidence of oily skin
- 20% had a loss of scalp hair
Worse, the type of steroid related acne does not always respond to routine medical treatment if athletes continue to utilize steroids. Steroids can also worsen skin pathologies.
The stretch marks associated with steroid use, usually show up in the neck, chest, shoulders and upper arms. This is also not good for teens that fixate on their looks.
Teens and other athletes that inject steroids under less than sterile conditions can often get bacterial and sterile abscesses, particularly in the gluteus (the rear end) the study said.
My comments: Sports pharmacology is serious business conducted by an underground community of unscrupulous coaches, trainers, authors, competitors, medical doctors, drug dealers, and self-proclaimed experts. Additionally, your teenager will probably buy some form of crap that may have no relation to steroids, from some “self-proclaimed expert” (read: uneducated, high school drop out, gang-banger, gym-rat, sleaze bag)
Furthermore, rampant steroid abuse has given rise to an industry to mask the evidence of steroids. A whole industry was built just to fool the drug tests. This means your teen athlete, who by the way knows about this shady underground industry, will need to take more drugs to hide the evidence of steroids in his (her) blood. Not good.
Well, how do you fix the problem?
How do you recognize steroid use or abuse?
What can you do to protect your teen?
How do you talk to your ambitious teen athlete?
Gather information:
Start by monitoring your teen’s physical condition for rapid strength or size changes and watch for aggressive mood swings. Twenty pounds of weight gain over a summer may not be a troubling sign. But, when mixed with explosive acne or hair loss along with the symptoms listed above may be an indication of steroid use. Years ago a teenage family friend blew up to 290lbs. Yes, 290 lbs. He suffered from mood swings and body image issues. Today as a successful executive he still has trouble controlling his weight.
Learn more:
Check out your teen’s sport, their coaches, and the goals of the athletic program.
Check to determine if the sport they are playing has prevalent steroid use. You would be surprised at the sports that have rampant doping and drug use. There are rumors that steroids have tarnished golf’s most honored and respected winner. Yes even golf. Ever heard of blood doping? You better believe your teen has! Ask them.
It is also a good idea to pay close attention to the philosophy of the school athletic program or team your teen plays on. Especially be watchful of an over ambitious coaching staff. Visit the team weight room or practice unannounced and just observe.
It would be good to determine if the sport they engage in is subject to drug testing and learn the drug policies of the school, conference and/or the state sports governing organization. As a parent YOU should know the legal consequences or suspension (or banning) practices for engaging in steroids, even if your teen does not. Remember steroids are a controlled substance and as such are against the law.
Talk to a medical doctor that specializes in sports medicine. The doctor should provide you with information. Search the web or visit your local library. The effort in research and planning is worth your time. The more you know about steroids the easier it becomes to open a meaningful dislodge with your teen.
But how do you combat or even begin to discuss a problem when your teen might be in, or is in, the “stupid, stubborn, arrogant, know-it-all,” time of life and has a hard time listening to rational thought, especially from “uncool” parents?
Try a guided discussion:
Engage your teen in subtle guided discussions about competition, cheating, and steroids.
Subtle guided discussions are a counseling tool for you to use to seek information, engage in thoughtful discussion and to lead your teen to introspected thought and hopefully to honorable conclusions.
Engage your teen in subtle guided discussions about the dangers of steroid use. Do not lecture or preach but try to make the conversation fun. Try to determine your teen’s competitive need to succeed or win in the sport. Try to determine if your teen would do anything or everything (even cheat) to win.
Ask non-threatening questions about your teens training routine such as the amount of time spent in the weight room and the specific diet/supplementation requirements of their sport. Learn about their sport and their heroes by name. Learn what is required in training time to become a champion. Show a genuine interest in their sport and their life.
Discuss sports heroes that were caught cheating with steroids (especially in their sport) and ask their opinion.
Questions such as: “Mark McGuire is trying to rehabilitate his image and is coming back to baseball, what do you think of that?” Then perhaps, “McGuire is really paying a hefty price for his indiscretion, do you think that is fair?” “Was his fame worth the public humiliation?” “Do you think he should get in the Baseball Hall of Fame?”
Try to spend most of your time listening to the responses.
Your teen probably will not listen to important medical information you provide about the dangers of steroids unless you are very subtle in your approach. Instead, talk about baldness and facial scaring from acne; that might get their attention. Always remain cool and in charge of your demeanor and thus the discussion. If your teen does not wish to engage in the conversation, subtly move to another.
Invite their attention to articles like the one written by Mr. Brainum and other reputable experts. Ask them to explain the issues importance or lack of. Do not debate or argue with their comments. These are subtle guided discussions remember…not arguments. Be a good leader and be a parent your teen can talk to. Yes even about steroids.
Talk to and observe your teen’s friends:
Learn as much as you can about your teen’s life, their interests, music, video games, x-box stuff, clothes, bad teachers, gangs or bullies, just as you would learn about your best friend. You can learn a lot by quietly observing and listening to their friends. Even try to engage in their sport. For instance, you might be surprised at the skill and practice skate boarding or other X-sports require. When you speak to your teen’s friends ALWAYS do so in a friendly non-threatening manner. Show that you care and have an interest in their problems and their future. Remember do not lecture.
Worst case scenario:
If you suspect that your teen is using anabolic steroids and he (she) will not quit, have him (her) monitored by the family physician. Not the best solution, we agree but at least it keeps you and your teen in the health loop. It might save your teens hair and prevent severe acne scars that remain for life. It also might keep your teen from being banned from the sport for life or worse…going to jail. Remember too, that steroids are expensive so your teen may become a “pusher” to afford the drugs, Dealers get long jail sentences.
Everything in life has a price.
Your thoughtful comments or your horror stories are appreciated.
Dr. John Morgan
March 5th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Nice Post, very thoughtful
March 5th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
The information was generally good and helpful for parents as myself. Given the difficulty to get kids to take direction, (even as suggestions) it would be helpful if you could offer some alternatives to the steroid ” quick body build” that they are all looking for. Maybe there are certain vitamins or other methods to achieve equal or better results with out dangering ones health.
Also it was not clear that the guy that weighted 290 was on steroids. I assumed so. Is the fact that he is still having weight control problems because he is on steroids.
What about the use of steroids for older people. Helpful, or not??
Thanks for your cautionary advice as to the potential problems steroids may cause in youth.
BD
March 5th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
I have received several calls at the LPI stating that I did not specifically say that the weight gain of our teenage family friend was from steroid use. It was. Some of the weight gain was muscle, a lot was fat and some of the weight, water retention. The point was that years later he struggles to keep the weight he previously gained, off.
“Years ago a teenage family friend blew up to 290 lbs. Yes, 290 lbs. He suffered from mood swings and body image issues. Today as a successful executive he still has trouble controlling his weight.”
Another reader asked, What are the alternatives to steroids?
My comments:
Weight training using what is known as compound exercises such as squats, bent over rows, dead lifts, bench press, shoulder press, pullovers, pull ups or chins, barbell curls and parallel bar dips. The coach at school should have knowledge of sport specific exercises. Your teen might cycle his (her) training week to week. The first week using heavy weights in the 6 to 8 repetition range and the next week lighter weights or more moderate weights in the 12 to 15 repetition range.
Your teen might consider supplementing with weight gain protein powders and ready to drink protein drinks or bars, and creatine, glutamine, arginine supplementation and a good vitamin/mineral supplement.
Lay off fast food and eat primarily a clean diet of 6 or 7 small meals or snacks a day. The snacks should be nutrient dense and not fat laden junk food.
The idea is to train hard and properly, then rest and recover from the training with proper diet, supplementation and sleep, then after recovering and growing stronger, train again only after this process is complete. (Train, recover, grow stronger, train again.) If your teenager follows a similar program they should outpace the other athletes without the discipline and tenacity to persevere and train hard.
This protocol is difficult. That is why teenagers and many professional athletes look for an edge with illegal steroids.
Hopefully this information provides parents, teachers, coaches and mentors with more information to engage your teen in subtle guided discussions.
Best wishes, Dr. John Morgan
March 6th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
What about the use of steroids for older people. Helpful, or not??
Response to B David:
Regarding your question about steroid use for senior citizens.
Like most issues in American society this one too is clouded with varying opinions and even controversary.Some reputable physicians call for testosterone replacement therapy in senior adults and even recommend human growth hormone replacement. These same physicians call for balancing or replacing hormones in men and woman as they age.
Other reputable physicians believe that testosterone replacement therapy is ill advised especially when a moderate or high PSA score is prevalent. They also worry that testosterone replacement therapy might encourage prostate cancer.
I suggest you speak to your family physician, a physician that specializes in the elderly, a sports medicine physician, or a physician that specializes in longevity. The Life Extension Foundation is a source of information. http://www.LEF.ORG
Our advice is to eat correctly, supplement your diet with nutriments, get adequate rest, try to lower your stress, stay mentally, spiritually and physically active, and exercise. Much like your grand kids are doing.
Remember you are never too old to be a role model.
Thoughtful comments from experts or from those with experience are appreciated.
Dr. John Morgan
March 6th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
My belief is that children need guidance from the beginning of their lives….from their PARENTS; no others will suffice. Although the level of guidance well be lessened as they grow older, there is no better time to show them that you are in charge, that you care for and love them, and that respect for them is a two way street. Believe it or not, when they are young they want to be told that they can’t go with the guys alone. They need and want your ‘no’ to tell the others. Their ‘no’ will cause them to lose face with their friends, so they won’t refuse to join in on their own say-so. The mutual respect and the cooperation you cultivate with them early in their lives will last forever. Give them a free hand before they are able to make good decisions and all will be lost…forever. You’ll never recover. They’ll care for no others than themselves. Think about the extreme case of the ‘Columbine’ shootings. Those parents certainly saw what problems their sons were developing, but if they tried to change their directions, they couldn’t, because they didn’t give their sons the closeness and overt love that all children deserve.
March 7th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
To the LPI:
Reference the question on steroids for teenagers and older adults:
Growth hormone levels start falling in adults after the age of 45. Testosterone falls in men as well as in women and female hormones in women also drop. In order for the body to function properly as we get older hormones should be supplemented.
On the other hand supplementation with steroids as is the case with anabolic hormones (testosterone primarily) can be dangerous to normal healthy people like teenagers.
Anabolic hormones will shut down the normal production of hormones in the body as well as well as lead to many side effects such as the ones you mention (acne,hair loss, etc.) to include the impairment of the bodies immune system, and impairment of liver function, castration effect (testes essentially shut down), not to mention the side affects of injections that are not sterile, etc, etc.
Naturally as we know companies and people selling the anabolic hormones will deny all of the bad side effects because they are in business to make money.
What’s important is that parents explain these facts to their teenagers very carefully, with the help of a knowledgeable family or sports physician as you suggest. And as you suggest subtly pointing out health or appearance horror stories might get your kids or grand kids attention.
Thanks for the good work you are doing.
Dr. SB, MD,
Basel, Switzerland.
March 7th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Dealing with the “growing” problems that attend adolescent children is probably the toughest parental problem faced by a mother or father today. Father may know best, but first he must have the undivided attention of his son. Competing viewpoints are available from all sides, “group think” surrounds the son, and his counselor of choice is a “best friend.” Father must have a way to break through this ring of bad advice. He may never be able to do so if he has not maintained (enforced) a close relationship as the boy matured, starting before the child was in school. In other words, if you intend to start instructing your son at the first sign of steroid problems, it is probably too late. You may never have your son’s complete attention!
But, assuming that you have a relationship with your son that is at least respectful, the ideas outlined above are useful: Advise him that he may lose his hair, suffer from acne, gain wait, and/or lose potency. He’ll worry about that, but may not believe you because he has a friend that says otherwise. Besides, he thinks he’s different,immortal, and destined to be a great professional athlete [fill in your choice of sport].
Perhaps better, show him the futility of using steroids. Mark McGwire is a good [bad] example. McGwire was arguably a Hall of Famer before he used steroids — except that we don’t know when he started using them. And, we don’t accept his story because his credibility is gone.
But steroids made it possible for McGwire to hit a baseball further than others, more often than others. It assured him a place in baseball’s Hall of Fame, if the steroid issue had not surfaced. However, when steroid use became known, McGwire became forever tainted. The issue is not settled, but I do not believe that he will gain entry to Cooperstown. At the very least, his greatness is forever diminished in the baseball world!
So, it was futile for McGwire to use steroids. Once known, such use denied McGwire the greatness he sought. Why then would your son want to emulate McGwire in his use of steroids?
Finally, then, your guidance to your son must start when he is young, before he has heard of steroids. If you have developed a good relationship, he will listen when it is important.