Unregulated protein powders and gym supplements often pushed by trainers may trigger hormonal changes that accelerate hair loss in young people.
Published Nov 13, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 13, 2025 | 8:00 AM
Fireside chat on “Tackling Early Onset Hair Loss” at Dakshin Health Summit 2025. (South First)
Synopsis: The two experts speaking at a fireside chat on “Tackling Early Onset Hair Loss”, addressed the surge in adolescents and young adults presenting with androgenetic alopecia, or patterned baldness, as early as their teens.
Protein powders, once seen as the badge of fitness culture, may be doing more harm than good — especially to your hair. At South First’s Dakshin Health Summit 2025, senior dermatologists Dr Madhavi Reddy and Dr Kavish Chouhan sounded an urgent warning about gym supplements and protein shakes contributing to early-onset hair loss among young Indians.
The two experts were speaking at a fireside chat on “Tackling Early Onset Hair Loss”, where they addressed the surge in adolescents and young adults presenting with androgenetic alopecia, or patterned baldness, as early as their teens.
“We’re now seeing 15- and 16-year-olds coming in with clear signs of male and female pattern hair loss,” said Dr Kavish Chouhan, leading dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon. “While, one major factor is lifestyle — stress, obesity, poor sleep — increasingly, we’re also seeing a direct link to unregulated gym supplements, especially whey proteins,” the doctor added.
Dr Chouhan explained that the modern “fitness rush” has created a booming, but largely unregulated, supplement market in India. Gym trainers often recommend or even sell protein powders and muscle-building mixes to clients without medical supervision.
“It’s become a trend. Every gym trainer pushes protein powders,” Dr Chouhan noted. “What most people don’t realise is that many of these powders and so-called ‘muscle gainers’ are spiked with androgenic additives — ingredients that can trigger or accelerate hair loss,” he further added.
He added that the androgenic components — substances that mimic testosterone — may increase muscle bulk but also speed up hair follicle miniaturisation, a hallmark of male pattern baldness.
Dakshin Health Summit 2025. (Supplied)
Dr Madhavi Reddy, senior consultant dermatologist, agreed that young people are overconsuming supplements without understanding their body’s needs.
“Unless you’re a professional athlete or have a diagnosed nutritional deficiency, you don’t need external protein powders,” she said. “For most people who work out three or four times a week, a balanced diet with natural protein — from eggs, lentils, milk, or nuts — is more than enough.”
She stressed that protein in itself doesn’t cause hair loss, but the problem arises from low-quality or adulterated supplements and excessive intake, which can disrupt hormonal balance and metabolism.
“I’ve seen patients develop hair loss after months of heavy supplement use,” Dr Reddy said. “When we stopped the powders and worked on their nutrition, hair regrowth improved significantly,”
Both doctors stressed that hair loss is a medical issue, not a cosmetic one. “People need to understand that hair health reflects internal health,” Dr Chouhan explained. He added, “before taking any supplement, talk to a doctor, not your gym trainer or an influencer.”
Meanwhile, Dr Reddy added: “Hair loss at 18 is not normal,”. “It’s a sign that something deeper is wrong — and only a proper medical evaluation can find out what.”
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
