Why Steroid-Using Bodybuilders Look Older

Anabolic steroids push the body into a fast-aging biological state. Muscles grow, but skin, hair, hormones, and blood vessels age prematurely.

• Skin damage: Reduced collagen production, increased acne and inflammation, leading to leathery skin and wrinkles.
• Hormonal disruption: Natural testosterone shuts down, estrogen fluctuates, cortisol rises—mimicking aging hormone profiles.
• Facial fat loss: Androgens strip cheek and under-eye fat, creating a gaunt, older appearance.
• Hair loss: Elevated DHT accelerates male-pattern baldness, instantly adding years visually.
• Vascular aging: Blood pressure, oxidative stress, and endothelial damage increase.

Result: A 22-year-old can look 35 because youth-signaling tissues age faster than muscle grows.