Have you ever seen a male friend or family member with enlarged male breasts? If so, they may havegynecomastia. This condition can have negative psychological effects on those living with it. Read on to learn more about the toll gynecomastia can have on a male’s confidence and feelings of self-worth.
About Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is a condition that affects males of all ages. It causes male breast enlargement due to glandular tissue in one or both breasts. It is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance, which can result in an increase in glandular breast tissue. The second most common cause is anabolic steroid use which is used to build muscles.For some adolescent boys, gynecomastia may resolve on its own. However, if gynecomastia persists past the teen years, it will most likely stick around.
Impact on Self-Esteem and Confidence
This increase in male breast tissue can take a negative toll on a male’s self-worth and confidence. This can result in a number of negative mental health effects, including the following:
Anxiety
Gynecomastia can have a psychological impact on those living with it. One of the first emotional responses is often anxiety, as patients are unsure regarding the outcome of diagnosis and a possible treatment plan. Gynecomastia can also cause anxiety around social interactions where a male should take their shirt off such as spending time at the pool or beach.
Low Self-Esteem
Men living with gynecomastia often experience a negative self-image due to their enlarged breasts. They may experience feelings of shame to expose their body or incompleteness due to social phobia.
Depression
The most severe psychological issue associated with gynecomastia is depression. Individuals may feel that they have a low quality of life due to their condition. While women generally reach out to friends and relatives when they are experiencing psychological issues, men with gynecomastia have shown that they tend to conceal their mental condition. This can lead to feelings of helplessness.
Social Isolation
Many gynecomastia patients feel as if they don’t “fit in” with peers, which can lead to loneliness. Many males with gynecomastia, especiallyteens, tend to withdraw from social functions, which can lead to continued isolation as they grow into adults. Individuals may also withdraw from family and friends to conceal their breast enlargement to avoid possible teasing or judgment.
Disordered Eating
Some patients with gynecomastia may believe that weight loss can help to reduce their excess breast tissue. While weight loss may be helpful in cases ofpseudo gynecomastia, however,male breast reduction surgery is the best solution for true gynecomastia. Because of this, some patients may begin to control their eating habits in a disordered way, leading to dangerous conditions such as anorexia.
Schedule a Consultation
As you can see, gynecomastia can take an enormous toll on the mental health of those living with it. If you or a loved one are dealing with gynecomastia and are seeking treatment,Dr. Delgado can help. The most effective solution for treating gynecomastia is male breast reduction surgery. If you are interested in discussing your gynecomastia surgery options, pleasecontact Dr. Delgado today to schedule a consultation appointment.
Many men across the world suffer from enlarged breasts, which can cause self-consciousness and embarrassment. This condition, called gynecomastia, can be caused by many different factors, including medication. Read on to learn more about how the hair growth medication Finasteride can affect gynecomastia, as well as other medications.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition that is often caused by an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen in males. Certain medications can also cause male breast tissue to become enlarged. This enlarged breast tissue in boys and men can lead to self-consciousness. This condition can occur at different times in a male’s life, including at birth, during puberty, or adulthood.
There are also two types of gynecomastia including true gynecomastia and pseudo gynecomastia. With true gynecomastia, enlarged male breasts are caused by the development of breast tissue. The only solution for true gynecomastia is male breast reduction surgery. Pseudo gynecomastia is caused by an accumulation of fat in the chest area. It can often be reduced with weight loss or liposuction.
Finasteride Induced Gynecomastia
Finasteride is a popular treatment for androgenetic alopecia or male balding. It is given at a dose of 1 mg daily and has a relatively good safety profile. However, Finasteride is associated with gynecomastia in some men with a risk of about 4 to 10 out of every 1,000 users. Gynecomastia induced by Finasteride was often found to affect just one breast but can affect both as well. Some patients began to see gynecomastia symptoms as early as 1-2 weeks after starting this drug, but most noticed changes after a few months. Pain and/or tenderness often occur in those with Finasteride-induced gynecomastia due to the enlargement of breast tissue. For those who stop the drug completely in the early stages of gynecomastia, the condition may be reversed completely. However, if the drug is continued, it can lead to a stage of gynecomastia that can only be corrected with surgery.
Other Drugs that May Cause Gynecomastia
Along with Finasteride, there are also an array of other drugs that can lead to gynecomastia, including the following:
Heartburn medications: H-2 receptor blockers that are used to treat heartburn and ulcers have some evidence of causing gynecomastia. Cimetidine is a drug in this class that has one of the highest risks.
Ketoconazole (anti-fungal): The risk for gynecomastia is increased when taking oral Ketoconazole.
Lavender oil and tea tree oils: These essential oils have been shown to cause an increased risk of gynecomastia in children. Tee tree and lavender oils can be found in lotions, shampoos, and soaps.
Other drugs: Many other drugs can be linked to gynecomastia, including spironolactone, cimetidine, ketoconazole, hGH, estrogens, hCG, anti-androgens, GnRH analogs, and 5-α reductase inhibitors. Other drugs that have been labeled as “probably associated with gynecomastia” include verapamil, risperidone, omeprazole, nifedipine, alkylating agents, HIV medications, anabolic steroids, opioids, and alcohol.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are tired of living with gynecomastia and are seeking professional treatment, please contact Dr. Delgado today at 415-898-4161. Your first step toward treatment will be to schedule a consultation appointment to determine which treatment option is best for you.
Gynecomastia can affect any man, regardless of age or even body fat percentage. One group that is often negatively affected by gynecomastia are bodybuilders or people striving for a lean, muscular body. As people who care greatly about the way their body looks, developing excess breast tissue, even just a little, can be devastating for these men.
Dr. Miguel Delgado is a renowned gynecomastia specialist practicing in San Francisco who can eliminate your gynecomastia, no matter the cause or your condition.
What Causes Bodybuilder Gynecomastia?
The usual suspect for bodybuilder gynecomastia are steroids and other medications people might be taking to attain a certain physique. These drugs can mess with hormone levels, leading to the development of excess breast tissue in a localized are under the nipple or more widespread throughout the chest.
While some fitness buffs might think that simply stopping the medication will allow their chest to go back to normal, this is usually not the case. No amount of exercise or specific chest workouts can remove glandular tissue that may have grown during the course of performance enhancers. Even fat can be stubborn to diet and exercise as it contributes to a more feminine appearing chest and nipples.
Symptoms of Bodybuilder Gynecomastia
There are 4 generally recognized stages or grades of gynecomastia that can affect bodybuilders. Grade 1 gynecomastia consists of a minor enlargement of the normal male chest. Grade 2 is more developed, feminine-looking breasts and grade 3 typically begins to have drooping with excess skin. Grade 4 gynecomastia is significant enlargement coupled with significant excess skin that causes a downward-pointing nipple.
The most common symptoms bodybuilders might experience are steroid induced gynecomastia. This occurs when fat builds up directly beneath the nipple and areola, stretching that skin outward and causing a shiny, rounded, smooth appearance that bodybuilders find concerning.
Treating Bodybuilder Gynecomastia
Fortunately, gynecomastia does not pose any risks to a person’s health or fitness level. The major reason fitness experts seek out male breast reduction procedures is simply due to the appearance of the chest. For people whose bodies are their livelihood, who are passionate about creating a perfectly sculpted figure, it’s a distressing condition that can harm self-esteem and fuel embarrassment about their bodies.
Dr. Delgado treats gynecomastia on an individual basis, since everyone is different and has different goals from the procedure. Techniques like liposuction frequently work for people with puffy nipple gynecomastia or very little glandular tissue that’s causing a problem. However, for any excess skin or more severely enlarged breast tissue, excisional surgery will most likely need to be performed.
Gynecomastia Specialist in San Francisco
If you’ve been using anabolic steroids for performance enhancement and have seen a sudden change in your chest appearance or feeling, you may be experiencing gynecomastia. Stopping the medication sometimes works, but not always, and exercise alone rarely helps the appearance return to normal. For more information on gynecomastia surgery, browse this site or call Dr. Delgado to schedule a consultation today.
