Dangers of Steroids

Anabolic steroids cause many different types of problems. Less serious side effects include acne, oily hair, purple or red spots on the body, swelling of the legs and feet, and persistent bad breath. A kid or teen who takes steroids might not grow as tall as he or she was supposed to grow. Some other serious and long-lasting side effects are:

premature balding
dizziness
mood swings, including anger and sadness
seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
extreme feelings of mistrust or fear (paranoia)
problems sleeping
nausea
vomiting
trembling
high blood pressure that can damage the heart or blood vessels over time
aching joints
greater chance of injuring muscles and tendons
jaundice or yellowing of the skin; liver damage
trouble peeing
increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer

These risks affect girls:

increased facial hair growth
deeper voice, like a man's
shrinking of the breasts
period changes

Specific risks for boys include:

shrinkage of the testicles and penis problems
pain when urinating (peeing)
breast development

Because steroids can be injected (given in a shot), users run the risk of getting illnesses that can be passed through needles that are dirty, or shared. These include HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, a serious liver disease. Though some problems may show up right away, others may not appear for years. One former Oakland Raiders lineman who died of brain cancer believed that steroid use during his football career was one reason he got the disease.