DHT Hair Loss
Androgenic Alopecia (DHT) Hair Loss
Androgenic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. It’s also known as DHT hair loss. About 10 million men and 3.4 million women in the UK are affected by this hair loss. As you age, your odds increase. Read more to find out what DHT is and how it causes hair loss?
What is DHT?
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen hormone, a type of male sex hormone found in both men and women. Androgens are responsible for biological male characteristics like body hair, increased muscle mass, and a deeper voice. These sex hormones in the body are believed to be the most significant underlying factor behind male pattern hair loss.
As you get older, testosterone and DHT have many benefits to your body, such as maintaining your overall muscle mass and promoting sexual health and fertility. Men typically have more testosterone present in their bodies. About 10 percent of testosterone in all adults is converted to DHT with the help of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR).
It’s thought that DHT attaches to androgen receptors on the hair follicles. The DHT then causes hair follicles to shrink. As a result, the Anagen, or growing, phase of the hair growth cycle decreases in length while the Telogen, or resting, phase of the hair cycle is extended.
The anagen phase becomes shorter over time, until eventually no hair grows past the scalp line. Additionally, the hair shaft becomes thinner as the hair follicle shrinks, so hair begins to thin and is more prone to breakage.
DHT and Men’s Hair Loss -
Androgenic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in men. By the age of 50, over half of men will have some type of DHT-related hair loss.
Male pattern baldness presents itself as thinning along the hairline, temples, and crown. Eventually the hair loss spreads, resulting in a horseshoe-shaped ring of hair around the bottom of the scalp.
DHT and Hair Loss in Females -
DHT has also been linked to hair loss in women. Though in lower quantities, women typically also have male hormones like DHT in their bodies. An imbalance of hormones or an increased sensitivity to DHT can result in hair loss.
Women with DHT hair loss usually see the same symptoms as women with other types of hair loss, such as a widening parting or smaller, thinner ponytail.
Why Do Some People Have DHT Hair Loss?
Everyone has DHT in their bodies, but only some people have DHT hair loss. For the most part, DHT hair loss is related to genetics. But for people without a genetic cause, researchers have postulated a few characteristics that may cause it in some individuals:
What is a DHT Blocker?
Some medications have the ability to lower levels of DHT, helping to slow or even reverse DHT hair loss.
Finasteride is a DHT blocker that diminishes the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, effectively lowering levels of DHT in the body. However, since DHT is so important to reproductive operations of the body, finasteride can have serious side effects like loss of libido.
Some researchers have identified herbal remedies that may be possible DHT blockers, such as Saw Palmetto, Stinging Nettle, and Reishi Mushrooms. However, more research is needed to determine how effective these treatments truly are in the fight against hair loss.
Tips for DHT Hair Loss -
If you have hair loss, a Trichologist can help you confirm if your hair loss is DHT-related. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of your hair loss and help you to devise a treatment plan.
How to Get Thicker-Looking Hair if your are thinning!
A simple way to instantly reverse the appearance of hair loss is to use DermMatch. DermMatch can be very helpful as part of the recovery since DermMatch instantly disguises hair loss. DermMatch is loaded with botanical ingredients that coat every existing hair shaft, making thin hairs stand up and spread out for spectacular fullness.
Androgenic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. It’s also known as DHT hair loss. About 10 million men and 3.4 million women in the UK are affected by this hair loss. As you age, your odds increase. Read more to find out what DHT is and how it causes hair loss?
What is DHT?
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen hormone, a type of male sex hormone found in both men and women. Androgens are responsible for biological male characteristics like body hair, increased muscle mass, and a deeper voice. These sex hormones in the body are believed to be the most significant underlying factor behind male pattern hair loss.
As you get older, testosterone and DHT have many benefits to your body, such as maintaining your overall muscle mass and promoting sexual health and fertility. Men typically have more testosterone present in their bodies. About 10 percent of testosterone in all adults is converted to DHT with the help of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR).
It’s thought that DHT attaches to androgen receptors on the hair follicles. The DHT then causes hair follicles to shrink. As a result, the Anagen, or growing, phase of the hair growth cycle decreases in length while the Telogen, or resting, phase of the hair cycle is extended.
The anagen phase becomes shorter over time, until eventually no hair grows past the scalp line. Additionally, the hair shaft becomes thinner as the hair follicle shrinks, so hair begins to thin and is more prone to breakage.
DHT and Men’s Hair Loss -
Androgenic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in men. By the age of 50, over half of men will have some type of DHT-related hair loss.
Male pattern baldness presents itself as thinning along the hairline, temples, and crown. Eventually the hair loss spreads, resulting in a horseshoe-shaped ring of hair around the bottom of the scalp.
DHT and Hair Loss in Females -
DHT has also been linked to hair loss in women. Though in lower quantities, women typically also have male hormones like DHT in their bodies. An imbalance of hormones or an increased sensitivity to DHT can result in hair loss.
Women with DHT hair loss usually see the same symptoms as women with other types of hair loss, such as a widening parting or smaller, thinner ponytail.
Why Do Some People Have DHT Hair Loss?
Everyone has DHT in their bodies, but only some people have DHT hair loss. For the most part, DHT hair loss is related to genetics. But for people without a genetic cause, researchers have postulated a few characteristics that may cause it in some individuals:
- More androgen receptors on the hair follicles
- Increased levels of DHT in the body
- Higher sensitivity to androgens
What is a DHT Blocker?
Some medications have the ability to lower levels of DHT, helping to slow or even reverse DHT hair loss.
Finasteride is a DHT blocker that diminishes the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, effectively lowering levels of DHT in the body. However, since DHT is so important to reproductive operations of the body, finasteride can have serious side effects like loss of libido.
Some researchers have identified herbal remedies that may be possible DHT blockers, such as Saw Palmetto, Stinging Nettle, and Reishi Mushrooms. However, more research is needed to determine how effective these treatments truly are in the fight against hair loss.
Tips for DHT Hair Loss -
If you have hair loss, a Trichologist can help you confirm if your hair loss is DHT-related. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of your hair loss and help you to devise a treatment plan.
How to Get Thicker-Looking Hair if your are thinning!
A simple way to instantly reverse the appearance of hair loss is to use DermMatch. DermMatch can be very helpful as part of the recovery since DermMatch instantly disguises hair loss. DermMatch is loaded with botanical ingredients that coat every existing hair shaft, making thin hairs stand up and spread out for spectacular fullness.