Have you been losing hair mysteriously? This article takes you through DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) and how it causes hair loss. Also, it touches on DHT Blockers, medications that can inhibit DHT.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a male sex hormone (androgen) found in both men and women alike, that develops certain male characteristics such as muscle mass, body hair, and deep voice. DHT causes hair loss by shrinking hair follicles to cause hereditary pattern baldness.
How Does DHT Cause Hair Loss?
Testosterone works alongside 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme found in the hair follicle gland, to convert to DHT. For men with a hereditary baldness disorder, DHT binds to receptors in hair follicles to cause the shrinking of the follicle.
Hair loss through DHT happens in four stages:
- Anagen
- Catagen
- Telogen
- Exogen
Anagen is the first phase of hair growth. It takes place anywhere between 2 to 6 years. The longer this phase lasts, the longer your hair grows. The majority of people have their hair in this phase.
Catagen lasts between 1 to 3 weeks. During this phase, hair follicles renew again for another growth phase.
During the Telogen phase, the hair follicle remains for around one to four months. Anagen begins as soon as telogen comes to an end.
In the Exogen phase, new follicles push out the existing hair out of the pore, allowing new growth. However, DHT miniaturizes the new hair follicles, causing premature male baldness. The resulting anagen phase gets long, as no new hair follicles are produced.
DHT blockers inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
What are DHT Blockers?
DHT blockers are the most effective treatment for this form of hair loss. Finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, helps reduce male pattern baldness. It can stop premature baldness when taken during the early stages of hair loss. In some instances, it causes hair growth, although in reduced numbers.
While DHT blockers do not minimize block DHT in your scalp, they keep testosterone levels high. This inhibits the 5α-reductase enzyme such that testosterone remains in its original state. With DHT blockers, the 5α-reductase enzyme cannot convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, hence a normal hair growth phase.
Talk to a Hair Restoration Specialist Near You
DHT is the male hormone that causes male pattern baldness. If you have been experiencing hair loss, DHT blockers may help you significantly.
Transitions Hair Loss Centers are located in major population centers nationwide, including San Jose, California, Long Island, New York, and dozens of locations in between. They pride themselves on having the latest clinically proven hair loss treatment solutions. If you have questions about hair loss and thinning hair, contact a Transitions member hair restoration specialist near you to arrange for a private, one-on-one consultation where you can get all your questions answered fully, and find the perfect hair loss solution for you.