Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and its effects on hair loss

Whether they know it or not, all men are quite familiar with DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone. DHT is a potent androgen (a steroid hormone) that leads to the development of male sex characteristics during puberty, including the growth of facial and body hair and muscle development. It causes the voice to deepen. It can lead to acne.

And later in life, it causes hair loss.

DHT and hair loss

Medically, here's how the process works: DHT is created when the enzyme 5-alpha reductase combines with testosterone, causing a chemical reaction that results in excessive levels of DHT. When DHT reaches hair follicles, and the derma papilla (the part of the hair follicle responsible for hair growth), it blocks the dermal papilla's receptors from receiving vital minerals, vitamins and proteins.

So what does all that mean? Hair follicles, starved of nourishment, shrink or become "miniaturized," and the hair falls out. Men (and women) who lose more hair than others are genetically predisposed to producing higher levels of DHT. Men typically lose their hair in patches, while women's hair tends to become much thinner.

Cures for DHT-caused hair loss

There are thousands of promised cures and remedies that tout their ability to halt or repair the havoc created by DHT. Perhaps the best place to start researching for a remedy for DHT and hair loss, however, is by consulting a licensed dermatologist or hair restoration surgeon. A medically trained professional who specializes in skin care and hair loss can help create a treatment plan that just might help reduce or slow the effects of DHT.