DHT - What is it and what does it do and why is it referred to so much in the hair loss community?

Well, quite simply, DHT is, in one way or another, the primary cause of hair loss in most instances of Androgenetic Alopecia in both men and women.

So, What Is DHT?

DHT stands for Dihydrotestosterone. DHT is in various tissues of the body and the skin. The enzyme 5 Alpha Reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

Why Does DHT Effect Me?

Well, too much DHT can have an impact on hair follicles for some people (see image below). As for why it effects you and not others then who knows! It's probably down to genetics - i.e. being genetically pre-disposed to be effected by too much DHT. It is worth noting that too much DHT has also led to enlarged prostate's in men too so something to keep an eye on I think if you are male.

DHT And Hair Loss

To understand how DHT causes hair loss the image below gives a better understanding:

To deal with each numbered image in turn:

1. The enzyme 5 Alpha-Reductase converts Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone
2. DHT binds to Androgen Receptors
3. DHT causes increased hair loss and gradual miniaturization of the hair follicle.
4. Over time the hair follicles die and the scalp becomes visible.

So, in a nut-shell, DHT binds to the Androgen Receptors on your hair follicles and this in turn causes miniaturization of the hair follicle. Over time, this can kill the follicles totally.

DHT Products - How Do They Work?

You will see on this website, and many others, products called DHT Blockers or DHT Inhibitors. So, how do they work? Well, quite simply what they attempt to do is either reduce the production of DHT by interfering with how testosterone interacts with the enzyme 5 Alpha-Reductase AND/OR they attempt to block or inhibit the DHT from binding with the Androgen Receptors. Some products do one or the other whilst some claim to do both.

do you want DHT advice from one of our trained operatives?

If you would like DHT advice from one of our hair loss advisors then please click here to visit our personal advice page. Here you will need to fill out a questionnaire to give us some background information and we will then contact you within an hour or two (normal business hours) with our initial thoughts and a personalised hair loss regimen if possible. The service is totally free and confidential.

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