In the classic song from “South Pacific,” the heroine decides to “wash that man right out of her hair.” But getting rid of the things that can contribute to your hair loss is not quite that simple.
Dihydrotestosterone, sometimes referred to as DHT, is known to shrink hair follicles and wreak havoc on the life cycle of hair – delaying regrowth and/or causing more shedding. Some DHT is normal and needed, but an excess of it can be a problem and lead to hair loss.
Can You Flush DHT Out of Your Body?
The problem, of course, is that you can’t just wash the DHT right out of your hair. DHT circulates in the bloodstream, a byproduct of interactions between our food and our natural hormones (including testosterone). You cannot flush DHT from your system.
What you can do is try DHT blockers. But medications that include DHT blockers can have negative side effects, ranging from sexual difficulties to skin irritation – depending on the type of medication. That has led many men, and women, affected by pattern baldness to look for alternatives.
What Is the Best Natural DHT Blocker?
Medical News Today points out that the use of vitamins and minerals and other supplements to block DHT has not been proven to help against the development of excess DHT. Some experts suggest that consuming green tea may help block the production of DHT. They also suggest avoiding nutrient-rich foods like eggs, red meat, and shellfish that may contribute to the production of DHT.
Organic egg-producers Pete and Gerry’s firmly disagree. While touting the healthiness of eggs for providing protein and other nutrients necessary for healthy hair, the egg producers also suggest that mixing their egg whites with coconut oil and aloe vera gel can help your hair grow. As far as we know, their scientific evidence is lacking.
That said, patients concerned about hair loss should not risk malnutrition in an effort to block DHT. Good nutrition helps the body in general and supports good hair health regardless of your hair volume.
Even though it is not proven, some suggest that drinking green tea and washing your hair with coffee may help decrease DHT or stimulate hair growth. Healthline suggests that using coffee water (mostly for the caffeine it contains) might stimulate hair growth, but that is also lacking scientific proof.
While eating nutritious food is always wise, if DHT is causing your hair loss then food is unlikely to reverse the situation. The good news is that there are a variety of FDA-approved treatments and procedures that can help.
Precision Hair Restoration Can Determine If DHT Is a Factor in Your Hair Loss
If you are concerned about your hair loss and looking for treatment options, the team at Precision Hair Restoration can help. Our expert staff can do the testing necessary to determine if you have an excess of DHT and then recommend effective methods to address the issue with proven treatments. Call Precision today to get started!
