Many myths surround the propensity of men to lose their hair. Because it happens to a large portion of the population and because of the self-esteem tied to hair loss, one of the more prominent half-truths told is that testosterone is responsible for pattern balding.
While it is true that hormones have an influence on hair loss, simply using the generic term “testosterone” is misleading. The hormone most associated with pattern baldness is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). While DHT is related to and sometimes created by testosterone, the two hormones are not the same and do not have the same impact on your body or your hair.
What Happens If DHT Is Too high?
Harvard Medical School points out that testosterone has some beneficial effects on the body: it makes it easier to gain muscle mass, helps men grow, and is essential for sperm production. DHT – on the other hand – gives people acne and helps them grow hair on their chest, but it also can lead to balding and possibly even prostate cancer.
In women, DHT has been associated with not only pattern hair loss, but also polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a condition that can lead to excessive hair growth, including facial hair, and infertility. For older women, according to the National Institutes of Health, DHT can increase during menopause leading to hair thinning and pattern hair loss.
What Does DHT Do to Your Hair?
DHT in your bloodstream flows through your body to feed your cells, including your hair follicles. The problem is that when there is an excess of DHT, it can shrink those hair follicles or even tell them that it is the wrong time for them to be growing. By cutting short the growth phase, DHT leads to more hair shedding. Then the thinner follicles become unable to grow new hair and you have a hair loss issue.
In essence, DHT makes your hair follicle weaker, making it unable to support the hair. This leads to hair breakage and hair loss. But there is good news… once doctors identify DHT as the cause of your hair loss, there are treatment options.
Can You Remove DHT from the Scalp?
“Remove” would be inaccurate. There are two ways to reduce the impact of DHT on the scalp and on hair loss. The first is through your diet. According to Healthline, a number of foods can help your body combat the effects of DHT on hair follicles. Green tea and coconut oil, for example, can help.
The second way is through the topical application of products designed to reduce DHT on the scalp. Prescription formulas like minoxidil may be applied either directly to the scalp as a serum or shampoo, or (occasionally) taken as a pill. In the case of the prescriptions, the intent is to counteract the body’s natural conversion of testosterone into DHT.
Precision Hair Restoration Can Help Determine the Right Treatment Option for You
Hair loss, like most medical conditions, is deeply personal and individual. Why would you want to treat it like everyone else does?
Here at Precision Hair Restoration, we treat our patients individually with a personalized hair loss treatment plan that is right for you. Not sure if we can help you fight hair loss and thinning? That’s okay. Contact us today and we will find out together.
