Many men have come to expect and even accept male pattern baldness. Their fathers were bald, so they assume they will be, too. But male pattern baldness isn’t purely genetic. The condition can be made worse by DHT (dihydrotestosterone).
Below, we discuss DHT: what it is, how it affects hair loss, and how we can treat it.
What Is DHT?
DHT is an androgen, a hormone that is an offshoot of testosterone. Although it is much more prevalent in men, it can be present in women, too.
DHT contributes to the development of male characteristics during puberty, such as an increase in body hair and a deepening voice. Later on in life, DHT can help men maintain their overall muscle mass and fertility level.
While DHT is necessary, producing too much DHT can have negative consequences. Male pattern baldness is only one of them. High levels of DHT are also associated with enlarged prostate and coronary disease.
How Does DHT Affect Hair Follicles?
For men who are already genetically prone to male pattern baldness, DHT heightens the likelihood of hair loss.
To understand how DHT affects hair follicles, you have to understand two different phases of follicles.
Anagen Phase: This phase is when your hair is actively growing. The longer this phase lasts, the longer your hair will grow. This phase usually lasts 2-6 years.
Telogen Phase: During this phase, your hair is not growing. When the telogen phase is over, the hair is shed and replaced by new growth, from the anagen phase.
If all goes well, you will never even notice the changing phases. But male pattern baldness and increased levels of DHT can interrupt the cycles and cause hair loss.
Male pattern baldness affects your hair follicles in two ways. First, the anagen phase is reduced, meaning that the hair won’t grow for as long. Second, the telogen phase is increased, so the hair is dormant and not growing. As male pattern baldness continues, eventually no new hair is being produced.
DHT heightens this effect by shrinking your hair follicles. This means that the hair that comes through the pores gets thinner and thinner. In the end, the little hair that emerges is reduced to tiny wisps.
How Can I Overcome DHT?
As much as DHT can have negative effects on hair growth, you can overcome it with different treatments. There are DHT blockers that will prevent the enzymes from binding to your hair follicles. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), which treats male pattern baldness, can work in conjunction with DHT blockers. Used together, these treatments can help restore your hair. Also, there are procedures like PRP and hair transplants that can bear positive outcomes.
DHT Blockers: DHT blockers can come in different forms, but they all have a similar effect on your hair growth. By preventing your body from converting enzymes into DHT, they can help restart hair growth. They fight the miniaturization, or shrinking, of the hair follicles. This will lead to increased hair production.
Using a DHT blocking shampoo will prevent your body from turning testosterone into DHT. And even though pattern baldness is experienced mainly by men, the shampoo is equally effective for women who may be experiencing it, too. Aside from blocking the production of DHT, the shampoo has additional benefits. It contents ingredients that aid in the cellular metabolism of your scalp and the reactivation of your hair, promoting the overall health of both. An alternative option would be to use Hemp Shampoo (100g, 0mg).
DHT Blocking Vitamins, made with all-natural ingredients, will have a similar effect. They block the production of DHT while promoting scalp circulation and speeding up hair growth. These vitamins also contain other ingredients, such as zinc, that are healthy for your body.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy:If you want a non-surgical approach to address hair loss and stimulate thicker hair growth without the use of chemicals or medication, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy may be the ideal solution for you.
PRP hair restoration therapy is an innovative and minimally invasive treatment. The process involves drawing a small amount of blood from your arm, which is then placed in a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the red blood cells. The resulting plasma is then injected into the areas of your scalp where hair thinning has occurred.
PRP hair restoration is particularly effective for healthy individuals, both men and women. It’s important to note that the success of PRP therapy may vary depending on the type of hair loss. Studies indicate that individuals in the early stages of hair loss tend to respond better to PRP.
Consulting with a qualified professional from Global Center for Hair Restoration or a similar clinic can allow for a comprehensive assessment of your specific hair loss situation and determine whether PRP therapy is a suitable option for you. They can discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and expected outcomes of PRP treatment, ensuring you make an informed decision about your hair loss problems.
Hair Transplant: Whilst this option might seem costly and perhaps invasive, hair transplant technology has become more widespread and has changed a lot over the years which might make it an option worth exploring. Many celebrities have also recently been seen talking about their experiences getting this procedure done which could also have arguably made this more talked about and furthered the treatment. With the ability to potentially be a longer-lasting maybe even permanent option for those suffering from hair loss.
Obviously there are issues that may concern potential candidates, such as the procedure being possibly invasive, recovery times, and also cost, but these issues could be minimized with some research. For example, if you are worried about costs then searching for terms and different treatment costs such as, neograft hair transplant cost might help you to see all sorts of different providers and costs of treatments to help you make an informed decision. However, regardless of costs, you should always make sure a treatment provider for this procedure is fully licensed before committing to anything.
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): This treatment, which you can get from places like LifeMotion Physical Therapy, emits a cold light onto your scalp. As the light penetrates into your scalp, the amount of blood flowing to your scalp tissue will be increased. And since blood delivers oxygen and essential nutrients, your hair follicles will experience heightened levels of those. This stimulates your hair follicles to grow once again,
FDA-approved LLLT devices, such as a laser hair cap, can rejuvenate your hair follicles. The damaged and weakened follicles that are in the telogen phase will be restored to the anagen phase and your hair will begin to grow once again.
Used together, DHT blockers and LLLT treatments can be highly effective in the fight against male pattern baldness.