Why Does DHT Cause Hair Loss?

DHT is usually at the root of the issue when men struggle with hair loss. In fact, the most common cause of male hair loss in the UK is a sensitivity to DHT, and the hormone can make things extremely difficult for your hair follicles. But what exactly is DHT, why does it cause hair loss, and can it be treated?

Introducing DHT 

DHT – Dihydrotestosterone – is a by-product of testosterone metabolism and is a naturally occurring sex hormone in men. DHT exists because of the 5a-Reductase enzyme, which is responsible for converting a small amount of your testosterone into DHT. The hormone actually plays an important role in the various stages of puberty, and it even leads to hair growth in other areas of your body, which is ironic given that it causes hair loss on your head.

What is the connection between DHT and hair loss? 

Despite the key role that DHT plays in the development of the male body, it’s not wholly a good thing. If you’re sensitive to DHT, you may suffer from hair loss because of a process known as miniaturisation. This is when DHT binds to the receptors in your hair follicles, which leads to shrinkage of hair follicles. Left untreated, this process will continue with DHT eventually causing the miniaturised hairs to fall out and the hair follicle die out. If left untreated, DHT is likely to cause your hair follicles to die out.

Can DHT be blocked? 

Thankfully, there are some things you can do to block DHT. The most popular prescription medicine that is used in hair loss treatment is Finasteride. This is a well established medication that has been used to treat male pattern hair loss since the 1990s. But how exactly does it block DHT? Finasteride is a drug known as a 5a-reductase inhibitor, which can successfully limit the enzyme’s production of DHT. As DHT growth is suppressed by Finasteride, the hairs on your head are allowed to regain their strength and achieve their full growth potential, which can lead to thicker and healthier hair.

Although Finasteride doesn’t work 100% of the time, several studies have been published that show positive and impressive results. A 1999 study proved that Finasteride lowered DHT levels in the scalp by as much as 60%. A separate study revealed that Finasteride enabled 90% of men to stop losing their hair. One large study from 2012 discovered that Finasteride encouraged hair growth in 85% of men. Therefore, we can say with confidence that Finasteride can be used as a hair loss treatment for men.

Although sensitivity to DHT is at the root of most cases of hair loss, implementing Finasteride into your hair loss treatment can help you stop any further loss.

All of our blog articles are reviewed for medical accuracy by our Medical Director before publication.

Posted in: All, Hair loss, Science