Understanding How DHT Causes Hair Loss in Men
The typical pattern of this type of hair loss starts with a receding hair line that slowly progresses upwards. In some cases, the receding hairline is coupled with a bald spot at the top of the head. As hair loss advances, baldness can occur at the scalp, top, and back portions of the head, leaving only a rim of hair on the sides. In worse cases, total hair loss can occur.
The cause of male pattern baldness is due to a genetic sensitivity to the male hormone dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT comes from testosterone when it interacts with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. The conversion of testosterone to DHT is essential. DHT is far more potent than testosterone and has greater affinity to androgen receptors.
Unfortunately, the effect of DHT on the scalp is the reason for hair loss in men. It is hypothesized that this hormone somehow slowly hardens the scalp. This in turn causes the blood vessels to shrink, decreasing the blood supply to the hair follicles and depriving them of all nutrients vital for continuous hair growth. In advanced stages of hair loss, the hair follicles shrink or atrophy making them unable to produce strong thick hair.
There are a lot of people being misinformed that the bald area of the scalp no longer contains any hair follicles. This is untrue. Notice that the skin on the bald areas of scalp is still lively and can get oily sometimes. These are signs that sebum is present on the skin. This sebum is an oily substance that is produced by the sebaceous glands. Anatomically, the hair follicle has one or two sebaceous glands along with it, therefore, if the scalp gets oily, there are hair follicles present.
The next question to ask is whether there is presence of hair or not. Fortunately, there are hairs present in the scalp. The only problem is the shrinkage of the follicles due to the effects of DHT. In effect, hairs that are produced are very fine, transparent hairs that are almost invisible to the human eye. These hairs are called fuzz hair or peach hairs.
Treatments for androgenetic alopecia are aimed at inhibiting the effects of DHT. There are systemic inhibitors, meaning these hair loss treatments are taken by mouth. There are also topical inhibitors, which are applied directly to the scalp. Mostly, these products are aqueous solutions or shampoos and conditioners.
Other treatments focus on dilating the blood vessels of the scalp, which reopen the blood supply of the hair follicles, stimulating hair growth.
An ingenious company created a dust like substance that cling to the fuzz or peach hairs to instantly cover all the bald areas. Though this is mainly used to cover any signs of balding, it does not treat hair loss but it can be used safely with any type of hair loss stimulant for an instantly thick head of hair.
Posted in Causes