Hair Loss in Men: The Helpful and Harmful Effects of DHT

When it comes to that one culprit that causes male pattern baldness, DHT or dihydrotestosterone always comes to mind. But do you really know this hormone and what it really does to your body? And how come it has issues with your hair? DHT is one of those things that you need to brush up on if you want to understand your hair loss condition better.

DHT is what you may probably consider your sly hormone because it has both good and bad functions in your body. It starts off with the androgen testosterone. When testosterone comes in contact with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, it is then converted to a more active form which is DHT.

All the changes that you experience during puberty such as the deepening of your voice, facial hairs, development of muscles, and sex drive are also brought about by DHT. It makes men to look and sound more like men, so to speak.

Another benefit that DHT has on your body is its antagonistic effect on oestrogen. You may be shocked at what oestrogen’s got to do with this when we’re talking about male physiology. But what you don’t know is that you actually have some amounts of this female hormone in your system, just as the ladies have some testosterone in them. So what DHT does is that it hinders the effect of oestrogen on tissues by competing on its receptor sites. It also reduces the amounts of gonadotropin that are released; this results to lessened number of materials for oestrogen production. You will appreciate this process more if I tell you that it prevents your body from forming man boobs, or what is medically known as gynecomastia.

Also, by its function to reduce gonadotropin — which in effect also lessens oestrogen levels — it reverts the process of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). This is a common health problem affecting a high percentage of males.

So when does DHT become the traitor in this story? When these little buggers travel to your scalp and come in contact with your hair follicles, they cause the follicles to shrink and become very fine.

DHT produces a waxy substance and builds it up around the base of your hair which causes your hair to weaken. This will ultimately lead to excessive hair loss that leads to thinning and balding on some portions of your head. This condition is what we all know as male or female (since it also affects women) pattern baldness.

Medications, hairpieces, and hair transplants are some of the ways to help you manage this condition. So you really don’t have to lose hope when DHT gets on your hairs!