What is DHT?

Our system is composed of many organs and glands that carry a specific function that maintains the overall health and wellness of the body. Aside from these, hormones are also being produced in order to retain the balance and equilibrium in our system. Nevertheless, not all hormones are capable of producing beneficial effects for our health. Some are also known to cause negative or harmful side effects that can create problems in the body’s normal functioning. One example of these hormones is DHT. What is DHT and what are the effects of this hormone on the human body?

Defining DHT: What is it?

DHT or otherwise known as Dihydrotestosterone is a type of hormone that is associated with hair loss. Hair loss is considered a common problem suffered not only by aging men but as well women and some young individuals. Understanding the role as well as the relation of DHT on hair loss is very important in order to solve or correct the problem.

Most of us know that hair loss is associated to heredity. This condition can actuallt be passed on from one generation to another from either side of parentage. Nevertheless, some studies have proven that baldness coming from the maternal lineage has a greater chance of being passed down to the male offspring. But where does the DHT come in?

Our body is actually programmed to produce or create an enzyme that is known as the 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme, however, combines with the testosterone that is produced by the Androgen hormone in the scalp which results to the production or the formation of the dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT is considered a natural metabolite of the human body. This combined result of 5-alpha reductase and testosterone is not well received by the male (and some female) hair follicles. This results to the cutoff of blood supply in the area, which is an important aspect or element in healthy hair growth. Because of this, the growth of new hair becomes very critical which causes the start of the thinning or the balding process. This links the relation of DHT with hair loss.

The Anatomy of Hair

The hair follicle is composed of many different structures essential for the good growth of hair. However, one of the most important is said to be the dermal papilla, which is the main structure that is responsible for the good growth of hair. The dermal papilla contains a cell that divides and differentiates in order to form a new hair follicle. This hair follicle structure is the one that is attached to the blood capillaries of the scalp, which allows the entrance of nutrients and vitamins that are needed for hair growth. In other words, this structure is important in deriving the nutrients for good hair follicle growth. Unfortunately, the dermal papilla has many receptors for androgens especially among men. This allows DHT to block or impede the function of the dermal papilla thus affecting the blood supply as well as the good growth of the hair.

As we all know, hair requires certain nutrients and proteins in order to maintain its growth. However, once DHT comes to picture and impedes the role of the dermal papilla, these essential substances are unable to reach the hair for the sustenance of proper hair growth. Because of this, the hair follicles tend to reproduce at a slower rate which can lead to the shortening of the growing phase of the hair follicles or the lengthening of the resting phase. Either way, the growth rate of hair is being altered.

Other Effects of DHT

Aside from the ones mentioned above, DHT is also responsible for the shrinking of the hair follicles. This causes the follicles to become smaller and finer. This process or condition is referred to as the miniaturization of the follicles that leads to hair loss and/or hair fall. This is one of the reasons why DHT is always responsible for 95% of all cases of hair loss. In other words, those men and women who lose more hair are also those who are genetically predisposed to creating or producing more DHT hormones than others.

In addition to these, DHT is also capable of producing wax like substances around the hair roots. This type of DHT accumulation also leads to the rise of both male and female pattern baldness. Fortunately, there is already a type of treatment that can help block the synthesis of DHT at molecular level that helps cure the pattern hair loss. This can be done through the use of one of the many natural DHT blockers and medications that are also utilized in medical hair restoration. An example of an inhibiting agent of DHT is the Procerin. Procerin is considered a safe and all natural DHT inhibitor that is designed to hinder or block the buildup of DHT in order to allow safe and easy hair growth. This is capable of either blocking the transformation of testosterone into DHT as well as the reduction of the ability of the testosterone to bind with the androgen receptors in the hair follicles.