DHT is a sex hormone that is a derivative of testosterone, but excess amounts of this hormone can affect the hair follicles. DHT interferes with the hair's growth cycle, shrinking and shortening the hair making it easier for it to fall out and more difficult for it to grow back.
In vitro, testosterone and estrogen inhibit hair growth, suggesting that scalp hair growth may be controlled by these sex hormones.
Of the many nutrients and oils touted as natural DHT blockers, rosemary oil is one of the best proven. In a 2015 study, men applied either rosemary oil or minoxidil (an FDA-approved topical treatment for male pattern hair loss) to their scalps twice daily for six months.
Will Blocking DHT Lead to Hair Regrowth? The primary benefit of blocking DHT is that it can slow or even stop hair loss. It is often considered to be the most effective way to treat hair loss because it combats one of the major causes of baldness. However, DHT blockers do not directly promote new hair growth.
DHT is a hormone that contributes to hair loss in both men and women. Green tea, onions, pumpkin seeds, and edamame, among other foods and beverages, contain nutrients that may lower DHT levels and prevent hair loss.
1. DHT Blocker Medicine (Finasteride) A study in the American Academy of Dermatology [1] revealed that finasteride is an effective DHT blocker. It works dual roles - halts hair loss and helps with future growth.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance that affects people AFAB. It happens when their ovaries create excess androgens, including testosterone, which leads to increased DHT levels. This causes a variety of symptoms, including irregular periods, excessive hair growth (hirsutism) and acne.
Practicing a healthy lifestyle can help reduce DHT levels naturally. This includes regular exercise, quit smoking, reduce stress, take time to rest, and do scalp exercises like massages to reduce tension and increase blood flow.
Finasteride is an oral, prescription-only medication that works by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to DHT. Originally developed to treat an enlarged prostate, finasteride works by blocking DHT from shrinking the hair follicles.
Women with too much dihydrotestosterone may develop increased body, facial and pubic hair growth (called hirsutism), stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhoea) and increased acne. Abnormal changes to the genitalia may also occur in women with too much dihydrotestosterone.
DHT blockers are safe and effective for most men. However, some DHT-blocking medications may cause side effects, including sexual side effects. The most common side effects of finasteride include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED) and ejaculation issues, such as a reduction in semen volume.
Getting a blood test is the most common way to establish your DHT levels, but a saliva panel test is considered more accurate. These tests are not generally available through your GP although your doctor should be able to point you in the direction of a specialist who can run these tests for you, privately.
Too much estrogen can cause hair loss and thinning hair. Many times, an increase in estrogen is caused by perimenopause, ingesting or touching endocrine disruptor items and gaining weight. Estrogen affects the hormones, which in turn affect the ability for your hair to grow.
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) is the key signal responsible for hair follicle growth stimulation.
Estrogen and progesterone can help keep your hair in the growing (anagen) phase. Therefore, these hormones can help your hair stay on your head longer and may even help your hair grow faster. This may be why many women notice their hair thinning starts to improve with estrogen replacement therapy.
Zinc for Hair Loss
It may seem strange, because even though DHT levels are raised, production is limited. Using zinc as a DHT blocker is not effective. Zinc helps to keep hormone levels regulated, which is one of the reasons why it is so effective in preventing and treating hair loss.
The theory behind using apple cider vinegar for hair loss is that it treats the condition in three ways: Eliminates scalp buildup, removes DHT and balances pH.
The most straightforward way of achieving this is through an oral 5-alpha-reductase (5αr) inhibitor. As the name suggests, these medications inhibit the 5αr enzyme which converts testosterone to DHT. Without a functioning enzyme, DHT levels in the blood plummet which is quickly reflected in the scalp.
Increased DHT (dihydrotestosterone) can be caused by conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia), and excessive male-pattern hair growth in females (hirsutism).
As a standard direction in blocking the production of DHT naturally, look for food sources that are rich in zinc such as mushrooms, green peas, beet greens, spinach, kale, sweet corn, etc. and pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, almonds and walnuts.
Topical DHT blockers can be an effective treatment for women with hormonal hair loss caused by elevated levels of testosterone. By blocking the 5a-reductase enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, these treatments inhibit the production of DHT, leading to decreased levels in the body and reduced hair loss.
So, by age 20, around 20 per cent of men may experience its onset, rising to 30 per cent of 30 year olds and 40 per cent of 40 year olds.
One 2007 laboratory study found that caffeine helped block the effects of DHT in male hair follicles. It stimulated hair shaft elongation, resulting in longer, wider hair roots. It also prolonged anagen duration, which is the hair growth stage.