What is DHT?

by Jeremy Langart

DHT Foundations

 

Androgens

 

Androgens are natural or artificial steroids that are responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics including hair growth, muscle development and sex drive. Principle androgens are testosterone and androstenedione. Present in both men and women they are, of course, present in much higher levels in men but women are more sensitive to their presence.

 

5 Alpha Reductase Enzymes

First discovered in the male prostrate gland, 5 Alpha Reductase is an enzyme mapped to chromosome 5. It is responsible for converting testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone or DHT. The National Institute of Health reports that recently 5 alpha reductase has also been found in the scalp and elsewhere in the skin and is a potential contributor to male pattern baldness and acne .

DHT

The conversion of testosterone to DHT has a strong role in the growth of hair. In the hair follicle are receptor areas. The receptor is a group of molecules designed to bind to molecules of a complementary shape, in this case DHT. As DHT forms, the receptor area binds with the DHT. The result is a choking of the nutrients needed to move the hair into the growth phase. As DHT increases in the body hair growth is stimulated on the body and hair loss on the scalp increases.

DHT and Hair Growth

DHT is reported as being responsible for 95% of all male pattern baldness and resulting hair loss . In the normal hair growth cycle has three distinct phases; the growth or anagen phase which can last for 2-6 years which can grow about 4 inches per year. Hair is unlikely to grow an individual hair more than 39 inches. After the anagen phase the hair moves to a transitional phase or catagen phase. This phase can last a week or two. The hair then moves to the resting or Telogen phase where the hair will rest for 5-6 weeks. Old hair will shed naturally; typically 50-100 strands of hair can be lost a day, new hair growth will also push old hair out.

It is believed that the presence of DHT moves the hair faster into the resting period. This results in a miniaturization of the hair, creating finer and finer hair follicles and the shrinkage of the hair results in the pattern of hair loss. This pattern is typically a receding hair line and a horseshoe pattern of loss on the crown of the head. DHT is also thought to create a waxy substance around the root of the hair which also contributes to the hair loss.

DHT Inhibitors and DHT Blockers

Most of the solutions for hair regrowth and hair loss treatment originate with the inhibition of DHT forming or the blocking of DHT to bind to the receptors in the hair follicle.

There are 2 FDA approved treatments for hair loss both work as DHT inhibitors or DHT blockers.

Propecia® or Finasteride is one of the FDA approved treatments. It works to block the formation of DHT. It is especially focused on the horseshoe shaped hair loss pattern on the top of the head. Propecia® has side effects and limitations. The most notable limitation is that it can only be used by men. Pregnant women should never handle broken or crushed Propecia® tablets as it can cause serious birth defects. Propecia® also has side effects including changes in sex drive and sperm production in the men who take it as well as difficulty in achieving erection.

Minoxidil or Rogaine® has been used for 30 years to facilitate hair regrowth and treat hair loss. It was the first FDA approved product. It works to counteract the effects of DHT by increasing the miniaturized hair and reducing the Telogen phase to stimulate faster return to the growth or anagen phase.

References:

' National Medical Library, National Institute of Health, Genes and Disease online @ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gnd?=malepatternbaldness
" Medical News Today online @ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/68082.php