Back on DHT

DHT is developmentally important early in a man's life; however, it appears to be a cause of hair loss as men get older.

Current research shows that the balding scalp contains miniaturized hair follicles and increased amounts of dihydrotestosterone compared to a hairy scalp. This suggests that it is the excess presence of dihydrotestosterone in the scalp tissue that causes androgenetic alopecia in those patients genetically predisposed.

Most male and some female pattern baldness is related to hormones that convert from testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. As DHT forms in the body and in the sebum gland in the scalp, it attaches to the androgen receptors on hairs that are genetically predisposed. Simply put, this means if DHT forms in your scalp and you are susceptible to it then it will thin your hair at varying rates of speed. Dihydrotestosterone destroys the blood supply to the hair.

Testosterone converts to dihydrotestosterone with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is held in a hair follicle's oil glands. Scientists now believe that the amount of circulating testosterone is the not the problem, but the level of DHT binding to the receptors in the scalp follicles is of immense concern. DHT shrinks hair follicles making it impossible for healthy hair to survive. Simultaneously, the galea aponeurotica membrane in the scalp thickens, becoming inelastic and restricting blood circulation. Eventually, the follicle atrophies to a point where hair growth is no longer possible. The normal rest-grow cycle of the hair follicle is altered and follicles remain dormant for the majority of the time. As a result, hair falls out at the same rate, but is not replaced. Eventually, all the hairs revert to the rest phase and a bald spot, or baldness results (atrophied follicles are not necessarily dead and may be induced to resume growth with stimulation).