Hair loss affects both men and women in different
ways and can have a huge impact on our lives. Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT
as it’s more commonly known is a steroid and hormone that plays a substantial
role in men and women’s hair loss. However, it isn’t all bad news. For men and
women suffering the effects of thinning hair or hair loss, there are clinically
proven hair loss solutions and medical procedures that work to address the
effects of DHT.
Male Pattern Baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia mostly affects the front and top of the scalp where the majority of
DHT-susceptible hair follicles sit. DHT is the biggest contributing factor to
male pattern baldness. Female hair loss is more complicated and DHT could be
only one of the possible causes. In women, DHT build-up is influenced by a
decrease in estrogen and tends to result in thinning hair, rather than the
complete balding seen in men.
DHT is a sex steroid and androgen hormone, a hormone
associated with the expression of masculine characteristics. The enzyme
5a-reductase synthesizes DHT from testosterone in several areas throughout the
body including hair follicles, prostate and adrenal glands. While testosterone
is essential for normal sexual behavior and metabolic activities including the
production of blood cells, bone formation and liver function, DHT is primarily
involved in developing sexual characteristics such as facial hair. In a
nutshell, DHT is a by-product made from testosterone and helps the body
regulate itself. DHT puts hair on men’s faces and bodies in their early lives,
but for many men, it also takes it away from the scalp.
So, how does DHT cause hair loss? A common
misconception is that DHT actually causes the hair to fall out. In reality,
this is not the case. DHT actually restricts the hair follicles ability to
grow. For those who have a history of hair loss in their family, the hair
follicles may be particularly sensitive to the effects of DHT. When DHT
attaches itself to the receptor cells of the hair follicles, it prevents
proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing the nourishment necessary to
sustain life, causing them to shrink. As the hair follicles shrink, the hair is
reproduced at a slower rate either shortening its growing phase or lengthening
its resting phase. The end result is thinning hair as the hair becomes finer
with each growth cycle and eventually new hairs stop growing.
Despite this, there are alternatives to living with
thinning or balding hair. One option is to attempt to inhibit the production of
DHT in a number of ways. While proper nutrition is important for maintaining
your overall health in addition to the health of one’s hair, it alone will not
counter the effects of DHT. Without interfering with the body’s natural
testosterone levels, clinically proven hair loss treatments counter the
symptoms of hair loss either by returning proper blood flow to the hair
follicle or by inhibiting the production of DHT itself. New England Associates®
is proud to offer nutritional supplements specific for hair, hair care products
and Laser Hair Thearpy (LLLT; which uses the principle of photobiotherapy to
restore damaged or dormant hair follicles that have broken down due to the
collection of DHT) for healthy fuller looking hair.
For more severe hair loss situations New England
Associates®
offers procedures that add the appearance of growing hair no matter which stage
of hair loss you may be experiencing. At New England Associates®, you will have the opportunity to
meet with one of our professionals who will answer any questions you may have
with the most current information on hair loss and the alternatives. You will receive
a free microscopic hair and scalp analysis where your specific hair loss will
be considered. Each person has a unique hair loss pattern and situation that
requires a unique approach to restoring or replacing hair. Our programs are
tailored to fit your individual needs, some procedures are medical, some are
surgical however most are not. At New England Associates® the options are many
and the choices are yours.
If you’re ready to say goodbye to painful side
effects of hair loss, please visit our website at www.HairStart.com or call
1-866-HairStart to schedule a no-cost/no-obligation consultation and discuss
what procedures are right for you!
