What is DHT?

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!