DHT: The Real Cause of Hair Loss

Men and women around the world have suffered from hair loss for as long as we can remember. Statistics show that more than 65 million men in the United States suffer from androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as patterned hair loss.

When blood levels of androgen decrease during puberty, patterned hair loss may begin its pattern. Commonly, the first sign of hair loss is a receding hair line, particularly in the temporal area. Hair loss is hereditary and usually begins to become apparent in men in their late 20's. In some men, it may not fully develop until their 40's or sometimes 50's. Still other men seem to avoid losing hair at all.

A main catalyst of hair loss is DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. DHT is a by-product of testosterone which develops sex characteristics in men while still in the embryonic period, and then later developing secondary sex characteristics during puberty. DHT characteristically attaches itself to the androgen receptors, fighting hair follicles and stunting its growth.

Follicles affected by DHT shrink in size, usually to the size of follicles in an infant. DHT causes follicles to become thinner and shorter and eventually causes them to stop growing. Follicles will decay and the anagen, or growth phase becomes considerably shorter. The hair growth process usually takes as long as two to four years to complete itself. Once the anagen phase slows down, the hair loss process sets in and accelerates. Hair that continues to grow is usually noticeably finer and thinner.

This type of hair is referred to as baby hairs, or miniaturized hairs. The most common areas to be affected by pattern hair loss is the front or crown of the head. This pattern usually results in the U-shape common among balding men. It is interesting to note that the effects of thinning hair in men usually happen quicker than in women. This is because the levels of testosterone in men is much higher than women, so the hair shaft simply does not deteriorate as fast.