Facts about Dihydrotestosterone or DHT in Men’s Hair Loss

Alopecia or hair loss is predominantly occurring in men. This upsetting condition also targets women and young children as well. Hair loss is definitely not a bizarre phenomenon in all of us. The most common type of hair loss that can happen in men is the male pattern baldness or also known as androgenetic alopecia. A condition like this tend to show visible patterns on the head when men reach the age of twenty to forty.

Male pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia is a genetic condition that can be inherited either from the mother’s side or father’s side of the family. The genetically affected hair follicles are un- resistant to the derivative or by-product of a testosterone called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT is a proven damaging compound or chemical to the hair follicles. Dihydrotestosterone if accumulated in the scalp, causes the hair follicles to miniaturize (shrink), this entire process is known as “miniaturization”.

DHT is the primary contributing factor in men’s hair loss. This super hormone devastates the hair at its very foundation (roots), leading the hair to be weakened and making regrowth much harder. DHT is formed when the hormone testosterone is converted by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. Such enzyme is generally found in oil glands of the hair follicles in both men and women. When DHT is produced in the scalp, the hair can certainly shrink and eventually sheds out from the scalp hence resulting to extensive hair loss.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has now been considered blameful for men’s hair loss by most researchers and medical experts. In stopping this condition can be very critical and tricky considering from the mere fact that hair loss can be a huge problem even if the levels of testosterone in the body are completely normal. Hair loss is totally imminent if the DHT levels in the body are high. Getting treatments in order to halt men’s hair loss from hair care restoration specialists are very helpful. Nevertheless, it is also imperative to pay a visit to them to ask about the condition and to get accurate precautionary measures.

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Hair Loss and Women

Alopecia has widely been a perturbing issue among the populace of diverse ages. In women, alopecia develops progressively and is way different in methods of their occurrence and distribution on the scalp than in men. If men’s hair loss appears to be patterned, starting at the temporal areas to the crown, women’s hair loss on the other hand is way diffused. Diffuse in a mode to occur in indefinite areas all over the head, though the crown area seems to be far more pronounced and apparent after years of hair loss experience.

Cause of this diffused or common hair loss more often is hereditary, but medical conditions, medications and some other factors are considered accountable. Just like its reciprocal variety of baldness in men, this referred to hair loss, as the female pattern baldness, is similarly influenced by enzyme 5-alpha reductase and a so-called aromatase, enzyme found predominantly in women.

In current studies they somehow concluded a vast difference and variety of causes for female pattern hair loss than just the most common DHT and androsteinedione. It is demonstrated that women who are diagnosed to be suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome will expectedly double their suffering with hair loss. This syndrome, affects the balance of women’s level of hormones, thus predisposing hair loss. Furthermore, medical conditions as iron-deficiency anemia, thyroid problems of any sort, and chronic diseases instigate secondary hair loss. Physicians signified on their latest findings that major surgery and stress, traumatic emotional event and even child bearing and child birth proved to afflict hair thinning and hair loss due to certain bodily fluctuation of homeostasis and compromise. In addition, autoimmune disorder in women results in a more dramatic and alarming variety of hair loss, that is Alopecia areata. This autoimmunity allows self-attack of cells to the host’s cells itself, producing inflammation and destruction the varied areas of the body.

In contrast, others tend to develop a less hazardous, less appalling, and temporary hair shedding. This alteration are all attributed to crash dieting, anemia and bulimia nervosa (highly acclaimed the indisposition for teenage girls), mal-absorption, deficient intake of protein and surprisingly even Vitamin A overdose.

Medications are perceived by the medical professional and even the consumers to be as beneficial and as toxic to individuals. Commonly utilised medications like the anticoagulants, antiseizures, antigout, anti-hypertensives specifically the beta-blockers and diuretics are proven to generate secondary hair loss if used for quite a time. Anti-lipidemics, NSAIDs or anti-inflammatory drugs, thyroid medications, oral contraceptives especially the progestins, and chemotherapeutic drugs are but another set of medical regimen that yields hair loss as an adverse effect. Their mechanism is directed in trying to correct bodily infirmity but at some point altering other normal processes, thus evoking hair loss. Lastly, affecting the neurotransmitters of the brain are the medications as anti-psychotics, mood altering drugs in treating certain psychological disorders and even illicit drugs are found out and proven to cause hair shedding.

For such reasons of hair loss, specialists recommend that a complete work up, including essential laboratory details, be undergone to rule out a definitive diagnosis before starting the treatment. This is a requisite so to target treat the root and in providing for a more safe and efficient hair loss treatment.

For medication-caused hair loss, tapering drug dosage, stopping its intake or having a supplement are options, choice on the other-hand is in the physician and/or hair loss specialist. As for the secondary hair loss, that which is caused by diseases and other medical conditions, work up as been said is a necessity in targeting the root.

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