DHT? Die Hard Testosterone?

If you are having Male or Female Pattern Baldness, DHT is the culprit! This hormone is the primary cause of your condition.

Male Hormone Testosterone

DHT is converted by the enzyme '5 alpha reductase' in our body when it reacts with Testosterone. Testosterone itself is a male sex hormone. Its function is to

• increase libido (sex drive)
• increase energy
• increase production of red blood cells

A normal male will produce more than 6 times the amount of Testosterone than a woman but she is more sensitive to the effects of this hormone.

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So, What is it?

DHT stands for Dihydrotestosterone (Die-hi-dro-tes-tos-ter-ron) which is 3 times more potent form of Testosterone so Die Hard Testosterone is not entire untrue! It's an important strong male sex hormone we need to live.

How is it formed?

The hormone is formed in your prostate gland, testes, hair follicles, and adrenal glands when the hormone Testosterone binds with the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase.

What does it do?

Its principal causes are

• acne
• male voice
• male masculinity
• nose hairs
• male puberty
• beards and body hair

In simpler words, it emphasizes on the male characteristics.

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How can it cause Male Pattern Baldness?

The most important question. When the converted hormone in the blood streams reaches your scalp, it

• binds with the receptor cell on your hair follicle
• sends false signals to your receptor cell
• prevents essential nutrients that fuels your follicle

The only parts of the hair follicles that are affected are usually your front temple to the back of your crown region (vertex). The side and back of your scalp are genetically resistant to DHT. That is why you don't lose hair in the sides and back of your scalp.

The growth phase (ANAGEN) of your hair cycle shortens and that leads to

• slower hair growth
• reduced hair size
• disrupt the supply of much needed nutrients to your hair

Due to that, your hair follicle won't be able to maximize growth . This stalls the ANAGEN phase of your hair growth cycle. You hair might even shrink during this phase.

If your hair can't grow, it will enter the Resting phase (TELOGEN) earlier until the hair falls out.

Your hair growth will be restricted and gets worse with each hair cycle. The hair follicle will grow thinner and thinner until it becomes known as 'vellus' hair (small and almost invisible hair) until the follicle falls out and dies.

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How to reduce it?

If you can reduce this hormone on your head, you can technically reduce your hair loss. Of course, this only applies to the normal Pattern Hair Loss.

If you have another hair loss condition, please click here to find out more.

There are wide varieties of products available from Propecia to topical applications that can inhibit and remove this hormone. Before checking out the products, you might want to take a look at the Hamilton Norwood Scale to determine your MPB condition.

Take a look at the Hair Loss Product Review page.

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