DHT has been a hot topic of discussion in the hair industry for quite some time, being blamed as one of the main causes of hair loss.
(Or really should say ‘buzz-acronym’, as it actually stands for “dihydrotestosterone”, but it’s a big word to repeat, so I’ll stick with DHT). DHT is produced when the hormone testosterone interacts with a special enzyme that is present in the skin and scalp (women also produce testosterone in their bodies, but at much lower levels than men). It is a fact that some people, mostly men, are genetically pre-disposed to produce DHT to varying degrees during and after puberty.
DHT, if left untreated, literally suffocates the hair follicle, tricking the follicle into thinking it is receiving the nutrients it needs to build a healthy thick hair shaft. When in fact, it is slowly being starved and at each subsequent growing stage of the follicle it gradually produces thinner and weaker hairs. Also the resulting space in the follicle is taken up by a hardened fatty sebum, which in turn makes it more and more difficult to produce any hair.
The follicle will then go into the “telogen” or resting phase and if left untreated long enough, it will die and no amount of treatment will make it a hair again. Hence I believe that prevention is better than cure and proper action needs to be taken immediately at the first symptoms of hair fall.
Please note that even if you have had substantial hair loss due to DHT, it is still worth treating, as you may have a lot of follicles that are stuck in the resting phase.
You can also make your remaining hair thicker and stronger to enable a successful hair transplant, if necessary.
When DHT causes hair loss, it is commonly referred to as ‘male pattern baldness’, this is where the hair line recedes at the temples, and then loss is seen at the crown. This is because these areas have a higher concentration of sweat glands that carry DHT. For a lot of men, it stops there and they are left with varying degrees of receding hairline at the temples and a bald spot on the crown. In some however, the hair loss continues and rejects the entire top of the scalp, leaving just a horseshoe-shaped hairline around the sides and back of the head. On women affected by DHT hair loss, thinning is more of a normal, ‘absolutely’ phenomenon, it is not as obvious to spot as with a man, as the hair-line remains intact and there is a general thinning which Its works front to back or back to front.
There is reason for optimism though, in the form of special, deep-cleansing scalp shampoos and conditioners that will clear out follicle-clogging sebum and penetrate deeper, invigorating it back to life and feeding it the vital nutrients it needs. will allow. Produce thick, healthy, shiny hair.
Source by Antony Davies
