The majority of hair loss is caused by androgenic alopecia or male/female pattern baldness. To understand and treat this condition, we must first understand how it works.
Testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone or DHT by an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase that resides in our cells. DHT has many jobs but one of which is to control hair growth. It does this by binding to receptors on hair follicles.
We find that individuals with androgenic alopecia often have DHT bound to their scalp’s hair follicles. This binding actually causes hair loss by shrinking the follicles and suffocating the healthy hair so it is no longer able to survive. Eventually, it will shorten the hair growth cycle and prevent new hair from growing at all.
While the majority of DHT is found in our blood, it can also be found in sweat and sebum. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to wash your hair regularly, especially after sweating. This prevents the amount and length of time DHT sits on your scalp. DHT on the scalp clogs your pores and wreaks similar havoc on your hair follicles as it does when it is in your blood and binds to the receptors via cell transportation.
There are a few targeted treatments for hair loss caused by DHT; Nizoral shampoo, minoxidil (or Rogaine), and finasteride (or Propecia). These treatments have been shown to be effective in the majority of individuals who have DHT-caused hair loss and who use them properly and regularly.
Think you may have hair loss caused by DHT? If so, you’ll want to get started with medical management as soon as possible. Dr. Yazdan specializes in the medial management of hair loss and believes the best way to fight hair loss is to take an aggressive and consistent course of action. Give us a call for a medical management consultation today.