Hair loss is an issue that affects more than 50 million people in the United States alone. Receding hairlines, thinning hair and baldness are common issues that many are desperate to find a solution to. Luckily for those suffering form the condition, scientists have found that the main cause of hair loss in both men and women has to do with a naturally occurring metabolite called Dihydrotestosterone or DHT and hair follicles

What Causes Hair Loss?

For many years doctors and scientists attributed thinning hair and hair loss solely to testosterone production in the body. And while testosterone is a contributing factor, we now understand that DHT is the true culprit behind thinning hair and baldness in both men and women.

DHT is a very powerful, naturally occurring metabolite and chemical derivative of testosterone. DHT is an important part of early development in men and women but can have negative effects in adulthood. For men, DHT works hand in hand with testosterone during puberty to help stimulate hair growth but as they get older it can have the opposite effect.

HOW DOES DHT WORK TO CAUSE HAIR LOSS?

When you think of hair loss you may think that the hair on your head just simply starts to fall out. But the metabolite DHT slowly works to stop hair growth by restricting the follicles on your head from growing hair.

Testosterone converts to DHT with the help of the enzyme known as Type II 5-alpha-reductase. This special enzyme also happens to be found in your hair follicles oil glands. From there, DHT causes your hair follicles to shrink by preventing healthy proteins, minerals and vitamins from nourishing the follicles.

This lack of nourishment causes the hair to grow back more slowly and overtime, results in thinning hair. eventually, after suffering a lack of nourishment for an extended period of time, the follicle can no longer complete a normal growth cycle and the hair ceases to grow.

RESEARCH CONTINUES

While scientists have come a long way in understanding hair loss in recent years, there is still much to be learned about the way DHT and hair follicles work to create baldness in men and women. For many people across the globe, the process can be slowed or stopped if it is caught early on. In the future, thanks to continuing research efforts, doctors and scientists may be able to prevent hair loss altogether.