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Home > Skin & Beauty > Hair & Scalp > Does DHT Cause Hair Loss and Ways to Manage It

Does DHT Cause Hair Loss and Ways to Manage It

Updated on January 4, 2022
10 min read
By Akanksha Shah Sanghvi, MD, Clinical Dermatology

In this article:

  • What Is DHT?
  • Four Phases of the Hair Growth Cycle
  • DHT, Receptors, and Hair Loss
  • Signs of DHT-Related Hair Loss
  • Treatment for DHT-Related Hair Loss
  • Herbs and Minerals for Managing DHT-Related Hair Loss
  • Do High Testosterone Levels Lead to Androgenic Alopecia?
  • Final Word

Hair loss, or alopecia, can be unappealing to anyone at any age. Many factors can trigger hair loss, such as poor hair hygiene, genetic predisposition, and a deficiency of iron, zinc, or other essential minerals, among others.

dht and hair loss

This article will explore the role of a specific hormone or androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in causing a specific type of hair loss disorder called androgenic alopecia in both men and women.

The nature and symptoms of this disorder along with some treatment modalities will also be discussed.

What Is DHT?

DHT is an androgen produced as a byproduct of the male hormone testosterone. Androgens are called male sex hormones because they are responsible for the development of male traits, not because they are found just in men. In fact, androgens are present in females as well, only in smaller amounts. Plus, the levels of androgens in the body vary from one person to another.

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Testosterone is the most abundant or common androgen that is converted into DHT by the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) produced in the testes, prostate, female reproductive tract, ovaries, and other organs including the nervous system.

In women, DHT can also be derived from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). High concentrations of and sensitivity to DHT is known to induce androgenic alopecia in both men and women.

Four Phases of the Hair Growth Cycle

different phases of hair growth cycle

Your hair grows out of a hair follicle, which is a tunnel-like depression within the scalp, at the bottom of which is a collection of hair-producing cells.

Hair growth has four phases:

  1. Anagen phase – This is the active growth wherein the hair grows to its full extent.
  2. Catagen phase – The hair stops growing any further.
  3. Telogen phase – The hair follicles are pushed into a state of inactivity or rest. This phase lasts the longest.
  4. Exogen phase – This last phase is marked by the shedding of the fully grown hair.

The longer the anagen phase, the stronger and thicker the hair. On the other hand, the longer the telogen phase, the thinner and weaker the hair becomes until it falls out.   

DHT, Receptors, and Hair Loss

At increased concentrations, DHT is known to induce androgenic alopecia. (1)(2) But high DHT levels alone do not cause hair loss.

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Hair follicles have certain receptors on their surfaces that attract and bind androgens such as testosterone and DHT. DHT interacts more strongly with these receptors than testosterone to adversely change the structure of the hair follicle.

Since the scalp loses hair at a much faster rate than it regrows new hair, baldness sets in. The larger the number of androgen receptors, the more sensitive the hair follicles are to these hormones.

The number of androgen receptors in your scalp is decided by your genetics, which often makes baldness a hereditary trait. (3) Besides DHT levels and androgen receptors, your genes also play a crucial role in the onset and progression of this hair loss disorder. (4)

These genes are responsible for the production of androgens, their interconversion, and the number of receptors present on the hair follicles.

Signs of DHT-Related Hair Loss

signs of dht-induced hair loss

It is completely normal to lose an average of 80–100 hair strands per day, but excessive hair fall on a regular basis can be a warning sign of androgenic alopecia.

Androgenic alopecia is often called male-pattern baldness because it affects men much more than women. This increased prevalence among males can be explained by the simple fact that men have much higher levels of androgens (DHT) than women. But this does not mean that women are immune to it, only less prone to it.

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Moreover, this condition manifests differently in men and women, which is why androgenic alopecia is classified into two types:

  • Male androgenic alopecia or male-pattern baldness
  • Female androgenic alopecia or female-pattern baldness

Androgenic alopecia mostly affects people in their 40s or 50s, but it can set in their 20s as well, although not as commonly. Male-pattern baldness includes the recession of the frontal hairline especially at the sides, loss of hair on the crown or vertex, and thinning of chest hair.

In female-pattern baldness, hair loss typically occurs on the vertex. It starts with the recession of the central hair on top of the head, which results in the widening of the partition line, while the frontal hairline is rarely affected.

Treatment for DHT-Related Hair Loss

The medical treatment for androgenic alopecia primarily aims at reducing the production of DHT and keeping it from binding to the androgen receptors on your hair follicles. (5)

There are two separate treatment modalities for each of these purposes:

1. 5-AR inhibitors

5-AR inhibitors are a class of oral medications that block the activity of 5-AR enzymes, which convert testosterone into DHT. Two of the most commonly prescribed inhibitors are finasteride and dutasteride.

2. Antiandrogens or testosterone blockers

Antiandrogens or testosterone blockers are drugs that not only curb the production of androgens but also block their interaction with the androgen receptors present on the hair follicles.

Spironolactone is an antiandrogen that is used to treat DHT-related hair loss in women that does not respond to standard treatments such as minoxidil. (6) DHT blockers also come in the form of over-the-counter shampoos.

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Some side effects of DHT inhibitors and blockers include:

  • Skin rashes
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Water retention
  • Birth defects
  • Irregular menstruation

Some other treatment modalities that do not influence the hormones directly include:

  • Topical solutions minoxidil (prescription strength) and nanoxidil (OTC)
  • Ketoconazole
  • Low-level laser therapy
  • Platelet-rich plasma therapy
  • Hair transplant surgery

Herbs and Minerals for Managing DHT-Related Hair Loss

Certain herbs and minerals have been found useful in addressing androgenic alopecia. These are available in the form of supplements that need to be taken in the prescribed dosage to notice positive results. 

But these herbs and minerals will only help manage hair loss when used as complementary measures along with the main medical treatment.

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Caution: Since herbal and mineral supplements are not FDA approved, it is best to consult a doctor before taking them. The doctor will properly assess your condition and medical history to recommend a suitable supplement and appropriate dosage for you.

1. Zinc

adding zinc to your diet can help inhibit dht formation

Zinc inhibits the conversion of testosterone into DHT by blocking the activity of 5-AR. (7)

Adding zinc-rich foods such as oysters to your daily diet should be the first step to get your required dose of this mineral. But if you fail to meet your zinc needs through diet alone, ask your doctor to start you on a zinc supplement such as zinc sulfate.

2. Pygeum bark

Pygeum bark extracts contain atraric acid, which has been shown to possess antiandrogenic properties. (8)

3. Pumpkin seed oil

Both human and animal trials have shown that the intake of pumpkin seed oil can inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT by blocking 5-AR, with no reported side effects so long as the subject is not allergic to the oil. (9)

4. Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto works in the same way as pumpkin seed oil in fighting androgenic alopecia. (9)

5. Spearmint

spearmint possesses significant anti-androgenic activity

Spearmint is a therapeutic herb that has been credited with significant antiandrogenic activity. But the research done on this topic is subject to certain limitations, necessitating the need for more extensive and rigorous studies to conclusively establish this claim. (10)(11)

Spearmint is available in the form of tea and supplement capsules.

6. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate

Epigallocatechins are polyphenols found in green tea that are known to exhibit antiandrogenic activity. (12) They keep androgens such as DHT from binding to the receptors on the hair follicles, essentially rendering them harmless. (13)(14)

7. Licorice

Licorice is an herb that is known to exhibit several medicinal properties and may even work as a natural antiandrogen in the body. (12) It also inhibits the conversion of testosterone into DHT by blocking the activity of 5-AR. (15)

8. D-chiro inositol

Consuming D-chiro inositol may help reduce free androgen levels in the body, which is important for managing androgenic alopecia.

9. Giant dodder, Chinese knotweed, and night-flowering jasmine

giant dodder, Chinese knotweed, night-flowering jasmine can help

Studies have shown that the extracts of giant dodder, Chinese knotweed (Polygonum multiflorum), and night-flowering jasmine can limit the activity of 5-AR to curb DHT levels in the body. (16)(17)(18)

Do High Testosterone Levels Lead to Androgenic Alopecia?

Men with high testosterone levels don’t necessarily struggle with androgenic alopecia. Testosterone has to be converted into DHT for it to damage the hair follicle. Moreover, a considerable number of androgen receptors are needed to bind enough DHT to cause any real damage.

Final Word

A high DHT concentration in the body is a major cause of hair loss in both men and women, but it is not the only cause. This hormone will only damage the hair once it attaches to the androgen receptors lining the hair follicles. So, people with high DHT levels but low androgen receptor count should have no reason to worry.

Some people are genetically predisposed to this condition, which presents itself differently in men and women. Males lose more hair than females.

Plenty of hair loss treatments addressing increased DHT concentrations and heightened sensitivity of hair follicles toward this hormone are available, but they take time to work. However effective the treatment may be, it can’t stop or reverse the hair loss completely.

The best you can expect is to set back the rate of balding, but some degree of hair fall will still occur. If the standard treatments and supplements mentioned above do not deliver significant improvement, you can try newer modalities such as low-level lasers.

References
  1. Urysiak-Czubatka I, Kmieć ML, Broniarczyk-Dyła G. Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4171668/. Published August 2014.
  2. Ustuner ET. Cause of androgenic alopecia: crux of the matter. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174066/. Published November 7, 2013.
  3. Miranda BH, Charlesworth MR, Tobin DJ, Sharpe DT, Randall VA. Androgens trigger different growth responses in genetically identical human hair follicles in organ culture that reflect their epigenetic diversity in life. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5928870/. Published February 2018.
  4. Prodi DA; Pirastu N; Maninchedda G; Sassu A; Picciau A; Palmas MA; Mossa A; Persico I; Adamo M; Angius A; Pirastu M; EDA2R is associated with androgenetic alopecia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18385763/. Published 2008.
  5. M; AAG. The effectiveness of treatments for androgenetic alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28396101/. Published 2017.
  6. R; RDS. Innovative use of spironolactone as an antiandrogen in the treatment of female pattern hair loss. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20510769/. Published 2010.
  7. Azzouni F, Godoy A, Li Y, Mohler J. The 5 alpha-reductase isozyme family: a review of basic biology and their role in human diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3253436/. Published 2012.
  8. Papaioannou M, Schleich S, Prade I, et al. The natural compound atraric acid is an antagonist of the human androgen receptor inhibiting cellular invasiveness and prostate cancer cell growth. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6512379/. Published August 2009.
  9. Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, et al. Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017725/. Published 2014.
  10. P; G. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19585478/. Published 2010.
  11. Akdoğan M; Tamer MN; Cüre E; Cüre MC; Köroğlu BK; Delibaş N; Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with hirsutism. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17310494/. Published 2007.
  12. Grant P, Ramasamy S. An update on plant derived anti-androgens. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693613/. Published 2012.
  13. Siddiqui IA, Asim M, Hafeez BB, Adhami VM, Tarapore RS, Mukhtar H. Green tea polyphenol EGCG blunts androgen receptor function in prostate cancer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3058706/. Published April 2011.
  14. Shin S, Kim K, Lee MJ, et al. Epigallocatechin Gallate-Mediated Alteration of the MicroRNA Expression Profile in 5α-Dihydrotestosterone-Treated Human Dermal Papilla Cells. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4884709/. Published June 2016.
  15. P; DMYR. An overview of herbal alternatives in androgenetic alopecia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30980598/. Published 2019.
  16. VK; PSCNSD. Effect of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb on androgen-induced alopecia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18789055/. Published 2008.
  17. Shin JY, Choi Y-H, Kim J, et al. Polygonum multiflorum extract support hair growth by elongating anagen phase and abrogating the effect of androgen in cultured human dermal papilla cells. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7218528/. Published May 12, 2020.
  18. Pushpendra Kumar Jain Zee College of Pharmacy Debajyoti Das Siksha O Anusandhan University. THE WONDER OF HERBS TO TREAT-ALOPECIA. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308780570/. Published 2016.
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