What Can Increase Production Of Dht

Angela Sheddan

Medically reviewed past Angela Sheddan, DNP, FNP-BC

Written by Our Editorial Team

Last updated 4/23/2021

If you've noticed your pilus starting to thin or recede, it's piece of cake to stress over what'due south causing it to happen. Is it stress? A bad nutrition? Unlucky genetics? Or is it a lifestyle cistron you can fix through a modify in behavior?

The reality is that pilus loss in men is primarily caused by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male person steroid hormone that binds to receptors in your scalp and -- in genetically susceptible men -- is responsible for hair loss.

DHT can seem complicated, but its role in pilus loss is fairly like shooting fish in a barrel to understand once yous have a basic knowledge of how your trunk produces DHT and the consequence DHT hormone has on hair follicles.

In this guide, we'll explain what DHT is, how information technology's produced by your trunk, and the options that are available regarding how to reduce DHT and limiting its negative effects on your hairline.

But first, let's answer the question: what is DHT?

What Is DHT?

DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is an androgen produced equally a byproduct of testosterone. DHT is a fairly powerful male sex hormone that's responsible for things similar forming male genitalia during pregnancy.

In short, DHT is one of the many hormones that makes men, well, men. Nevertheless, information technology'south different from other male person sexual practice hormones similar testosterone in several important ways.

Your body produces DHT as a byproduct of testosterone through the 5α-Reductase enzyme -- an enzyme that converts a sure percentage of your testosterone into DHT in tissue such as the peel, liver, prostate and hair follicles.

If y'all're genetically susceptible to hair loss, DHT can bind to receptors in your hair follicles and crusade them to shrink, weaken and eventually die. This process is chosen 'miniaturization,' and it eventually leads to a complete end of hair growth in DHT-affected hair follicles.

Interestingly, DHT is an important hormone for hair in other areas of the torso, meaning the same hormone that's responsible for causing male pattern baldness is also responsible for fueling the growth of hair on your breast, back and other areas.

Since DHT is the primary hormone responsible for hair loss in men, an effective mode to slow down and prevent hair loss is to block DHT.

You tin can practise this at the follicular level by using a topical hair thickening shampoo or spray to keep DHT off your hair follicles. This is mostly effective, but it doesn't completely block the DHT from binding to receptors in your scalp.

A more than constructive method for blocking DHT is to block it at the source. Drugs like finasteride are made to cake the conversion of testosterone to DHT by binding to the 5α-Reductase enzyme, preventing your body from producing any DHT in the first place.

Nosotros'll go into more than item on finasteride and other DHT blockers below. For now, when asking yourself, "What is DHT?" just remember that while factors like stress and diet tin can have a significant effect on your pilus, DHT is probable the culprit in your pilus loss.

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Finasteride and DHT

So, what is DHT to finasteride? What human relationship do they share?

Information from a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology shows that finasteride, in combination with minoxidil, is an effective treatment available for slowing and stopping male pattern baldness.

Finasteride belongs to a category of drugs called 5α-reductase inhibitors. It works by binding to the 5α-reductase enzyme and blocking the enzyme from converting your testosterone into DHT.

The best way to retrieve of finasteride is as a hormonal shield that keeps your testosterone the way information technology originally was, all while stopping DHT product. Instead of only blocking DHT on your scalp, yous're blocking it at the original source.

On average, a daily dose of 1mg finasteride blocks DHT production enough to cease most hair loss. In certain cases, it can also cause miniaturized hair follicles damaged by DHT to start to abound back.

If yous're starting to detect hair loss and want to take activeness, the most effective method is to talk to a dr. using our simple online procedure to run across which treatment options are right for you.

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What Are the Side Effects of Blocking DHT?

For the most part, DHT blocker side effects aren't very noticeable for almost men. The vast majority of people that use drugs like finasteride and topical DHT blockers don't experience any negative furnishings -- instead, they notice thicker and healthier hair.

However, some men do experience negative furnishings from DHT blockers, with finasteride a adequately common culprit. Below, we've listed the primary side effects of blocking DHT, ranging from positive side effects to potential downsides:

Higher testosterone. Because DHT blockers similar finasteride foreclose the conversion of testosterone to DHT, they can cause a slight increment in your testosterone production. In this 2003 study, researchers institute that finasteride boosted testosterone past a modest amount.

Lower sex drive. Most of the time, finasteride has no positive or negative event on your sexual practice bulldoze. While taking it, you'll just feel the same every bit normal. Even so, in a small number of men, finasteride can event in a noticeably reduced interest in sex.

Weak erections. Merely like reduced sex activity drive, this is a rare side event that affects a small number of finasteride users. Some people besides report getting less "morning woods" when on finasteride, possibly due to the lower level of DHT.

Looks scary, right? While the above side effects seem scary, the reality is that the vast majority of men that use DHT blockers like finasteride don't go serious side effects.

To put things in perspective, a 2022 study of finasteride in Japanese men found that of the three,177 men given finasteride, only 23 had adverse reactions. Fifty-fifty at v times the regular dosage for preventing hair loss, side effects are rarely reported.

It's besides worth noting that in the rare event of sexual side effects occurring, they'll almost always stop once you come up off finasteride. It's extremely rare for whatever negative symptoms to persist if you don't actively take a DHT blocker.

What Causes DHT To Increase?

If you're genetically predisposed to DHT sensitivity, any kind of increase in your DHT levels may potentially heighten your run a risk of pilus loss. It's a bummer, but it's a part of life.

So, what causes DHT levels to increase? Well, since DHT is a byproduct of testosterone production — as we mentioned above, a certain percentage of your body's testosterone is converted into DHT via the 5α-Reductase enzyme — information technology stands to reason that anything that increases your testosterone levels will also increase your DHT levels.

Whether it exist from certain vitamins and supplements, to dietary and lifestyle changes, exercising and everything in between, if your testosterone levels are elevated, your DHT levels will likely follow.

However, it's of import to note that this just matters if yous take a genetic predisposition to the kind of DHT sensitivity that triggers male blueprint baldness.

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Should You Cake DHT?

If y'all're starting to notice hair loss, drugs that block DHT are the almost powerful weapons yous accept in your arsenal to slow down and stop it.

Whether or not to accept them is ultimately your choice. What'due south articulate is that the earlier you lot start to block DHT, the more than successful y'all'll be in preventing farther hair loss. One time the pilus is gone, no corporeality of DHT blocking can bring it dorsum and give you lot what you once had.

The best way to start blocking DHT product is to use finasteride, forth with minoxidil and a shampoo that can block DHT in your scalp.

This article is for advisory purposes only and does not constitute medical communication. The information independent herein is non a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional person medical advice. Always talk to your md about the risks and benefits of whatsoever treatment.