Dihydrotestosterone
Dihydrotestosterone- The Key Factor in Male Hair Loss
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a potent and highly active androgen implicated for male pattern hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone is produced primarily in the prostate gland, testes, adrenal glands and hair follicles. The formation of dihydrotestosterone involved testosterone as a prohormone. Testosterone is metabolized by either of the two types of isoenzymes: 5-alpha reductase type I and 5-alpha reductase type II changing it to a more active dihydro- form.
Androgen target cells are the sites of dihydrotestosterone formation which include the androgen dependent and androgen sensitive regions in the body. In the androgen sensitive region, the nuclear membrane and microsomes are involved in the conversion process. Although, testosterone is produced mainly in the testes, production of dihydrotestosterone occurs anywhere in the body where testosterone has entered the cells of the androgen dependent tissue. In the scalp, the androgen dependent regions include the frontotemporal region, the crown and the vertex. Essentially, these are the sites where hair fall occurs at the onset of male pattern hair loss.
Dihydrotestosterone and Male Pattern Hair Loss
In the androgen dependent regions on the scalp, testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone then binds to the androgen receptors in the hair follicles. The androgen receptors actually bind both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. However, the dihydro- form has higher affinity to and dissociates more slowly from the receptors. Thus, higher levels of the hormone are retained in the receptors. The presence of the androgens in the hair follicles actually facilitates hair growth. However, in genetically predisposed individuals, high levels of DHT can prevent hair growth, even completely stopping it. As a result, the affected area on the scalp gradually thins and may turn completely bald. Even if baldness has not yet occurred, the affected may still look bald because of progressive miniaturization of hair. Normally, this type of hair loss begins during puberty where the body produces high levels of testosterone.
Dihydrotestosterone can only exert its negative effects on predisposed individuals. Male pattern hair loss is heritable. People who inherit the gene that predisposes the condition become susceptible to the action of DHT. They are likely to experience hair shedding during puberty but they may not really notice it until after thirty where significant amount of hair was lost. The condition affects more than 50 percent of men, but the same condition is also identified in women.
At present, the male pattern hair loss has no cure. Affected individuals, however, can find treatments that can stop hair loss effectively. Since the role of DHT has been recognized and widely accepted, the suggested treatment for the condition is one that addresses the problem with DHT. The DHT levels on the scalp should be maintained at levels where it cannot cause harm to the hair follicles. This can be done by instituting treatments that block the production of the hormone such as treatments that inhibit the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion process. The drugs minoxidil and finasteride are known as DHT blockers because they work mainly by blocking the conversion process. Both drugs are proven effective in stopping male pattern hair loss. Affected individuals can also opt for natural treatments that blocks DHT and promotes hair regrowth.
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Amar works as a copy writer, specializes in promoting websites for highly competitive keywords like Male Hair Loss and Dihydrotestosterone.
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