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What Is DHT? How Dihydrotestosterone Impacts Hair Loss and Growth

Your body converts about 10% of its circulating testosterone into DHT with the help of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. And while the DHT hormone behaves similarly to testosterone in the body, DHT is more easily used and exerts stronger effects than testosterone. “DHT or dihydrotestosterone is the most potent androgen hormone in your body,” explained Dr. Alex Robles, a board-certified OB-GYN. This is largely because DHT binds to androgen receptors (AR) more easily and for longer than testosterone does. This is where things can get tricky, though, since increased levels of DHT have been linked to medical conditions like hirsutism (abnormal facial hair and body hair growth growth in females),…

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DHT and hair loss: what you need to know

In men, testosterone is converted into DHT. After it's created, DHT flows freely through your bloodstream to other parts of the body. So how exactly does it relate to hair loss? DHT can bind to receptors on hair follicles in your scalp––especially if you're genetically predisposed to hair loss. This causes follicles to shrink, gradually producing less robust hair more prone to breakage, and eventually halts hair growth altogether. And it seems that men who are losing their hair may have more of this type of testosterone than guys with luscious locks.

The Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) Hormone & Its Role in Hair Loss

Body changes leads to high levels of DHT in men and women. This increase also contributes to hair loss in men and women [but more commonly in men]. Heard about Male pattern baldness and Female pattern baldness also called androgenic alopecia or androgenetic alopecia? You should know that it's also connected to your hair follicle's sensitivity to DHT.

What Are DHT Blockers?: 4 Things to Know

Do DHT blockers actually work? Some certainly do, but they aren’t all created equally. Effectiveness varies.

What is DHT (dihydrotestosterone)?

Testosterone and DHT are both androgens, but the DHT hormone is much more potent. It binds to androgen receptors more strongly and sticks around longer than testosterone. DHT is actually made from testosterone by 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme mainly present in the skin, prostate, and liver. But only 10% of circulating testosterone is turned into DHT

What Is DHT?

One of those hormones that has been tied to hair health is dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT. So, what is DHT?

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You and Your Hormones

Dihydrotestosterone is a hormone that stimulates the development of male characteristics (an androgen). It is made through conversion of the more commonly known androgen, testosterone. Almost 10% of the testosterone produced by an adult each day is converted to dihydrotestosterone. This takes place in the testes and prostate (in men), in the ovaries (in women), as well as the skin and other parts of the body such as the liver.