Dihydrotestosterone: The Connection Between Testosterone & Hair Growth
It may not surprise you that 80% of men experience significant hair loss in their lifetime. Thinning hair, male pattern baldness, and a receding hairline are all natural parts of the aging process. But have you ever asked yourself why men lose their hair as they age?
Lots of factors come into play but the biggest one relates to a natural hormone imbalance. You’ve likely heard of testosterone, but do you know what dihydrotestosterone is and the role it plays in hair growth and hair loss? You’ve come to the right place to find out!
Here we’ll discuss the relationship between testosterone and hair growth, what dihydrotestosterone is, and why it matters.
Types of Testosterone
Testosterone is the male hormone (although it is present in women) responsible for the development of male reproductive tissues, increased muscle, bone mass, and you guessed it, hair growth!
There are two types of testosterone: free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT):
Free testosterone doesn’t bind to proteins in the body. Instead, this hormone is connected to testosterone receptors. It’s absorbed by different cells to support specific functions.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is derived from testosterone and made by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT is found primarily in skin, hair, and the male prostate. It’s also five times more potent than regular testosterone.
DHT binds itself to hair follicles, making them smaller. This leads to thinning of the hair and, eventually, hair loss.
High & Low Testosterone Levels
Most people associate hair loss and thinning with low testosterone levels. The truth is, both too much and too little testosterone can cause a hormone imbalance and hair loss.
Both high and low testosterone levels trigger the production of DHT. When this happens, dihydrotestosterone attaches to certain proteins, shrinking the hair follicles. This can cause thinning hair, loss of strands, and even delayed growth of new strands.
In a man with healthy levels of testosterone, the hair growth cycle ranges from two to five years. During this time, the strands grow, enter a resting phase, and eventually fall out.
The good news is, new, healthy hairs begin growing in their place. When DHT is present, the hair follicles can’t function the way they’re supposed to. They either reduce in size or go dormant, completely halting hair production.
It’s important to note that it’s not the level of dihydrotestosterone in your body that leads to hair loss — it’s your sensitivity to it and the way your body reacts to it that cause these unpleasant side effects.
If you’re sensitive to DHT your hair follicles are more likely to shrink, creating hair growth issues and causing male pattern baldness.
Dihydrotestosterone & Genetics
A DHT sensitivity is often genetic. The AR gene makes a protein in the body called an androgen receptor. These receptors allow your body to respond appropriately to different hormones, including dihydrotestosterone.
Some people’s androgen receptors are genetically more sensitive than others. If this is the case, the receptors are triggered by even small amounts of DHT, putting you at greater risk for hair loss.
Other genetic factors also play a role in the relationship between testosterone and hair growth. If other men in your family have experienced male pattern baldness, you’re at a much greater risk.
Blockers & Inhibitors
If your body is sensitive to dihydrotestosterone or you’re experiencing extreme hormone imbalances, certain medications can help. These treatments are broken down into two categories: blockers and inhibitors.
Blockers
DHT blockers help prevent dihydrotestosterone from binding to the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. Certain medications bind to the 5-alpha enzyme so that DHT doesn’t have the opportunity to do the same. Other blockers help increase blood flow to the hair follicles, which also facilitates hair growth.
Some natural nutrients that perform like DHT blockers include pumpkin seed oil and certain vitamin B derivatives. The Hair Restore RU58841 Solution is another great alternative to medication with no unpleasant side effects. As always, it’s important to discuss any changes to medications or supplements with your doctor in order to make an informed decision.
Inhibitors
DHT inhibitors can help reduce how much dihydrotestosterone your body produces. Natural ingredients like caffeine, fenugreek, and green tea are said to slow or even block the production of dihydrotestosterone.
Saw palmetto is is an anti-androgen herb that naturally lowers the level of DHT in the body. It may even help to remove DHT bound to your current hair follicles, salvaging them. Peppermint oil can reduce DHT levels and stimulate hair growth as well.
Understanding the Different Phases of Hair Growth
Dihydrotestosterone, or a sensitivity to it, can shrink hair follicles, stopping the growth process in its tracks. But what exactly does the hair growth cycle look like and at what point does DHT interfere?
Let’s take a closer look.
Phase One: Anagen
The anagen phase is when your hair is actively growing. The hair on your scalp can remain in this active growth phase from two to seven years.
Genetics plays a big part in how long this phase lasts and varies from one individual to the next. During this time, the root of your hair is dividing rapidly and adding to the hair shaft. It’s estimated that during this phase, your hair grows approximately 2 cm every 28 days.
Phase Two: Catagen
During this phase, your hair naturally stops growing as it separates from the follicle and prepares to shed. The catagen phase, which lasts about two weeks, is a short transition and signals the end of the growth cycle.
At this point, the hair follicles shrink and your hair grows more slowly. The presence of DHT or a dihydrotestosterone sensitivity can force your hair follicles into the catagen phase, causing hair loss and stunted growth.
On average, hairs remain attached for five days after separating from the follicle but before completely falling out. After about 10 days, your hair will enter the next phase of growth. For those with a DHT sensitivity, you may be stuck in this phase longer than normal, causing an increase in hair loss and delayed growth.
Phase Three: Telogen
Phase three, or telogen, also known as the resting phase. This period of the growth cycle generally lasts about 90 days, with 15% of your hair “resting” at any given time. During the telogen phase, your hair doesn’t normally grow but it also doesn’t fall out. It’s dormant.
At this point, new hairs start to form in the follicles where others were released during the previous phase (catagen). When your testosterone levels are too low, or too high, your hair may fall out more quickly than its regenerated.
Phase Four: Exogen
This last phase in the hair growth cycle is considered an extension of the telogen phase.
During exogen, your scalp sheds the strands of hair that is no longer attached to the follicles. You’ve likely seen strands of hair come out while brushing or shampooing. This is completely normal and not necessarily indicative of male pattern baldness.
Believe it or not, you can shed as much as 100 hairs per day during the exogen phase, which lasts anywhere from two to six months. During this time, new hairs are growing in place of the old.
Dihydrotestosterone can narrow hair follicles, making it difficult for new ones to come through. If your hair is falling out but no new hair is growing in, it may be a sign that you’re dealing with a hormone imbalance.
Causes of Hormone Imbalance
A testosterone hormone imbalance can happen for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common causes and how they affect healthy hair growth.
Aging
The most common cause of both high and low testosterone is age. Testosterone levels are highest around age 17 after young men enter adulthood.
Testosterone remains high for the next two to three decades or until the age of 40 or 50. Things only decline from here. At age 60, 2 out of 10 men report having low testosterone levels. As testosterone levels dip, you may notice bald spots and thinning hair, both on your head and other areas of the body.
Injury or Illness
Certain illnesses or injuries can cause low testosterone levels. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- Trauma to the testes
- Metabolic disorders
- Inflammatory issues
- Extreme weight gain or loss
- Sleep apnea
Chemotherapy, alcohol abuse, and other medications can also cause a decrease in testosterone.
Stress
Stress affects the human body in a variety of ways, including lowering healthy testosterone levels. This dip in hormones can create additional stress. Many men enter a vicious cycle of stress-induced low testosterone.
Keeping stress levels low can help. Try participating in physical activities or hobbies you enjoy. Maintain a healthy work-life balance. Adopt mindfulness and meditation techniques that help keep you calm and relaxed.
Lifestyle Changes to Maintain Healthy Testosterone Levels
Maintaining healthy testosterone levels is one way to invest in your overall health, as well as the health and appearance of your hair. The good news is, there are natural, easy ways to maintain healthy testosterone levels.
Stay Active
Exercise is essential for living a long, healthy life. Maintaining an active lifestyle can also help keep testosterone levels up and your hair where it should be — on your head!
Because excessive weight loss or gain can negatively impact testosterone levels, it’s important to maintain a healthy, balanced weight. Alternate between resistance training and cardiovascular exercise.
Adopt a Well-Balanced Diet
Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand. What you put into your body plays an important role in keeping your testosterone levels in check.
Incorporate plenty of healthy fats, carbs, and proteins into your diet. Similar to exercise, too much or too little could have adverse effects. Adopting a well-balanced diet of whole foods and limiting processed foods and sugar is a good start.
Limit your alcohol intake too, but be sure to include some caffeine in your diet, which naturally boosts testosterone.
Take the Right Vitamins & Supplements
Most people don’t get all of the vitamins and nutrients they need from their food alone. Having adequate nutrition is an important part of maintaining healthy testosterone levels and supporting natural hair growth.
Zinc and vitamins A, B, C, D, and E are all connected with healthy male hormone production. All of these vitamins, along with protein and iron support healthy hair growth and may prevent premature balding.
Male Pattern Baldness: Causes & Prevention
Now that you have a better understanding of the connection between testosterone and hair growth, as well as the stages of growth, let’s take a closer look at the most common type of hair loss in men — male pattern baldness (MPB).
How Common Is It?
Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male pattern baldness affects nearly 50% of men in America. Although androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary condition, testosterone levels and androgens also play a part. Most people associate balding with aging, but hereditary hair loss can start at a very young age.
In fact, as soon as a male hits puberty and starts producing testosterone, he’s susceptible to hair thinning and hair loss. It’s this combination of genetics and hormones that causes male pattern baldness.
Signs of Male Pattern Baldness
This seems like a foolish question. The most obvious sign of male pattern baldness is, well, going bald — right? Well, the answer isn’t quite that simple.
It’s the way in which your hair starts to fall out (or the pattern) that indicates if you’re dealing with MPB. Most hair loss starts at the temples and recedes backward before moving around the perimeter and to the top of the head.
If you’ve ever seen someone with a bald scalp but hair around the bottom half of his head and ears, he’s dealing with androgenetic alopecia. Over time, men with this condition will eventually go completely bald.
How to Treat Male Pattern Baldness
While some men opt for surgery to fix this, you can take steps to prevent male pattern baldness before it happens. Doing some research into your family tree will help uncover if you’re predisposed to this condition.
You can also use quality hair products and serums that help nourish your follicles and prevent hair loss. In rare cases, MPB can be reversed.
Invest in Your Health, Happiness, & Hair
Women aren’t the only ones who take pride in their appearance. A full, healthy head of hair gives men confidence in all areas of life. Understanding the correlation between dihydrotestosterone and hair loss can help you embrace a healthier life that promotes hair growth.
While there’s no known cure for male pattern baldness, adopting a healthy self-care routine can help.
