DHT | Dihydrotestosterone

The production of DHT is a vital part of the body's hormonal regulation. DHT is a stronger hormone than testosterone and plays a key role in the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics.

DHT plays several roles in the body during puberty and adulthood:

• Muscle growth – DHT plays an important role in the production and maintenance of the body's lean muscle mass.
• Increased libido (sexual drive) – DHT is a potent male sex androgen. Increased levels of DHT enhance male sexual drive.
• Hair growth and hair loss – paradoxically, DHT is also responsible for increased facial and body hair growth and accelerated hair loss on the scalp.

While DHT is crucial for the development of male traits such as facial and body hair during puberty, it can later become a significant factor in male pattern baldness:

DHT causes hair loss on the scalp due to the over-stimulation of hair follicles in this area. Due to the high concentration of 5 alpha-reductase receptors in this area, DHT accumulates on the scalp and disrupts the growth phase of the hair growth cycle.

DHT disrupts hair growth cycles by shortening the initial growth phase than usual. This means the hair follicle has less time to grow before shedding. Hair doesn't grow as long (or as thick) as usual, hence it appears thinner.

Over time, overstimulation by DHT leads to the death of hair follicles. Hair follicles shrink and completely stop growing hair.

In patients with male pattern baldness, this primarily affects the hairline (temples) and then the crown.

Where hair follicles are more evenly distributed across the body (e.g., chest, armpits, face, etc.), increased production of DHT can stimulate hair growth.