A thick-looking mane has been a vital factor to represent someone's beauty, and for most men and women, experiencing hair loss is a total disaster.
People worry about hair loss or alopecia because baldness has always been stigmatized as a sign of poor health. While this may not be entirely true, losing your hair strands may be an after-effect of a health problem.
For instance, hormonal imbalance is one of your hair's toughest opponents. A fluctuation of various hormones in the body can impact the quality of hair growth. An androgen known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT is considered a threatening hormone for your hair strands.
How can this hormone trigger alopecia? Delve more about DHT and learn several ways to slow the hair loss process.
DHT and Hair Loss: How Can DHT Cause Alopecia?
Hormones are your body's messengers. These chemicals, created by your endocrine glands, are released to the different parts of the body to perform a myriad of biological functions. Both men and women have reproductive hormones, which take charge of the body's sexual and procreative activities. When testosterone undergoes a chemical conversion, it transforms into its potent form known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT. This super-testosterone is said to boost muscle strength and hair growth.
DHT levels depend on the amount of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase in your system. Since DHT is a by-product of testosterone, this substance can be secreted by the ovaries for females and testes and prostate for males. This powerful enzyme acts as a catalyst for testosterone conversion. Thus, a surge in the amount of 5-alpha-reductase proteins can prompt more androgen conversions.
However, studies show that the quality of your locks is strongly linked with an overproduction of DHT. The hair follicles have receptors that can attract androgens. If you have an androgen receptor gene, there is a higher chance for more DHT to bind your follicles. Too much of these androgens can shrink your follicles, leading to a premature hair shedding.
How DHT Affects Every Type of Female Hair Loss
1. Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a type of alopecia that is common among men and women. This hair loss condition is also recognized as male-pattern baldness. AGA's most common effects include a receding hairline for men and thinning of the hair for women.
A 2013 study showed that DHT has significant contributions to androgenetic alopecia. Some hair follicles are oversensitive to DHT since they have more androgen receptors enveloping them. According to the investigation, having an excessive amount of androgen receptors may be a hereditary factor. Thus, not all people are vulnerable to DHT invasion.
2. Telogen Effluvium
This type of alopecia is prevalent among females. Telogen effluvium is triggered by distressing factors such as childbirth, stress, malnourishment, and menopause. When your body experiences a shocking state, your follicles in the anagen or growth stage may be forced to shift into catagen and telogen phases. Since most of the follicles are in the resting stage, they will no longer cater or absorb nutrients, causing your strands to become thinner and more brittle. Hair shedding occurs after the thinning of the hair.
How does DHT affect telogen effluvium? High-stress levels can prompt DHT production. These androgens can tightly bind your follicles and abruptly push them into the resting phase, leading to diffuse hair loss.
Symptoms of DHT-induced Hair Loss
Are you worried about experiencing hair loss? Check out the common symptoms of female alopecia.
1. Your strands become thinner.
High DHT levels can impede follicle nourishment since many of your hair follicles are forced into the telogen phase. This abrupt delivery of nutrients can produce thinner and weaker hair strands.
2. An excessive amount of hair strands fall out every day.
Losing 50-250 strands a day is fine. However, going beyond the average number of strands may indicate that something is wrong with your hair.
3. Your hairline starts to recede day by day.
Most men experience a receding hairline. You may notice this gradual change if your hair growth starts slowing down.
4. Hair stops growing on some regions of your scalp.
Bald spots may indicate that the follicles in those areas have stopped growing. Most of the time, the topmost portion of the scalp becomes hairless, making the pate look smooth and shiny.
Ways to Stop DHT from Causing Hair Loss
Ladies and gentlemen, hair loss can be defeated. DHT levels can be controlled. Here are several ways to prevent DHT from causing a hair fiasco.
1. Sleep is better than cure.
Nowadays, sleeping is considered a luxury; not all people can sleep for six to eight hours every day. Thus, do not take sleeping for granted.
Sleep gives your body plenty of leeways to regenerate. Without enough rest, your body's hormonal levels begin to fluctuate, including your sex hormones. Having too much testosterone can lead to DHT formation, causing thinning hair and alopecia.
2. Drink caffeinated drinks moderately.
You can reap a myriad of health-related benefits from drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages. Studies show that caffeine is an effective DHT blocker. However, high levels of caffeine can prompt insomnia, which can disrupt your regular sleep cycle. In turn, it can adversely affect your hair's growth cycle. Therefore, do not drink too much coffee, soda, and other caffeinated drinks to get the appropriate amount of caffeine for your hair.
3. Decrease your DHT levels using Finasteride.
Finasteride is a generic medication used to treat alopecia and prostate problems. This medicine works as an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme responsible for DHT conversion. However, do not ingest Finasteride without consulting your doctor to prevent unwanted side effects.
4. Opt to use Saw palmetto extract as a haircare ingredient.
Saw Palmetto is said to be a powerful natural ingredient against hair loss. Its extract, which comes from the fruits of the Saw Palmetto plant, has 5-alpha-reductase blockers. Saw Palmetto comes in various forms: berries, extract, or capsules. You can use Saw Palmetto as an ingredient for your homemade hair treatment.
5. It is essential to use essential oils.
Essential oils are plant-derived extracts that offer hair-boosting nutrients. These oils can moisturize your locks, making your hair soft and healthy.
Tea tree, peppermint, and rosemary oils are some oil-based ingredients that prevent DHT from damaging your mane.
Rosemary is an evergreen herb considered as a kitchen staple. Its extract can prevent DHT from binding your hair follicles.
Tea tree and peppermint oils are also loaded with DHT blockers. Their antimicrobial properties can also help your hair fight bacterial infections and dandruff formation. Their refreshing fragrances can also relieve stress, thereby averting the overproduction of DHT.
6. Mix black pepper with your DIY hair mask concoctions.
Besides giving your steak a burst of flavors, black pepper can also give your hair some protection against hair loss. Piperine, its active component, has many hair growth benefits. A 2007 study revealed that piperine has an inhibitory effect against testosterone's 5-alpha-reductase. Aside from being a DHT blocker, piperine is also a powerful antioxidant that can prevent oxidative stress. Its antimicrobial properties can also fight off dandruff-causing bacteria.
7. Use an anti-DHT hair growth shampoo.
Cleansing your locks can also lessen the chances of experiencing hair loss. Therefore, it is also essential to choose a shampoo product that will cater to your haircare needs. Your hair growth shampoo must be made from DHT-blocking ingredients such as Saw Palmetto, fenugreek seeds, peppermint oil, and other natural components.
8. Pamper yourself with a hair spa treatment.
Spoil yourself with a spa treatment frequently. By giving yourself enough time to relax, you are also decreasing the stress levels in your body. Thus, enjoy a nutrient-packed hair mask at least once in a week. A hair mask does not only moisturize your hair deeply, but its aroma can help you to calm down.
9. Enjoy eating nutritious meals.
Real beauty starts from within. Nurture your body with the necessary nutrients to keep your mane healthy and strong.
Do not forget to include leafy vegetables, lean meat, fatty fishes, vegetable seeds, citrus fruits, and dairy products in your everyday diet. These foods are overloaded with vitamins and minerals that help promote hair growth.
10. Have medical check-ups.
Self-medication is a big no-no, for it can adversely affect your health. Visiting your doctor for regular check-ups can help you to keep track of your hormonal levels. It is also necessary to seek help from a medical expert when it comes to hair loss treatments.
Say 'No' to Hair Loss.
Health-related issues such as hormonal imbalance usually trigger hair loss. When your hair starts to lose its grip, there's a higher chance that something's wrong with your body. Therefore, keeping yourself fit is a way to maintain your healthy-looking locks.
Search for More.
Save your locks from dying. Search for the most effective anti-hair loss shampoo and conditioner. Discover the best hair growth products with natural DHT blockers to ensure your hair's safety against female hair loss. Learn more about female alopecia, and use Thicktails Hair Growth products for your hair restoration goals.
