DHT (or Dihydrotestosterone) is an androgen or sex hormone that contributes to the development of male sex characteristics. These properties include things like a deepening voice, body hair, fat distribution, muscle mass, growth of the penis, and scrotum. While most often related to masculine features, people born female also produce DHT and other similar androgens. DHT is a derivative of testosterone, created with the help of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR).
What Does DHT Do to Your Hair?
DHT attaches to receptors in hair follicles. In people who have a genetic sensitivity, high levels of androgens – including DHT – can cause hair follicles to shrink. As follicles shrink, this can lead to a shortening of the growth cycle which may cause hair to thin, become brittle, and fall out more easily. Over time, these follicles may stop producing visible hair altogether.
Not everyone is equally sensitive to DHT, which is why some people maintain thick hair even with high hormone levels. It is one of the core mechanisms behind androgenetic alopecia – or male and female pattern hair loss.
What Happens If DHT Is Too High?
Excess DHT can actually speed up the follicle miniaturization process, which can lead to faster more noticeable hair thinning. High DHT can also contribute to an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Many signs of increased DHT may overlap with the symptoms of other hormonal imbalances or dermatological issues. A healthcare provider can confirm if DHT is a major contributor. Some signs include hair loss, increased body or facial hair growth, acne and oily skin, and prostate enlargement.
What Causes DHT to Increase?
There is a wide variety of possible reasons for increased dihydrotestosterone:
- Genetics – Some people just naturally produce more.
- Hormonal shifts – Puberty, aging, and various hormonal imbalances can affect testosterone and DHT levels.
- Stress – Chronic stress can disrupt the body’s hormone balance and indirectly influence DHT production.
- Diet & Nutrition – Diets that are high in sugar or overly processed foods can affect hormone regulation, though the impact of this is generally mild.
- Health Conditions – Certain disorders involving the endocrine system can lead to increased androgen levels.
Can You Remove DHT from the Scalp?
One cannot completely scrub the DHT from their scalp or anything quite so dramatic, but there are things that can be done to lessen the effects. There are various treatments that focus on blocking the 5-AR enzyme or protecting hair follicles from the impact of DHT.
- Topical treatments like minoxidil might not directly affect DHT but do promote blood flow to hair follicles to encourage growth.
- DHT Blockers such as finasteride or dutasteride (prescription only) inhibit the activity of 5-AR.
- Lifestyle changes, including reducing stress and improving diet. There are also some natural supplements of palmetto and pumpkin seed oil that are believed to have DHT-blocking properties.
- Maintaining proper scalp hygiene can prevent inflammation and microbial imbalances that exacerbate the effects of DHT and would otherwise accelerate hair loss.
These treatments do not eliminate DHT, but when used consistently, they can slow, stop, or even partially reverse some hair loss.
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