DHT Shampoo: Everything You Need To Know
What Is DHT?
DHT is short for dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone is a hormone that is found in the bodies of both men and women. DHT is an androgen, a class of hormones that regulate masculine characteristics like depth of voice and growth of body hair and facial hair. The hormone is a byproduct of testosterone, and is found in higher quantities in the male body than the female body – the same goes for testosterone and other androgens. Androgens like testosterone and DHT play major roles in the development of male genitalia in the womb and are determining factors in the gender of a developing fetus.
DHT and other androgens are also key players in the physical transitions that you go through during puberty. In your early to mid-teens, your body changed dramatically, in large part due to increases in DHT production. The surge of DHT that occurs during puberty accounts for the increased growth of pubic hair and facial hair, deepening of your voice, and other physical changes that come with puberty.
Although DHT levels first start to surge during puberty, your body’s levels of this hormone continue increasing as you get older. The gradual increase in your DHT levels as you age can have a negative impact on hair growth, potentially even causing hair loss in certain parts of your head. In this post, we’ll outline how DHT causes hair loss and how you can use GroMD’s DHT-blocking shampoo to prevent and reverse thinning hair.
How DHT Causes Hair Loss
When your body’s levels of DHT continue to increase after puberty, the impact on your body is usually not noticeable for several decades. However, once many men and women reach middle age, increasing DHT levels may start causing visible hair thinning. The thinning effects of DHT on hair are due to the hormone constricting of your hair follicles. If your DHT levels are too high, your hair may start thinning out in certain parts of your head. This type of hair loss is known as androgenic alopecia, also known as pattern baldness.
DHT causes hair loss by disrupting your hair’s natural growth cycle. When excessive production of DHT causes your hair follicles to shrink, it causes shorter, thinner hair growth in certain parts of your head. This decrease in growth occurs as DHT prompts your hair follicles to spend more time resting than growing.
Your hair grows in three phases – the anagen phase, catagen phase, and telogen phase. In the anagen phase, your hair is actively getting longer. In the catagen phase, your follicles are transitioning from growth to rest. In the telogen phase, your hair follicles rest from growth. When DHT interferes with hair growth, your follicles start spending more time in the telogen phase and less time in the anagen phase. This results in your hair growing thinner and shorter, even after long periods of time without a haircut.
What Does DHT-Related Hair Loss Look Like?
Androgenic alopecia is often called pattern baldness due to the type of hair loss it causes. When you are experiencing androgenic alopecia as a man, you are likely to notice the most hair loss at the top of your head. Androgenic alopecia often causes a receding hairline in men, as well as a growing bald spot at the top of the head. For women, this type of hair loss often manifests by increasing the size of the part between the two sections of hair on top of the head. However, androgenic alopecia can also cause a woman’s hairline to recede.
DHT-related hair loss is extremely common among middle-aged adults. The condition affects 50% of men and 25% of women over 50, but it can also develop as early as your 30s. The sooner you start treating androgenic alopecia, the better. The condition can be prevented at any stage, but it is easier to reverse the effects of DHT-related hair loss when you start treatment in its early stages.
How Can Shampoo Treat DHT-Related Hair Loss?
If you are dealing with androgenic alopecia, the shampoo that you choose can have a major impact on the effectiveness of your treatment. GroMD’s shampoo and conditioner combo is designed to prevent and reverse the effects of DHT-related hair loss, making it an ideal tool in your anti-hair loss arsenal. When you include GroMD hair products in your hair loss prevention regimen, you’re supplying your hair with a wide array of ingredients with natural DHT-blocking properties.
Our proprietary blend of DHT-blocking ingredients includes a wide variety of herbs and other natural ingredients that inhibit your body’s conversion of testosterone into DHT. The use of DHT-blocking ingredients on your hair topically can help to reduce the follicle-shrinking effects of DHT and get your hair’s natural growth cycle back on track.
Using GroMD Shampoo With Minoxidil For Hair Loss
In addition, you can use GroMD’s shampoo and conditioner combo alongside minoxidil to treat your hair loss. Minoxidil is one of the most effective treatments for androgenic alopecia. The topical treatment is FDA-approved, and it has worked extremely well for many men and women suffering from the effects of DHT on their hair. Minoxidil’s growth-boosting power is not fully understood, but researchers speculate that the treatment works by stimulating blood flow to the scalp, increasing hair growth.
While minoxidil can be a highly effective treatment for androgenic alopecia, it’s not perfect. Minoxidil has some common side effects that can be extremely uncomfortable. The two most frequently experienced side effects of minoxidil are dryness and irritation of the scalp. If your scalp gets irritated and dried out by minoxidil, your hair loss prevention efforts can be sabotaged. Dryness and irritation are two things you always want to avoid for the sake of healthy hair.
To combat the potential side effects of minoxidil and increase the effectiveness of your hair loss prevention regimen, pair the topical treatment with GroMD hair products. Our shampoo and conditioner combo contains hydrating, soothing ingredients like argan oil and stinging nettle. These natural ingredients can help to reduce the irritation and dryness that minoxidil may cause.
How To Use GroMD’s DHT-Blocking Shampoo
Using our shampoo and conditioner combo to nourish your hair and boost growth is simple. You can use our shampoo and conditioner the same way you use your current hair products, with a few important exceptions. Follow the tips and instructions below to make the most of your hair care routine.
- When using GroMD shampoo and conditioner, let the lather sit in your hair for several minutes before rinsing. Your hair and scalp need time to absorb the beneficial ingredients in the shampoo and conditioner combo. Once you have vigorously massaged the shampoo and conditioner into your hair, make sure to give it a few minutes before you rinse it out and finish your shower.
- Use GroMD shampoo and conditioner daily for optimal results. Our hair products work best when they are used consistently. It may take some extra effort, but it’s worth it to do whatever you can to care for your hair daily.
- To increase the growth-boosting benefits for your hair, you can add GroMD’s follicle activator spray to your hair care routine. Click here to pick up your first bottle.
If you have more questions about DHT, hair loss, and how GroMD can help you get the hair of your dreams, make sure to visit our blog. There, you’ll find all the information you need about how to use our products, as well as helpful tips for effective hair care.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
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