DHT Blocking Shampoo- What is a DHT Blocker? How Does DHT WORK?

Androgenic alopecia is the leading cause of hair loss in men. As men advance in years, male pattern baldness takes over, and many lose a significant amount of hair even before they turn fifty years old.

Even women suffer from this hair loss problem, but it is far less prevalent among this gender. If we look at the statistics in the U.S alone, you will find androgenic alopecia rampant in fifty million men while around thirty million women may have it.

But what is the underlying factor behind this problem? This article will discuss all about DHT blockers, what they are, and how they work for you.

What is a DHT Blocker

According to scientific facts, the primary underlying reason behind pattern baldness is the sex hormones. Have you ever heard of DHT? It is an androgen, a sex hormone that bears the responsibility of developing the gender characteristics in males, such as body hair.

However, this same hormone can also have a reverse effect, meaning if it can grow body hair, it can even cause hair loss, including your scalp hair. You must be aware of how hair follicles thrive when they receive sufficient nutrition.

When DHT prevents the hair follicles when absorbing the nutrients in your blood, they begin to shrink and eventually stop growing hair. The dihydrotestosterone or DHT hormone binds to your scalp’s receptors and eventually causes male pattern baldness.

But this condition generally comes about only if you are a genetically-susceptible male. If you’re not, you have better chances of being safe from alopecia even after turning forty or so. However, coming back to our question, DHT blockers are those medications or products that stop DHT production in your body.

Today, you will find DHT blockers in various forms in the market, but one cannot guarantee how well each would work for you. Some of the DHT blockers include:

  • DHT blocking shampoo
  • Green tea
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Nettle
  • Emu oil
  • Saw palmetto
  • Pumpkin seed oil
  • Pygeum
  • Finasteride

How Does DHT Work

DHT and testosterone are hormones or androgens, and they contribute to the male gender characteristics. Testosterone is the primary source of DHT and is also a hormone in both men and women.

The traits these two products in a male who is going through puberty include:

  • Changes in how your body stores fat
  • Development of the male-specific body parts, including the testicles, are they begin to produce sperm
  • Increase in muscle mass and body hair
  • The deep, typically-male voice

While both testosterone and DHT have various benefits for your body, with time, certain developments could turn DHT into a problem for your scalp hair. The problem is that men generally have more testosterone and nearly ten percent of it converts into DHT.

The 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) enzyme makes this happen, and due to this development, the DHT links to receptors in your scalp. Ultimately, your hair follicles begin shrinking and lose their capability to support active and robust hair growth.

DHT does not only stop at hair damage: it can do a lot more to your body. Research tells us that abnormally high levels of DHT can cause the following damages:

  • Coronary heart disease
  • Prostate cancer
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Slow healing time for skin injuries

But high DHT levels are not the only cause of concern: even low DHT levels are harmful to your body. It can lead to problems like insufficient sexual development during puberty. Facts tell us that low DHT levels tend to delay puberty in all the sexes, but it is also true that this doesn’t have an effect on women as men.

Men, having low DHT levels can suffer from the following issues:

  • Increased risk of falling prey to aggressive prostate tumors
  • Your body’s approach to distributing fat may change. It could cause gynecomastia or other conditions
  • Improper, late, or insufficient development of sex organs

DHT Blocking Shampoo

Do you notice the plethora of DHT blocking products in every supermarket or drugstore? The reason is that pattern baldness is such a common problem that people desperately seek any and every solution that could bring back their hair.

One such product is a DHT blocking shampoo, but how effective is it?

Let’s assume your hair loss is due to DHT; hence if you select a shampoo that mentions potent DHT blocking ingredients on the label, it might be advantageous. If a DHT shampoo has all the elements it should for blocking the harmful androgen, you can expect your scalp follicles to revive and grow back hair.

At the same time, you need to acknowledge that male pattern baldness occurs differently for every person, mainly because of the genetic history. Hence, there is no guarantee any researcher can explain how effective a specific shampoo would be for you.

But here is what you can still do to experience the best results possible. When out shopping for a DHT blocking shampoo, look for the following ingredients on the label:

  • Tea tree oil for scalp-irritating fungi
  • Pumpkin seed oil for blocking the DHT-producing testosterone
  • Rosemary oil for boost your scalp’s circulation
  • Biotin vitamins, including B8, B7, and vitamins H. Lavender oil is also a beneficial ingredient.
  • Saw palmetto- because it contains DHT blocking characteristics
  • Ketoconazole – for preventing DHT from attaching to your hair follicles.

Final Thoughts

DHT is the leading cause of male pattern baldness. While genetic history determines how susceptible you are to it and to what degree you will suffer DHT- causing hair loss, you can opt for some practical solutions. DHT-blocking shampoos promise to be effective in treating a balding scalp only if they have the right ingredients. By scanning the prospective DHT shampoo label thoroughly and a consultation with a dermatologist, you may find a helpful remedy for your balding head.

Courtney Lee

Courtney Lee

I'm Courtney Lee and I love nothing more than shopping around and finding the best deals. I like all things beautiful and live with my cats and partner in a leafy suburb - living the dream!