Yes! DHT blockers are the most effective hair loss treatment. A study by the American Academy of Dermatology found that finasteride is effective at DHT blocking. Not only does it halt hair loss, but it can even help with future growth.
DHT blockers are safe and effective for most men. However, some DHT-blocking medications may cause side effects, including sexual side effects. The most common side effects of finasteride include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED) and ejaculation issues, such as a reduction in semen volume.
The answer is hormones. DHT is a sex hormone that is a derivative of testosterone, but excess amounts of this hormone can affect the hair follicles. DHT interferes with the hair's growth cycle, shrinking and shortening the hair making it easier for it to fall out and more difficult for it to grow back.
Hair follicle damage from DHT is largely irreversible, meaning it's important to act quickly if you start to experience this form of hair loss.
This process shortens the hair growth cycle and eventually causes new hair to stop growing. As such, individuals with elevated DHT levels may be more prone to hair loss. Reducing DHT levels is what makes Propecia, one of the most popular pharmaceutical hair loss treatments, so effective.
Should You Block DHT? Because of its effects on your hair follicles, DHT is the primary hormone responsible for pattern hair loss in men. As such, it makes sense to block it if you're starting to develop the early signs of male pattern baldness.
Biotin doesn't block DHT, but it can still lend a hand in promoting hair growth.
So, by age 20, around 20 per cent of men may experience its onset, rising to 30 per cent of 30 year olds and 40 per cent of 40 year olds.
Mild exercise increases dihydrotestosterone in hippocampus providing evidence for androgenic mediation of neurogenesis.
[3][4] It plays a vital role in the sexual development of males. During embryonic life, it is involved primarily in the sexual differentiation of organs. Through adolescence and adult life, DHT promotes prostate growth, sebaceous gland activity, male pattern baldness, and body, facial and pubic hair growth.
Foods rich in lycopene such as tomatoes, watermelons, carrots, and mangoes naturally block DHT production. Biotin-rich foods like berries, liver, legumes, oily fish, and bananas condition the skin and scalp creating an overall healthy environment for strong hair.
Too much DHT may contribute to male pattern baldness, depression and hair growth in women, and prostate enlargement. According to some studies, some natural strategies may be able to lower DHT, including tea, soybean, nettle root, and pumpkin seed oil.
Of the many nutrients and oils touted as natural DHT blockers, rosemary oil is one of the best proven. In a 2015 study, men applied either rosemary oil or minoxidil (an FDA-approved topical treatment for male pattern hair loss) to their scalps twice daily for six months.
Because finasteride works by blocking the specific enzyme responsible for DHT, it only prevents hair loss while the drug is active in your body. Once you stop taking finasteride, your body starts to convert testosterone to DHT again and your hair follicles start to react as they normally would.
This is why going for a brisk walk, a run in the park, or riding your bike—along with any great form of cardio—is likely the best way to get your blood flowing and DHT levels dropping.
One 2007 laboratory study found that caffeine helped block the effects of DHT in male hair follicles. It stimulated hair shaft elongation, resulting in longer, wider hair roots. It also prolonged anagen duration, which is the hair growth stage.
Clinical studies have shown that biotin can help to block the production of DHT, a hormone that is responsible for hair loss. DHT Blocker also contains saw palmetto, an herb that has been shown to help block DHT production.
Zinc for Hair Loss
It may seem strange, because even though DHT levels are raised, production is limited. Using zinc as a DHT blocker is not effective. Zinc helps to keep hormone levels regulated, which is one of the reasons why it is so effective in preventing and treating hair loss.
1. DHT Blocker Medicine (Finasteride) A study in the American Academy of Dermatology [1] revealed that finasteride is an effective DHT blocker. It works dual roles - halts hair loss and helps with future growth.
The most straightforward way of achieving this is through an oral 5-alpha-reductase (5αr) inhibitor. As the name suggests, these medications inhibit the 5αr enzyme which converts testosterone to DHT. Without a functioning enzyme, DHT levels in the blood plummet which is quickly reflected in the scalp.
The amount of dihydrotestosterone present in the body from day to day depends on the amount of testosterone present. When levels of testosterone increase, more of it is converted to dihydrotestosterone and so levels of dihydrotestosterone also increase as a result.
Research shows that saw palmetto may be an effective treatment in reducing hair loss due to its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to block DHT.