Can women use DHT blockers to help slow the progression of female pattern hair loss? Read on to learn how and why DHT blockers can help with hair loss.
If you, like countless other women, are dealing with female pattern hair loss, you might be wondering if it's reversible.
You might wonder if you can treat it with DHT blocker for women and reverse the effects of hair loss. Will thinning hair ever be restored to its former glory?
The short answer is maybe, but it’s best that you treat hormonal hair loss sooner rather than later. Now, let’s get into the long answer.
Below, we will talk about how hormones play a role in female hair loss, including testosterone and DHT, review why DHT blockers help with hair loss in the first place, and cover some DHT blockers that tend to be used more in females.
At any given moment, each strand of hair is going through one of the four hair growth stages.
Some hair might be in the growth stage, while other parts of hair might be in the shedding phase. (Yes, shedding is part of a healthy growth process.)
With 100,000 hairs on our heads, that is a lot of coming and going.
However, many things can disrupt the normal growth process of hair, causing abnormal hair shedding or hair loss.
For females, one of the main culprits for hair loss is hormonal changes or imbalance.
Hormone production is a vital part of a healthy body, including healthy hair growth.
These ever-important hormones are secreted from various glands in the body such as:
These glands are a part of the interconnected endocrine system.
There are many diseases and health conditions that can cause an under or overproduction of hormones. Many of which can impact hair growth and hair loss.
While testosterone might seem like it wouldn’t belong in a women’s body, both genders produce this androgen.
Generally speaking, however, women are estrogen dominant, producing only small amounts of testosterone.
Female pattern hair loss may arise when higher than normal testosterone levels occur. (Hair growth in unwanted areas may also occur.
In both male and female hair loss, the most talked-about hormone is dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
This naturally occurring chemical is a by-product of the androgen, testosterone. DHT can harm and shrink hair follicles of both men and women causing a thinning of the hair.
In women, testosterone is normally only present in small amounts, however, an imbalance of testosterone in women could trigger DHT driven hair loss.
This type of hair loss is called androgenic alopecia (AGA), also known as female pattern hair loss as well as male pattern hair loss.
Androgenic alopecia is caused by androgens like DHT and can affect both men and women.
In the U.S, the type of hair loss affects 50 million men and 30 million women to some degree.
For women, this is characterized by the overall thinning of the hair as opposed to receding hairline male pattern baldness.
While the amount of testosterone you have in your body may not directly affect your hair growth or hair loss, your sensitivity to DHT (a byproduct of testosterone) is determined by your genetics.
For some, DHT is the mortal enemy of the hair follicle.
Hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT might begin miniaturizing. If exposed to DHT for long periods of time, the hair follicles might experience persistent damage.
With proper prevention, hair follicles can be spared with DHT blocking interventions.
Especially true in women, DHT-caused hair loss is not written in the stars.
You may be able to slow androgenic alopecia by using DHT-blocking medications, or even living a healthier lifestyle.
But, to avoid any hair follicle damage, it’s best to start treatment sooner rather than later.
For women, one of the most effective hair loss treatment options is a DHT blocking medication called spironolactone. Spironolactone is an anti-androgen medication that helps to reduce levels of the androgen, testosterone.
By doing so, spironolactone helps to lower the levels of DHT that may be causing hair loss.
If you are genetically predisposed to be sensitive to DHT, using a DHT blocking medication like spironolactone could help reduce hair shedding, boost hair growth, and result in thicker hair.
In a 2015 study, nearly 75% of female participants dealing with hair loss noticed a significant improvement in their hair loss while taking the DHT blocker spironolactone.
The secret sauce, however, might actually be in combining two powerful hair loss medications: spironolactone and minoxidil.
Spironolactone acts as a DHT reducer while minoxidil encourages new hair growth. What a power couple.
According to The International Society of Dermatology, when used together, spironolactone and minoxidil can encourage new hair growth and reduce further hair loss in those with female pattern hair loss or androgenic alopecia.
If you’re worried about hair loss, it is best to speak to a physician about this before the problem persists as DHT-caused hair loss can cause hair follicle damage and excessive hair shedding.
If you’re experiencing hair loss, have a free 15-minute online consultation with our medical doctors to see if our DHT-blocking topical hair loss formula is right for you.
If our team finds this treatment is a good fit for you, you can purchase a prescription DHT blocker online. Our formula may help to restore, bolster, and protect the health of your hair.
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