Just What Is DHT And How Does It Cause Hair Loss?

Although we do not completely understand how hair loss and baldness is passed down through our genetics, what we do know is that some individuals have hair follicles that are super sensitive to the "DHT" that runs through their blood.

DHT is a hormone with the initials standing for "dihydrotestosterone".

DHT is an androgen, created from testosterone, and is considered a male hormone. Surprisingly, even though this is a male hormone, women also have a small amount that runs through their blood, some higher than others. When a female inherits hair follicles that are super sensitive to DHT, they will start to lose hair just as men do.

When a person inherits the genes for hair loss, their hair follicles are also sensitive to DHT in other ways. Not only does a person's hair fall out, but they will have also inherited hair follicles that, when regenerated through the three growth cycles, grow strands of hair that come back thinner and with less pigmentation.

This phenomenon also clears up the mystery behind why some people have thinning hair that seems to change color as the person ages.

In other words, it is perfectly normal for everybody's hair to grow and then shed, and then regrow back again. This allows the hair to reenter the anagen phase, then the catagen phase, and finally the telogen phase, which results in a new strand of hair. But now, since a person's hair follicles are sensitive to the DHT in the blood supply, it prevents the hair from regenerating to its normal size after each repetitive growth cycle. They come back smaller and smaller. In time, a person's scalp will contain hair so small that it resembles fuzz, which can barely be seen, hence becoming "bald".

Don't Be Too Discouraged To Find Out You Are Loosing Your Hair

Although being genetically predisposed to hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT may seem like a no-win situation, there is still hope! For starters, anybody who is experiencing hair loss can improve their look by carefully styling their hair in a way that does not emphasize this loss of hair.

There are also many hair care products on the market that can help give the appearance of extra hair. And if you really wanted to make an improvement, there are many high-quality wigs and hairpieces that look as real as a natural head of hair.

Also, medications exist that are widely available that are designed to help protect sensitive hair follicles that are affected by DHT. Some medications can even help by reducing the amount of DHT in a person's bloodstream, which will help slow down the process of hair loss.

Although there is no "magic bullet" for everyone in terms of medication for hair loss, there have been some truly amazing results with treatment and medication where patients have experienced a total reversal of their hair loss!

How Can Women's Hair Loss Be Treated?

Did you know that more and more women are having to cope
with hair loss? Understanding the root cause of hair loss
in women is one of the most important fact finding missions
that you can do for yourself.

Finding the root cause of your hair loss will lead you to
better understanding of your situation and hopefully finding
some sort of relief in stopping hair loss.

Hair loss in women is not confined to any age barriers.
Women in their early years have also been affected with this
problem and whether their old or young in years, women have
to learn to cope with their hair loss. One of the tasks to
cope is understanding why it happens in the first place.

Just as our body grows in cycles so does our hair grow in
cycles. When women's hair loss is affected the growth cycle
of hair is interrupted. Growth of hair usually grows at
about half an inch per month with individual hairs having a
growth phase of between two to six years. After the growth
period then there is a dormant period then that strand of
hair falls away naturally and a new strand of hair replaces
starting the hair growth cycle all over again.
It is when this cycle is interfered with by either hormonal
imbalance, medication effects, psychological stresses is
when our body reacts and thus we have hair loss in women.

Balding patterns identified.

Just as males and females are different in all aspects, hair
loss is no different. The hair loss pattern identified in
women is quite different than male balding. We all have
different heads of hair of course but the effects of balding
concentrates on different parts of the head. Balding effects
in women are identified by having it goes around the whole
top of the head versus men when they lose hair is mainly on
the temple at the crown.

A common cause for women's hair loss.

Truly one of the most predominant causes of women's hair loss
is hormones. Since women have to go through traumatic
stages in the life especially when it comes to childbirth,
women are more susceptible to hormonal changes than men are.

In all cases of hair loss the most important issue is
getting a valid diagnosis of the hair loss. Until you see
your physician and he can give you an expert opinion on your
condition you should investigate your matter thoroughly.

Identifying hair loss patterns.

You need to identify whether this hair loss pattern is
temporary or permanent. Did the hair loss come on suddenly
or has it happened over time? Answers to these questions
may open up the root cause for your hair loss. If your hair
loss is patchy then most likely it is related to stress.
Have you been stressed out lately? Really take a look at
your lifestyle and maybe you can find the reason for your
hair loss.

What can you do about hair loss?

Well first things first, beware of miracle cures. A lot of
hair loss treatments are predicated on the fear factor. Some
myths of hair loss are how women have the wrong chromosome
count in them. Can you believe that someone would come up
with a reason like that? Another fear factor reason is that
women brushing or combing their hair too much. Certainly
overdoing anything to excess is likely to have consequences
but please put some common sense into these issues.
There are medical treatments available like the drug
Minoxidil. This drug was originally designed to treat high
blood pressure but studies showed that a side effect was
hair growth.
You can also try hair transplantation or scalp reduction if
your budget allows you too.
But before you try any of these treatments make sure that
the hair loss you're experiencing is definitely permanent
and isn't temporary.

Women's hair loss is definitely something that women want to
take care of before it gets out of hand. Understanding the
root cause, identifying the type patterns and seeing what
treatments are available is just the beginning of stopping
hair loss.

Offering alternatives to combating hair loss can be found
at Jim's website that may offer some hope of getting your
hair back. You just may be surprised at what you may learn.