Key Reasons Why Men Experience Hair Loss

WHY DO MEN EXPERIENCE HAIR LOSS?

Androgenetic alopecia (which is just a fancy schmancy word for male pattern baldness) is the most common cause of hair loss in men, affecting 50% of all men by age 50 and 70% in later life. A variety of genetic and environmental factors play a role in male pattern baldness but researchers have determined that dihydrotestosterone or DHT is the primary hormone responsible for hair loss in men.

Long story short, an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT acts on scalp follicle tissues by causing hair follicles to miniaturize or shrink and eventually stop growing new hairs. DHT has the opposite effect on hair follicles on the beard and body by stimulating them to grow (weird, huh?). Male pattern baldness usually begins with a receding hairline over the temples, followed by the thinning of hair at the vertex or top of the scalp.

WTF is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone a.k.a. DHT is the primary hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. DHT is biologically important and contributes to male sex characteristics when you go through puberty. Although DHT is derived from testosterone, DHT is much more powerful. The enzyme 5 alpha-reductase converts testosterone to DHT in certain tissues
including the skin and hair follicles. Up to 10 percent of testosterone is normally converted into DHT.

DHT acts on scalp follicle tissues by causing hair follicles to miniaturize or shrink and eventually stop growing new hairs. DHT has the opposite effect on hair follicles on the beard and body, by stimulating these follicle types to grow.

WHAT IS 5 ALPHA-REDUCTASE?

We wont bore you with the details but simply put, 5 alpha-reductase (5-AR, 5α-reductase) is the enzyme that helps convert testosterone to DHT.