What Is DHT and Do DHT Blockers Really Work for Hair Loss?

If you’ve noticed the signs of male pattern baldness — say, a thinning hairline or a bald patch on the crown of your head — a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT)  is probably to blame. It can damage your hair follicles, leading to hair loss. 

But what is DHT hair loss, and what can you do about it? Here, we’ll explain what DHT is, its effects on healthy hair growth, and remedies for genetic thinning, including the popular hair loss treatments known as DHT blockers.

Short for dihydrotestosterone, DHT is a type of androgen (male sex hormone). Your body produces DHT as a byproduct of testosterone through the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone to DHT.

Like other androgens, DHT is highly important for your development. During childhood and puberty, DHT is responsible for helping you develop body hair, facial hair, and a deep voice. It’s also responsible for developing male characteristics in utero.

But DHT becomes less important after adolescence — and can sometimes wreak havoc on your hair follicles.

So, what exactly is the link between DHT and male pattern baldness? 

DHT can bind to receptors in your hair follicles — this can damage your hair follicles through a process called miniaturization. In hair follicle miniaturization, the follicles actually become smaller, leading to thinner hair. Over time, they may stop producing hair at all, causing male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia).  

The process of hair follicle miniaturization also causes the hair growth cycle becomes progressively shorter — resulting in thinner, shorter hairs. 

Over time, this can lead to a receding hairline, hair thinning, and even severe hair loss.

Why DHT Affects People Differently

If all men have DHT, why don’t all men go bald? It’s a great question.

Just like your genes play a major role in determining your height, hair color, eye color, and other physical characteristics, they also have a big influence on how susceptible you are to male pattern baldness.

Experts think some men’s hair follicles are more sensitive to DHT than others, meaning they miniaturize and stop growing new hairs faster when DHT attaches to receptors in the scalp.

Research also suggests that guys with male pattern baldness have higher average levels of 

DHT and greater concentrations of androgen receptors in the scalp.

This means that if you’re very susceptible to hair loss, you may not just be more sensitive to the effects of DHT than your peers — your body might also be more prone to converting testosterone into DHT.

This type of hair loss doesn’t only affect men. Women also make small amounts of testosterone and, therefore, DHT. In women, this is called female pattern hair loss or female pattern baldness.

If you’re genetically predisposed to DHT sensitivity, increased DHT levels could elevate your risk of pattern hair loss. It’s a bummer but a part of life for many men.

So, what could make your DHT levels go up? Well, since DHT is produced as a byproduct of testosterone, anything that contributes to higher testosterone levels is also likely to contribute to more DHT.

You can increase testosterone levels through healthy lifestyle habits like nutrition, sleep, and exercise. There isn’t any research showing that these habits cause any noticeable increase in hair shedding.

Medications Affecting Testosterone and DHT

However, any medications that increase the amount of testosterone in your body could cause hair loss.

For example, testosterone injections used to treat low testosterone could make your DHT levels increase sharply, causing your hair loss to become more severe.

This is something you’ll want to talk about with your healthcare provider, particularly if you have low testosterone and use medication to treat it.

As we mentioned, DHT blockers are medications and natural ingredients that slow the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Less DHT equals more hair on your hair (at least in theory). Perhaps the most well-known and studied DHT blocker is the hair loss medication, finasteride (more on that soon).

Some DHT blockers certainly work, but they aren’t all created equally. Effectiveness varies.

It’s also important to realize that DHT blockers can’t magically reverse the effects of male pattern baldness. With the exception of hair transplant surgery, there’s no way to instantly restore a receding hairline or other consequences of pattern hair loss.

Realistically, you can expect the DHT blockers supported by high-quality scientific evidence to help slow down or stop male pattern baldness. 

The ones without scientific support? You’re probably better off skipping.

DHT blockers come in two main forms. Some stop DHT from being produced by blocking the effects of 5-alpha reductase enzymes. Others block the effects of DHT at the hair follicles.

Of the prescription DHT blockers currently on the market, finasteride is arguably the best. It's approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating hair loss and is backed up by plenty of research. It's even endorsed by the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dutasteride is another powerful DHT blocker with extensive research backing its efficacy. However, it’s not FDA-approved for treating male pattern baldness (it is approved for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, as is finasteride in higher doses).

Over-the-counter DHT blockers are typically shampoos and other topical hair care products. 

These work differently and aren’t as rigorously studied as finasteride.  

Finasteride

Also known by the brand name Propecia^®, finasteride belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. It works by reducing the effects of the 5α-reductase enzyme, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone into DHT. 

By blocking DHT production directly at the source, finasteride drastically reduces the levels of DHT in your body. Research shows that it can lower the amount of DHT by as much as 70 percent.

Not only can finasteride slow down male pattern hair loss — it might also promote the growth of new hair. A recent study from Japan found that more than 91 percent of men who used the medication to treat male pattern baldness experienced some hair regrowth.

DHT-Blocking Shampoos 

While finasteride works by reducing DHT levels inside the body, other DHT-blocking agents work locally on the scalps.

Available over the counter, DHT-blocking shampoos contain active ingredients that reduce the effects of DHT on your scalp and prevent DHT from damaging hair follicles.

But even though certain DHT-blocking shampoos might slow down hair loss, there’s not nearly as much scientific evidence to support their benefits as there is for oral finasteride. 

Look for the following ingredients when you’re comparing hair loss shampoos:

• Ketoconazole. An antifungal medication that’s usually used to treat skin infections like athlete's foot, ketoconazole also inhibits 5α-reductase — the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. Research suggests that ketoconazole shampoo can increase hair density and stimulate hair follicles to enter the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.  

• Saw palmetto. Saw palmetto is a natural DHT blocker that’s extracted from a palm plant called Serenoa repens. Some research has found that saw palmetto — both in the form of oral supplements and topical applications — can slow down male pattern hair loss. You can find saw palmetto in our hair thickening shampoo, which is formulated to promote volume and moisture.

• Pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil has also been linked to hair growth. Some research suggests that pumpkin seed oil supplements can increase hair growth in men with male pattern baldness. However, the research on pumpkin seed oil for hair loss is fairly thin, so it’s best to use it along with another product.

• Green tea. That’s right. You can add better hair health to the long list of green tea benefits. Green tea moisturizes and smooths hair. And since it has antioxidant properties, green tea can increase blood flow, which benefits hair follicles. Some research suggests that green tea could be a natural DHT blocker, decreasing DHT formation.

In general, it’s best to use hair loss shampoo while also taking finasteride, rather than using a shampoo on its own. 

Our guide to DHT-blocking shampoos explains more about how a hair loss shampoo can fit into your hair care routine for optimal results. 

DHT blockers are safe and effective for most men. However, some DHT-blocking medications may cause certain side effects — including sexual ones. 

The most common side effects of finasteride include:

• Decreased libido

• Erectile dysfunction 

• Ejaculation issues (such as a reduction in semen volume)

However, these side effects only affect a small percentage of men who use finasteride. For example, data from clinical trials shows that erectile dysfunction — the most publicized side effect of finasteride — only occurred in 1.3 percent of men who used it at the standard 1mg dose. 

Side effects from DHT blockers used in hair loss prevention shampoos are also uncommon. 

Some ingredients may cause irritation, dry skin, itchy skin, or other similarly minor effects. 

If you experience any side effects while using finasteride or a topical DHT blocker, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know.

Finasteride, for all its benefits, is not a total cure-all. 

Although DHT-blocking medication can be a game-changer for your hairline, there’s so much more you can do to promote healthy hair.  

In addition to the DHT blockers listed above, consider using the following treatments as part of your hair loss prevention routine:

Minoxidil

Along with finasteride, minoxidil is probably the most well-known hair loss treatment. It can be taken topically or orally, and its topical formulations are sold over the counter. 

Minoxidil increases blood flow to the scalp, moving hairs into the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. This stimulates hair growth.  

Now we bet you’re asking yourself, does minoxidil block DHT? Nope — minoxidil is not a DHT blocker. That’s why it can treat types of hair loss that aren’t related to DHT, such as telogen effluvium. 

But it’s still one of the most effective medications available for treating male pattern baldness, especially when it’s used in combination with finasteride.

In a study published in the journal Dermatologic Therapy, researchers found that 94.1 percent of men with androgenetic hair loss who used topical minoxidil and finasteride together saw improvements in their hair.

We offer minoxidil solution and minoxidil foam online. You can also try our topical finasteride and minoxidil spray, which combines both active ingredients in one convenient hair care product.

Biotin Supplements

Your body needs nutrients in order to grow hair. One way to ensure that you have all the nutrients you need? Take a high quality supplement.

Biotin, or vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin found in certain foods. It’s also a popular dietary supplement that can help build thick hair, strong nails, and healthy skin. 

As with many other vitamins, research is mixed overall on the effectiveness of biotin as a hair growth supplement. However, some studies of supplements containing biotin suggest that they may offer benefits — especially for someone who's biotin-deficient.

DHT is a pretty important hormone when you’re growing up — but as you age, it can become your hairline’s worst enemy. Since DHT is the main cause of androgenetic or androgenic alopecia, a DHT blocker can be the best way to treat pattern baldness.

Just keep in mind:

• Not all DHT blockers are equally effective. Finasteride is the most well-known science-backed DHT blocker. Natural DHT blockers, like saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil, aren’t as rigorously studied as finasteride. 

• You can combine treatments. Wanna give your follicles some extra support? Finasteride can be combined with DHT-blocking hair loss shampoos as well as other hair loss treatments, like minoxidil and biotin supplements. 

• Act fast. Male pattern hair loss doesn’t stop on its own, and sadly, there’s a high chance your hair will never return to its former glory. The best way to prevent further damage is to get treatment ASAP.

Interested in learning more about slowing down male pattern hair loss? Check out our full guide to finasteride for men. While you’re at it, read our hair care tips for men to help keep your hair as healthy and full as possible.

But your best option is to get medical advice from an expert. We can help you set up an online consultation with a healthcare professional who can explain your treatment options and, if appropriate, prescribe a DHT blocker like finasteride.