In the US alone, an estimated 50% of men aged 50 and over are affected by hair loss. The most common kind of hair loss in men is known as a male pattern baldness. The hair on the crown and at the temples begin to thin slowly and eventually disappear. It is not known exactly why this happens. However, it is thought that hormonal, genetic and environmental factors play a key role. The male sex hormone, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has been attributed to hair loss and baldness amongst men. The effects that DHT can have on men differs from one person to another.
These generally include the miniaturization of hair follicles, acne and oily skin, increased body hair and among other things, prostate problems. For hair fall it’s becoming commonly accepted to use hair laser treatment such as the iRestore or illumiflow laser helmet, to treat the onset of baldness and reduce the over conversion of DHT within the scalp. Laser therapy can be a bit pricey, but scientific evidence shows that treatments focused on reducing DHT levels can be more effective in reducing hair loss than those that don’t.
There are, however, other treatments that are more readily available and that won’t put a big hole in your pockets when attempting to minimize hair loss.
Here are three other ways that DHT can be treated naturally at your own leisure.
Eating Foods That Inhibit DHT
DHT is formed after the hormone testosterone in the body is converted by the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. There are numerous foods that contain ingredients that are capable of either preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT or breaking existing DHT down. To reduce the amount of DHT in the body, it is important that one consumes foods that are rich in zinc, lycopene and biotin. To get lycopene, consider eating carrots, tomatoes and watermelon.
Zinc occurs in large quantities in foods such as kale, spinach and white mushrooms. This mineral can also be found in swiss chard, wheat germ and cashew nuts. To get biotin, it’s advisable to eat foods such as berries, peas, bananas, salmon, beans, tuna, and peanuts. Other foods that provide nutrients that work well in inhibiting DHT include almonds, walnuts and pecans that contain L-Lysine. Also, consider taking pumpkin seeds that are rich in delta-7 stearin, an ingredient that is capable of blocking the build-up of DHT and is able to remove existing DHT from your body.
Supplements That Block DHT
To add more ammunition to your arsenal of DHT blockers, you may want to consider supplementation. There are plenty of herbs that have been extracted to be much more concentrated and effective in their delivery. Some of these to stay top of mind are Saw Palmetto, Pygeum Bark Extract and Green Tea Extract.
Saw Palmetto is the most popular out of the bunch and can provide noticeable results with prolonged use. This herb works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, which is the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT.
Other nutrients that you may look to supplement with are Copper, Grape Seed Extract, DIM and Horsetail Rush.
Just like zinc, copper is responsible for a myriad of functions within the body including the growth of healthy hair. Proper circulation within the body is dependent on adequate levels of copper and without a healthy circulatory system, hair growth can be negatively affected.
Grape Seed Extract contains proanthocyanins that have been shown to stimulate the hairs on the scalp by bringing these strands of hair from their resting phase into their growth phase.
DIM has been shown to regulate the amount of estradiol in the body, which is one of the strongest forms of the female hormone estrogen. By controlling this hormone and keeping it in balance, it can play an effect of stopping the over conversion of testosterone into DHT, which can be caused by too much estrogen in the body.
Horestail Rush contains a high amount of silica and this compound has been shown to make hair stronger and more vibrant. It can also make hair thicker and possibly make it less brittle.
Shampoos That Contain DHT Blocking Ingredients
The easiest way of preventing DHT formation is maintaining a healthy diet. However, when DHT has built up too much, it might make sense to take extra precautionary steps. This can include using shampoos that contain ingredients that are capable of blocking DHT.
The top shampoos that can help with blocking DHT in the scalp will have a list of different natural ingredients that can aid your hair loss. The ingredients to look out for are as follows: ketoconazole, beta-sitosterol, caffeine, castor oil and other essential oils as most essential oils help nourish the hair and build it up from its roots.
When shopping for hair shampoos, opt for those that contain ingredients that are able to stimulate hair follicles and replenish regrowth. One trick is to refer to hair growth oils and find the ingredients that are used and look for shampoos that have a few of those same ingredients. These hair growth shampoos are capable of enhancing hair thickness. Also, one specific ingredient to look out for in hair shampoos is keratin. Keratin can help nourish hair and prevent continued hair fall.
Conclusion
DHT is a male hormone that plays a major role in hair loss. There are different ways of treating hair loss. For a convenient and easy way to begin treating your hair loss is to look to the foods you eat and the supplementation you take. You can also consider shampoos that contain natural ingredients known to prevent further hair loss. To effectively treat hair loss, treatments need to focus on the real cause, DHT. For people looking for an effective hair loss solution, taking DHT inhibiting or blocking nutrients regularly is a good way to start reversing hair loss.
Anha Khalid is a passionate writer with donkey years of experience in the industry. She is a versatile freelance writer with having experience in writing content for health and beauty magazines and websites. With a background in journalism, she loves writing blogs and product reviews that provide valuable information to readers.
