The hormone that primarily causes baldness is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a powerful androgen, a type of sex hormone that plays a role in male characteristics. It is produced from testosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT is found in the skin, hair follicles, and the prostate.
While DHT is essential for male development, it can also lead to hair loss. The sensitivity of hair follicles to DHT is what causes hair loss, particularly the common pattern of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia. This occurs when inherited genetic changes make your hair follicles more sensitive to DHT.
Here's a breakdown of how DHT contributes to baldness:
- DHT binds to receptors in hair follicles: This binding triggers a cascade of events that ultimately leads to hair follicle shrinkage and miniaturization.
- Follicles produce thinner, shorter hairs: The shrinking follicles result in weaker, finer hairs that eventually stop growing altogether.
- Hair loss: As the cycle continues, hair follicles become dormant, leading to noticeable thinning and baldness.
While DHT is the primary hormone involved in hair loss, other hormones like estrogen and stress hormones can also play a role. However, DHT is the primary culprit in androgenetic alopecia, the most common type of hair loss.
