DHT and Hair Loss The Real Cause
DHT is the hormone behind most male and female-pattern baldness. Learn what DHT is, how it shrinks your follicles, and what actually works to fight it — from medication to a transplant.
What Is DHT?
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a powerful hormone made from testosterone. In people who are genetically sensitive to it, DHT gradually miniaturises hair follicles — each growth cycle produces a thinner, shorter, weaker hair until the follicle stops producing visible hair altogether. This process, androgenetic alopecia, is the cause of the large majority of hair loss.
How DHT Causes Baldness
Miniaturisation
Follicles shrink with each cycle, producing finer hair over time.
Shorter Cycles
The growth phase gets shorter, so hairs fall out sooner.
Pattern Loss
DHT-sensitive areas (hairline, crown) thin while the back and sides resist.
Why Transplants Work
Donor follicles from the back are DHT-resistant, so they keep growing when moved.
How to Fight DHT
| Approach | Effect |
|---|---|
| Finasteride | Blocks DHT production — slows/stops loss |
| Minoxidil | Stimulates existing follicles |
| PRP | Strengthens weakened follicles |
| Hair Transplant | Permanently restores bald areas with DHT-resistant hair |
Compare finasteride, minoxidil and PRP.
Why a Transplant Beats DHT
The genius of a hair transplant is that it uses follicles from the DHT-resistant donor zone. Once moved to thinning areas, these follicles keep their resistance — so the transplanted hair grows permanently, even though the area around it was affected by DHT. That is why a hair transplant is the only permanent solution for established loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
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