How to Stop DHT
DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is what testosterone turns into when in contact with hair follicles and is largely responsible for male pattern balding. When DHT penetrates into hair follicles that hold the enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase, it restricts the flow of blood to the follicles, making the hair fall out. The protective layer over the scalp thickens after this process, thanks to DHT, which makes further hair growth impossible.
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Instructions
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Talk to your doctor about your specific case. He may be able to tell you if your bald spots are indeed from male pattern baldness or from something else such as an illness or malnutrition.
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Start by using a DHT-blocking shampoo purchased at your drugstore. Over-the-counter products that claim to stop male pattern balding include Nisim (an all-natural product with natural DHT inhibitors) and Nizoral (contains the active ingredient Ketoconazole, which can be purchased at 1 percent over the counter or 2 percent via a prescription). Allow three to four weeks of continuous use before evaluating whether this method has worked for you.
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Talk to you doctor about other topical methods, if the shampoo alone is not working. MiN produces a full line of gels and products that can help keep DHT under control in conjunction with shampoo. Hair Genesis also provides a full range of products from shampoo, to oral supplements to topical serum. Rogaine is the only FDA-approved topical serum for hair revitalization and regrowth and can also be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies. Discuss which over-the-counter topical method will work best for you with your doctor, as he can help guide you to the most appropriate one for your case.
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Think about using over-the-counter oral supplements if shampoo and topical serum seem to be falling short of their duties. Supplements such as Hair Genesis or Viviscal can be purchased via the Internet or at drugstores. These tablets will help control DHT production through a regimen of vitamins proven to help revitalize hair such as folic acid and vitamin B. Read the ingredients carefully before taking the pills to make sure they do not interact with a medication you are currently taking.
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Talk to your doctor about taking a prescription drug for hair loss if nothing else seems to improve. To date, Propecia is the only internal drug approved for treating baldness and effectively stopping DHT in its tracks. Propecia contains the active ingredient finasteride and the Health Development Advice website claims that it has a 99 percent success rate among male patients while the Hair Transplant Network puts the rate at about 80 percent.
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Tips & Warnings
Currently, hair loss drugs only restore hair at the crown. Hair loss at the hairline can only be replaced through a hair transplant.
