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What Causes Too Much DHT And 5 Alpha Reductase?
Question: I'm a female experiencing male pattern baldness. I am a vegetarian for 15 years. What causes too much DHT & 5 Alpha Reductase? I understand females can produce too much testoserone also What do I need to do at this point to stop the loss? I need help to preserve what hair I have left. HELP! please
Brief Answer:
DHT and 5 alpha reductase
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is testosterone dependent. Testosterone must be converted to it's active metabolite dihydrotestosterone ( DHT) for biological actions. DHT can act on scalp and cause hair loss from sides of scalp ( androgenic alopecia) and same DHT can act on the facial and body hair follicles to cause excess hair growth. High DHT means high male hormone secretion or high activity of the enzyme 5 Alpha reductase which convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
Fisrtly, you may need to meet an endocrinologist to find the cause. High male hormones in a post menopausal woman may indicate adrenal gland issues or ovary isues. After a thorough physical examination ( to look for hair loss and body hair pattern, clitoris size, abdomen masses) , your doctor may order few hormone tests and possibly a CT scan of ovary and adrenals ( if hormones abnormally high.
If no significant abnormality is found, we can give a 5 alpha reductase blocker which prevent conversion pf testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone and that helps to prevent further hair loss.
Regards
Binu
DHT and 5 alpha reductase
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
Male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia is testosterone dependent. Testosterone must be converted to it's active metabolite dihydrotestosterone ( DHT) for biological actions. DHT can act on scalp and cause hair loss from sides of scalp ( androgenic alopecia) and same DHT can act on the facial and body hair follicles to cause excess hair growth. High DHT means high male hormone secretion or high activity of the enzyme 5 Alpha reductase which convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
Fisrtly, you may need to meet an endocrinologist to find the cause. High male hormones in a post menopausal woman may indicate adrenal gland issues or ovary isues. After a thorough physical examination ( to look for hair loss and body hair pattern, clitoris size, abdomen masses) , your doctor may order few hormone tests and possibly a CT scan of ovary and adrenals ( if hormones abnormally high.
If no significant abnormality is found, we can give a 5 alpha reductase blocker which prevent conversion pf testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone and that helps to prevent further hair loss.
Regards
Binu
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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