A few hair related questions..

[decro435]

1.Why do people tend to lose their hair when they get older,
do the hair follicles become more sensitive as we age or does DHT increase with age?

2. Blocking dht can be accomplished by:

* Keeping dht from attaching to the receptors in the hair follicles.
* Reducing the production of DHT.
* Inhibiting the production of the enzyme 5 alpha reductase which converts testosterone into DHT.
* Reducing the substances that can produce the enzyme 5 alpha reductase like cholesterol.

In relation to the point in bold , how do we do this?.

3. For topical anti-androgens such as spironolactone 5% does this stop only DHT present on the scalp? Or would an internal attack be needed aswell?

 

[Bryan]

1.Why do people tend to lose their hair when they get older,
do the hair follicles become more sensitive as we age or does DHT increase with age?

There's a lot of chatter on hairloss sites about how DHT supposedly increases with age, but I tend to believe the studies showing that DHT stays relatively constant. I feel that the reason people lose their hair with age has to do mainly with two factors: follicles get more and more sensitive to androgens as we get older, and the damage to follicles is probably cumulative.

2. Blocking dht can be accomplished by:

* Keeping dht from attaching to the receptors in the hair follicles.

In relation to the point in bold , how do we do this?.

By using antiandrogens.

3. For topical anti-androgens such as spironolactone 5% does this stop only DHT present on the scalp?

I'm not completely sure I understand the question, but I will say that topical spironolactone has been shown to have a "local" effect only where it's applied. If you were hinting at something else, please elaborate on what you meant.

Or would an internal attack be needed aswell?

Males can't use systemic antiandrogens. Too many side effects.

 

[decro435]

Thanks for the reply. My spironolactone question was a bit jumbled but you answered it anyways.

Another question:

Would applying spironolactone 5% cream on the whole area of the scalp at night and in the morning be enough to halt male pattern baldness?
I don't see why it wouldn't? I realize no regrowth would occur.

 

[Bryan]

Would applying spironolactone 5% cream on the whole area of the scalp at night and in the morning be enough to halt male pattern baldness?

Maybe. Especially if your male pattern baldness isn't too severe. I've often said that I think topical spironolactone is only a rather mediocre antiandrogen. Certainly not as effective as (say) topical RU58841, but better than nothing at all.

 

[decro435]

Unfortuenatly my hair loss is very aggressive at 19 and is developing in a Norwood 7-8 fashion (all round my ear etc.). What topical anti-androgen would you suggest?