Hair loss is a huge problem witnessed by both men and women in India. At first, hair loss used to happen with age and time, but now even youngsters under the age of 20 are experiencingan increased rate of alopecia.
According to our dermatologists, by 35, two-thirds of men will experience some level of hair loss. So if you do the math, by 50, the number doubles to 85 percent of men suffering from the issue, which gives us enough reason to be concerned.
If someone has mentioned DHT to you and you’re wondering if it works, then your worry is valid, and we are here to help you understand the uses and side effects of DHT blockers. We’ll first understand how it works, the uses, the potential side effects, and then move on to explaining how we can help you use this medication better, and better yet, if you even require it in the first place.
Read on to discover more!
What is a DHT blocker?
DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is a byproduct of testosterone which is basically a steroid hormone which helps in the development of male characteristics, its present both in male and female, hence, a disbalance of this hormone causes a significant change in one’s appearance.
DHT blocker comes in natural forms in foods as well as a medication such as Finasteride, it is also known and sold under the name Propecia®. It is an FDA-approved medicine used to treat thinning of hair as it prohibits the conversion of testosterone into DHT.
An increased amount of DHT can shrink the hair follicles, which leads to rapid hair loss. That’s why, stopping the DHT from increasing will lead to an increase the hair growth, curbing hair loss. It should be used by men only above 18 years of age and is not prescribed to be used by children or women.
DHT blocker for hair is only available on a treatment Plan from a doctor, it comes in oral tablets, and is primarily prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate gland).
DHT Blocker Uses for Hair Loss
DHT blockers are used to treat male pattern hair loss. Even though this hormone is largely present in men, women can experience a imbalance too. Hence, it is important to understand your hormone levels to identify internal problems. For women, oral medication is not prescribed due to fetal side effects, but topical solutions such as Finasteride can be applied in some cases.
DHT blockers are said to work as they help in stopping the shrinkage of follicles allowing the pattern baldness to delay, but this medication is not considered a permanent treatment. Therefore, if you wish to tackle hair loss problems then its best to know the root cause and try to treat it accordingly.
Want to know what is your root cause? Try Traya’s Free Hair Test and understand the underlying causeofr your hair problems.
Other than treating hair loss, this medicine can be taken alone or in combination with other medications to reduce benign prostate hyperplasia or BPH symptoms. It may also reduce the need for surgery.
What Are the Side Effects of Using DHT Blocker?
All drugs or medications come with side effects, there’s nothing to worry about as it's quite normal. Just likethata, DHT Blockers come with a few side effects.
Noting that the main function of the DHT hormone is to help in the development of male sexual characteristics, including hair growth, and a change in voice. So when this medication is introduced, it might affect the sexual patterns of the user.
The good news is that significantly fewer males have experienced DHT blocker side effects. Less than 2 percent of men have experienced such side effects till now, such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, and a lower volume of ejaculation.
For most men, these side effects occurred while taking the medicine. However, there have been reports stating that sexual DHT blocker side effects could persist even after discontinuing the medication.
Other DHT blocker side effects that men have reported experiencing are:
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Ejaculation pain
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Allergic reactions
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Low blood pressure
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Headache
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Weakness
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Male breast enlargement (Gynecomastia)
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Depression
Some of these DHT blocker side effects sometimes continued even after discontinuation of the medicine.
If you are worried about the DHT blocker side effects of the medicine, make sure to speak to your doctor about your concerns. If you are struggling with chronic liver disease, it is best to avoid using this medicine.
How to Use DHT Blockers?
DHT Blockers come in the form of a medication, but they can be found naturally in foods such as Pumpkin seeds, Saw palmetto, Turmeric, Pumpkin seeds, and any Zinc and Iron-rich foods. This medication can be taken orally or topically, and here’s how you can use it:
1. Topical form: Solutions such as, Minoxidil, Finasteride, dutasteride, and ketakonazole have DHT blockers in their formula, they can come in a form of foal or serum. The best way to use it, is by applying it daily, twice a day. 1 ml should be used each time, also make sure to start the treatment after consulting a hair care professional.
2. Oral Form: Finestaride and duasteride can be found orally as well, this medication is not advisable for women. Hence, men who are having immense hair fall can try consuming it after consultation. Typically, 1 tablet a day is consumed but it may vary from person to person.
Check Out this Video where we explain how to use hair vitamin in Hindi: How to use hair vitamin?
Precautions While Using DHT Blockers
After going through the uses and side effects, it is also important to take precautionary measures before starting this treatment.
DHT blocker must not be used for children or women. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not touch broken or crushed tablets, as the skin may absorb the medicine and cause congenital disabilities in male babies.
This medicine does not treat prostate cancer but may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer.
Some men may become affected by infertility with the consumption of this medicine. Cases of these DHT blocker side effects have been reported. So if you fear this, speak to your doctor about your concern.
Like we discussed, DHT blocker cannot completely cure male baldness, but it effectively stops hair loss. This medicine has been used by men across the globe and has seen promising results. That said, it is great to clear all your doubts with your doctor and only proceed when you are delighted. Should you discover any DHT blocker side effects, speak to your doctor immediately or consult our Traya Doctors.
Expert Insights on Finesteride as a DHT Blocker
Finesteride is a popular DHT Blocker that is recommended for hair growth, even though there are many advantages of this medication, it’s advisable to consult from a doctor before using it.
At Traya, we absolutely do not recommend using ONLY ONE product to treat hair. On our journey for a holistic hair treatment, we have found that people mainly have hair loss as a symptom of an underlying issue, and treating that root cause is important. Instead, we prescribe Finasteride only when necessary which comes as part of a holistic, doctor-led treatment plan that includes Ayurveda, nutrition, and dermatology.
Finasteride is a medicine that helps by blocking the enzyme responsible for creating DHT. Once you start taking Finestaride, the solution will help in shrinking the prostrate gland so that your testosterone doesn’t turn into DHT. It is said to lower DHT levels by 60%-80%.
It’s important to remember that Finasteride does not grow new hair. Instead, it works to protect the hair you already have by preventing further damage to your follicles. In simple terms, it helps keep your existing hair from getting weaker and thinner.
When Finasteride is Recommended?
We only prescribe Finasteride when you are at Stage 3-4 on the Norwood Scale, which means you may have moderate to advanced hair loss. It is considered only when you have not seen the desired results with topical treatments, Ayurveda, or nutritional support. We usually prescribe traya hair vitamins so that it works well with overall treatment with minimum to no side effects.
We also look for clear signs that DHT is a major trigger for your hair loss. Finasteride is never used as a first-line treatment and our decisions are based on data and your specific condition.
Oral Vs Topical Finasteride: Which is Safer?
Finasteride comes in two forms oral tablets and topical solutions.
The oral tablet is usually prescribed of 1mg dose per day. As the medication is absorbed completely, it may lead to side effects such as issues with sexual function, such as libido or erectile dysfunction. Oral Finasteride is typically reserved for more advanced cases or those that have not responded to other treatments. - Women are NOT prescribed oral medication as it can have lasting side effects.
If you’re looking for a vitamin tablet for women with DHT Blocker, then you can use Traya’s Hair Vitamin for Her.
Instead, the topical Finasteride solution is usually available in concentrations of 0.1–0.25%, it is applied directly to the scalp. As it is serum or foam based, you can apply it only to those areas where it is required to avoid having excess product or abnormal growth of hair, which also reduces the chance of systemic side effects. - Women CAN use topical finesteride but only in a few cases where its absolutely necessary.
Topical Finasteride is usually recommended as it is a good choice for those with mild to moderate hair loss who wish to minimize risks.
How can Traya Help?
At Traya, we believe that “No One Product is King”, Our bodies has its ways of showing signs if something is internally wrong, these sign can manifest as Skin dullness, fever breakout, lethargy, and hair loss.
With a holistic and clinical approach, Traya can help you identify your root cause of the problem with our free hair test, then with careful diagnosis a personlized kit will be prepared keeping your root causes in mind.
After using this kit, getting consulted from our hair coaches, and following the plan regularly, you will surely see results in a span of 3-4 months, and after that your maintenance routine will keep your strong and healthy for much longer!
A clinical study conducted to understand the efficacy of our treatment against Minoxidil 5% alone also concluded that a complete and holistic plan such as ours gives 3X better results.
Having hair problems? Take the Hair Test Today, and let us be a part of your journey to healthy hair!
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