Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — the Male Hormone Causing Hair Loss in Both Men and Women
Although dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a male hormone, women also produce this hormone. DHT forms when testosterone reacts with the 5α-reductase enzyme and converts into DHT hormone, which binds to androgen receptors at the hair root, altering the hair growth cycle so that new hair grows more slowly, becomes thinner, and eventually stops growing altogether — causing thinning and baldness in both men and women.
One way to reduce DHT-caused hair loss is to inhibit the 5α-reductase enzyme from reacting with testosterone and producing DHT.