How do you block dht

If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor. Finasteride is an oral medication used to treat male pattern baldness in men only.

It is not for use by women. When used by men, finasteride is generally safe but it can also cause serious side effects, including but not limited to allergic reactions, sexual dysfunction, depression, and high-grade prostate cancer. Most patients find that problems with sexual function resolve when they stop taking the medicine. For full prescribing information, view the drug label information. Photo by Lucian Novosel on Unsplash. Keeps Page 1 Created with Sketch. Hair Loss Treatments. Antonella Tosti, Keeps Medical Advisor.

Rosemary Oil Verdict: Promising, but not enough studies to prove it can stop male pattern baldness The essential oil derived from this popular herb is used as a homeopathic remedy for everything from mild aches and pains to mosquito infestations no, really. Green Tea Verdict: Not enough studies to prove it can stop male pattern baldness Green tea has plenty of beneficial nutrients in it, but only one of them is considered a potential natural DHT blocker: epigallocatechin-3 gallate EGCG , which belongs to a class of antioxidants called catechins.

Saw Palmetto Verdict: Not enough studies to prove it can stop male pattern baldness Saw palmetto extract, which is derived from a small palm tree native to southeastern states like Florida, is one of the most popular herbal DHT blockers. Pygeum Verdict: Not enough studies to prove it can stop male pattern baldness Pygeum, an herb that comes from the bark of the African cherry tree, has been studied as a potential treatment for the side effects of an enlarged prostate, another condition linked to DHT.

In addition to blocking DHT, caffeine is an effective anti-inflammatory. Although you likely associate caffeine primarily with the cup of coffee or tea you drink in the morning, it is a powerful health ingredient. Furthermore, caffeine can help improve blood flow. This is associated with stimulating the growth of new hairs. Caffeine extends the life cycle of hair follicles, allowing them to grow more hair.

Counterintuitively, the caffeine you drink may promote hair loss. However, when applied topically, it can block DHT. Azelaic acid is another DHT-blocking ingredient. It is a highly potent inhibitor of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. Compared to other substances with similar effects, such as minoxidil, azelaic acid has higher bioavailability and a superior toxicological profile. In other words, it has fewer side effects while still effectively preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT.

Studies dating back to have found that azelaic acid can inhibit DHT. It is one of the hair treatment ingredients with the best-established properties as a DHT-blocker. Whereas some other ingredients are believed to work by inhibiting DHT, azelaic acid has a clinically proven relationship with blocking 5-alpha-reductase and DHT.

Research also shows the azelaic acid may be effective at treating hair loss from alopecia areata, another form of hair loss not related to DHT. While the mechanisms are different, hair loss of any form needs proper treatment. Azelaic acid offers hope to people who are struggling with an even more challenging form of hair loss.

Saw palmetto is another natural ingredient sometimes used to inhibit DHT. It has been shown to help slow hair loss and improve the appearance of hair.

It is one of the most popular natural ingredients in hair loss treatments. Studies suggest that it blocks the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT. Therefore, saw palmetto functions similarly to ketoconazole. Many of the most effective DHT blockers are completely natural. For example, pumpkin seed oil has been shown to increase hair count significantly.

For example, a study published in the journal Annals of Dermatology found that EGCG protects human dermal papilla cells — cells found in human hair follicles — against DHT-induced cellular damage.

Another study found that EGCG promotes growth in human hair follicles. While this research is interesting, there are currently no studies showing that drinking green tea directly reduces DHT or stimulates hair growth. Foods that are rich in lycopene, such as tomatoes, carrots, guava, watermelon, pink grapefruit and others, may have an effect on DHT levels in the body.

In one study , researchers found that tomato and lycopene decreased the expression of several enzymes that are directly related to 5-alpha reductase — the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. However, this study looked at the effects of products containing lycopene on tissue from mice, not humans. All in all, more research is needed to know whether tomatoes and other foods rich in lycopene are effective at blocking DHT and preventing hair loss.

However, several science-based medications are available that can treat and prevent hair loss, either by blocking DHT or by stimulating hair growth directly. Your options include:. Finasteride is a prescription medication that works by stopping your body from converting testosterone into DHT.

Research shows that finasteride is highly effective at preventing hair loss. In one study , more than 99 percent of men who used finasteride for 10 years experienced no further hair loss, with We offer finasteride online, following a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.

Minoxidil is a topical medication. Instead, it works by moving your hairs into the anagen growth phase of the hair growth cycle and by increasing the level of blood flow to your scalp. We offer minoxidil online.