Myth Busting - The bald gene

Whether curly or straight, light or dark, from a purely evolutionary point of view, our top hair does not serve any particular purpose. On the contrary, our hair needs to be constantly combed, washed and even blow-dried. It floats in the soup or collects in the shower strainer until the water stops running off.

The fact that most men sooner or later have to contend with a dwindling head of hair or even baldness should therefore be more of a blessing than a curse. It would be nice! Because for most of us, the hair on our heads is essential for our physical well-being and therefore for our self-confidence. So the question arises: where does hair loss come from and what can we do about it? In this article, we want to shed some light on the subject.

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DHT culprit

You've probably already heard that if your maternal father is bald, you'll be affected too. Before you start digging up old photos of your maternal grandfather, there are a few things you should know.

Dehydrotestosterone (DHT) is the culprit that is responsible for hair loss in most cases in both men and women. The male sex hormone causes hair follicles to shrink until they only sprout fine hair fluff. However, this is not because there is too high a concentration of this DHT in the body, but because certain hair follicles are too sensitive to it. So bald people are not necessarily bursting with sex hormones, even if this is often proclaimed.

In all humans, an enzyme called 5alpha-reductase converts a certain amount of testosterone into DHT. If you have a genetic hypersensitivity to DHT, it attaches itself to the hair follicles, causing them to become weaker and weaker and the hair to become thinner and thinner until there is nothing left. This process is also known as "miniaturization".

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Finasteride and DHT

The conclusion is therefore obvious that the most effective method in the fight against dwindling hair is to block the cause of hair loss, i.e. DHT.

This is exactly where a drug called finasteride comes in. Finasteride is an active ingredient from the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor group, which was originally produced to treat an enlarged prostate. By inhibiting the enzyme 5alpha-reductase, it influences the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and can therefore also delay the progression of hair loss and at best even stop it altogether.

The fact that finasteride can lead to impotence and erectile dysfunction in around 2% of users is generally known and is often accepted. What was not known for a long time, however, is that the side effects sometimes do not disappear even after the drug is discontinued. This relatively new clinical picture, which has only been known since 2012, is called "post-finasteride syndrome". As this side effect is not mentioned on the package leaflet, more than 2000 lawsuits have already been filed against the manufacturer in the USA alone. So our tip: keep your hands off it!

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The alternative: plant-based saw palmetto extract

Native Americans used saw palmetto berries as a home remedy for testicular atrophy, inflammation of the prostate and lack of sex drive in men. The berries were also recommended for infertility, painful menstruation and milk production in women.

In addition to these long-known effects, studies have shown that saw palmetto extract can also be used to combat genetic hair loss. As with finasteride, the therapeutic effect of saw palmetto extract appears to be the result of preventing the formation of DHT.

As far as side effects are concerned, saw palmetto extract can be classified as safe.

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