Losing your hair can have a serious impact on your confidence. That’s why many women seek medication to tackle their hair loss. DHT blockers are known to help with men’s hair loss — but are they also effective for female pattern baldness?
Here, you’ll learn all you need to know about DHT blockers for women, including possible side effects and risks. We’ll also discuss the effectiveness of DHT blockers for tackling women’s hair loss.
DHT blockers are drugs that block the production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In both men and women who are suffering from androgenetic alopecia (female or male pattern hair loss), DHT can bind to receptors in the hair follicles and cause them to shrink, which stops them from producing hair [1].
When DHT production is blocked, less of this hormone binds to the receptors, preserving your hair follicles and hair.
The most common DHT blockers are Finasteride and Dutasteride. These drugs inhibit the action of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which converts testosterone to DHT hormone in females and males. While these are often first-line treatments for male androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness), Dutasteride and Finasteride for women aren’t usually recommended as a hair loss treatment.
Spironolactone is another anti-androgen that’s more likely to be prescribed for women, as it’s already used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
However, there are risks associated with all types of DHT blockers, particularly for women. So it’s important to understand the impact of DHT blockers before you use them as a hair loss treatment.
DHT blockers for women’s hair loss can help improve symptoms of certain types of alopecia, including female pattern hair loss and frontal fibrosing alopecia.
While Finasteride and Dutasteride are considered low-risk for most men to use to treat their thinning hair, these drugs aren’t usually suitable for women. Evidence shows they can be effective for tackling female hair loss, but there are risks to taking these medications, especially for premenopausal women [2-3].
Oral DHT blockers for women, such as oral Dutasteride and oral Finasteride can alter the levels of other hormones as well as DHT. This can interfere with the menstrual cycle and foetal development, so these drugs are not usually recommended for women. Men who are trying to conceive should also avoid these medicines.
However, topical DHT blockers for women (such as the active ingredients found in DHT blocking shampoos) may offer many hair growth benefits without causing the systemic side effects of oral DHT blockers for women.
Topical Finasteride and topical Dutasteride are two of the most effective topical DHT blockers for women’s hair loss. While more research is needed to establish their suitability for women, early results are promising [4].
These topical formulations can reduce scalp DHT levels, without significantly affecting DHT levels within the body. That means they’re less likely to cause the same systemic effects as oral DHT blockers for women, which is especially good news for younger women with hair loss.
Some natural products are said to work as natural DHT blockers for women. For example, rosemary oil for hair may inhibit DHT production when applied to the scalp, although a lot more evidence is needed to prove its effectiveness as a female hair loss treatment [5].
Other natural DHT blockers for women include:
While these DHT blocker supplements for women are natural, it doesn’t automatically mean they’re risk-free and/or effective for everyone. In fact, you’re unlikely to see substantial hair regrowth results using these natural DHT blockers alone.
Female hair loss is particularly difficult to diagnose and treat as it often has several underlying causes such as stress, vitamin deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances. Therefore it’s important to seek professional help to find the right hair loss treatment.
In general, oral DHT blockers for women should be avoided, as there are concerns about their side effects. Topical DHT blockers may be less risky, but more research is needed to determine which is the best DHT blocker for women.
The most studied topical DHT blocker for women is Finasteride [7]. If you’re interested in trying a DHT blocker for female hair loss, speak to a hair loss specialist who can advise if it’s a suitable treatment option for you. Topical Finasteride should only be used under the guidance of a qualified trichologist.
The most serious side effects of DHT blockers are the potential risks to foetal development. Oral DHT blockers like Finasteride and Dutasteride can interfere with the physical development of a male foetus in utero, which is why these drugs aren’t recommended for women.
Other possible DHT blocker side effects for females:
DHT blockers aren’t always suitable for women, so it may be best to seek an alternative hair loss solution. Other hair loss treatments for women include:
Female hair loss is often overlooked, despite the significant challenges it poses for people experiencing it. At the Wimpole Clinic, we have an experienced, specialist team that diagnoses and deals with female hair loss and hair thinning, helping thousands of patients restore their hair.
We specialise in finding the root cause of your hair loss, then creating a bespoke treatment plan that’s formulated to tackle your specific hair loss triggers. This often involves a combination of treatments, which may include DHT blockers for women.
Start your hair loss recovery journey with the Wimpole Clinic. Book a consultation today.
Several conditions can cause high levels of DHT in women, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes. PCOS can cause hair loss by causing excess production of androgens, which are metabolised to form DHT. Genetics, high levels of testosterone, and other hormonal imbalances can also cause high levels of DHT in females.
In general, symptoms of low DHT are relatively mild for women. In young girls with low DHT, it’s possible that the onset of puberty may be delayed. Adult women with low levels of DHT may have reduced amounts of pubic and body hair compared to the average woman.
DHT blockers like Finasteride have been linked to weight gain in men [8]. However, there is limited research on DHT blockers and weight gain in women, likely because DHT blockers are generally only recommended as a topical treatment for women, and systemic side effects like weight gain are less likely with topical medication.
Research suggests that caffeine may counteract DHT-induced miniaturisation of hair follicles [9]. Caffeine shampoo has been shown to be as effective as Minoxidil if used for at least 6 months [10], however, this study was performed on men — further research is needed on caffeine as a hair loss treatment for women.
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