If you think you need a DHT (dihydrotestosterone) blocker to address your hair loss woes, you must first look into the level of hair loss you’re experiencing, how you react to drugs in general, and your existing medical conditions (if any). These are essential steps to take as no two individuals have the same DHT levels, or physiology. Ticking these boxes off would not guarantee the DHT blocker’s effectiveness, but you would have certainly made an educated purchase, and which shall bring down the side effects you may potentially experience.
The first stage is assessing your hair loss level. If you’re experiencing mild hair thinning, it means there isn’t much DHT production ongoing. Therefore, you don’t require an extremely strong blocker. In case the hair loss is major, DHT production could be higher, necessitating a more capable blocker.
Next, consider the scope for interaction between the medicines you’re currently using and the DHT blocker. DHT blockers could affect your existing medicines’ effectiveness or lead to deficiencies. For example, saw palmetto is a recommended herbal DHT blocker, which could hamper the efficacy of aspirin, and also multivitamins. Though several DHT blockers are still being studied for their impact on hair loss, there is good amount of information already available on existing blockers.
Once you have sufficiently looked into the aforementioned attributes, check the usage frequency. DHT blockers requiring frequent dosing could be hard to remember and also turn out a bit tedious to take or apply. The ideal DHT blockers will not need a massive change in an individual’s routine.
Besides usage frequency, also consider the DHT blocker intake process or application. For example, if you cannot easily swallow pills, a natural extract that can be mixed in a topical shampoo or foods would be better. On the other hand, pills would be the ideal route to take if you have dry hair, and cannot put up with too much or daily shampooing.
The final step is looking into the DHT blocker’s medical information. Look what ingredients constitute the product, and also go through product reviews to see what the user community has to say about the product. Talk to a physician for a more personalized approach to things. Several DHT blockers, especially those based on herbs, have minimal to no research backing up their positive anti-hair loss claims. The majority of them aren’t FDA-approved either. This doesn’t mean a herbal DHT blocker would not work as per claims or be unsafe to use. It only means doctors do not have enough information to recommend or prescribe you those herbs.