Hacker News Reader

Comment by Narretz | Hacker News Reader

This article and website is very interesting. As far as laid out here, the DHT theory of hair loss doesn't actually say why DHT is overexpressed, it usually is explained with "genetics". If the scalp-tension theory is fundamental for hair loss, it might just be a level deeper: many men (and women) have a genetic disposition for scalp tension. But apparently this is something you can combat manually to a degree.

View on HN

i mean understanding the endocrine system is hard. theres a lot of reasons why diff ppl got diff levels of hormones. so everybody's like "genetics" but really it can also be lifestyle factors (diet sleep exercise alcohol whatever) with also genetics.

btw antiandrogens also are good evidence against tension theory, they can legit restore some hair in places where it was lost, see ru58841.

I take finasteride, have been for two years. I now have a very full beard, and I've never had hair on my chest before, despite being almost thirty. Only on 1mg per day. No sides.

DHT can‘t be "overexpressed", what you mean are the 5AR enzymes that convert Testosterone to DHT, their creation can theoretically be overexpressed, so can be the amount of androgen receptors.

But androgenetic alopecia is less about abnormally high amounts of DHT and more about the hair follicles sensitivity to it and/or dysfunctional repairing/compensation mechanisms. Practically it makes no difference though: Nuke 5ar = keep the hair.

If it‘s scalp tension, why doesn‘t it impact transplanted hair and why do fin and dut work wonders? It‘s a crackpot theory that doesn‘t need debunking.

Your questions are addressed in the article.

You should read it before throwing around "crackpot theory".

The model explains DHT in the scalp. It is something like:

Scalp tension>inflammation>DHT accumulation in scalp.

I learned reading Rob work that you can find DHT accumulation in any inflamationn you have in your body (I.e. you receive a blow in the arm), and it includes scalp inflammation as well.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com