I don’t think there’s a man alive who hasn’t heard of testosterone… It’s universally accepted as the hormone of masculinity and revered as godlike in gyms. If you search online with any query regarding manliness, then you will surely be bombarded with information on how and why to increase your T levels.
But surprisingly there is something relatively unknown that is much more powerful, up to 5 times more powerful than testosterone in fact!
Introducing DHT, testosterones right-hand man – “the big guns”
DHT is an androgen, an essential sex hormone derived from testosterone that is directly responsible for masculine sex characteristics like beard growth, lean muscle mass, voice depth, and male genitalia growth! Only around 10% of testosterone is converted into DHT.
Some men produce more DHT and it’s true that increasing testosterone can result in higher levels of DHT but this isn’t always the case. It’s also based on the balance of conversion.
Enzyme 5-alpha-reductase is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone into the significantly more potent DHT. A lack of 5-alpha reductase has been shown to result in almost no beard growth!
Medicines that aim to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase and block the conversion of Testosterone to DHT have been shown to have negative consequences for men such as erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.
As DHT circulates the body, creating its manly magic, it binds to receptors including those found in beard hair follicles. Many natural ingredients, like those found in many hair & beard products, are thought to penetrate the skin and hair follicles, inhibiting 5-alpha reductase and blocking this conversion!
In short, it may be the case that in the hope of increased beard growth, men are using oils that are blocking the exact process needed for said beard growth! Almost like removing the wheels of your car to make it go faster..
Genetics are likely the most significant driver for beard growth potential and DHT blockers are unlikely to seriously affect already thick mature beards. Unfortunately, though, most men don't have super thick, full beards with many who struggle to grow facial hair at all. Although genetics clearly play a part, our lifestyles and diets are filled with toxins and hormone disruptors that have been proven to impact every part of our anatomy.
Beards often develop right through adult life with sparse patches sometimes taking decades to completely fill in. Considering DHT is a key hormone responsible for transforming these patches, a DHT-blocking oil probably wouldn't be the best choice for most men.
Although the exact extent to which common cosmetic oils block DHT is unknown, we believe that for most men looking for their full beard potential, it’s best not to use oils shown to block this vital hormone.
It is also worth noting that some women can develop a condition called Hirsutism from abnormally high DHT in the hair follicle transforming the feminine soft vellus hair into coarse, thick, terminal hair. Many of the ingredients used in beard oils are also used in natural Hirsutism remedies to stop DHT and unwanted beard growth in women.
It’s no secret that testosterone levels are dropping amongst men globally, likely connected is the fact that a significant portion of men struggle to grow thick beards. Follow our blog for top tips on how to improve testosterone levels and subsequent beard growth!
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