The Real Cause Of Androgenetic Alopecia
Introduction Hair loss, whether caused prematurely by medications or the inevitable process of aging, can take a massive toll on a person’s confidence. Despite how common hair loss is, particularly among men (called Androgenetic Alopecia), balding continues to be stigmatised as something unnatural or as a symptoms of poor health. The progression of the process of balding in men can be tracked along the 7 stages of the Norwood scale,…
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Post Finasteride Syndrome: The Complete Guide
Post-Finasteride Syndrome is the term used to describe the collection of lasting adverse symptoms that can persist long after discontinuation. These symptoms can be both physical and mental, since the hormonal target of Finasteride, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is central for male neurological health. In this post I detail the science underlying this chronic condition, and present evidence-based theories to explain its enduring nature. 1. An Introduction to Finasteride and DHT Where…
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Quick Read: Boosting DHT by 50% With Creatine
Introduction Whilst Creatine has long been touted as a supplement for improving strength and muscle growth, it also appears to have some interesting endocrine effects. Creatine can be obtained both through diet and endogenous synthesis, with there being around 4.5g of creatine per kilo of beef. [1] When creatine is consumed it can be converted into phosphocreatine in muscles, which serves as a rapidly useable store of high-energy phosphates in…
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How Finasteride Changes The Androgen Receptor
Introduction Whilst many people will be familiar with steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, fewer people know of the targets of these hormones – the steroid hormone receptors. You can think of the hormones circulating through the blood as keys which need to be bound the receptor sites such as the Androgen Receptor, to unlock their effects. Without these binding sites, hormones like testosterone, simply cannot have an effect…
Keep readingEpigenetic Modification: Restoring 5-alpha-reductase
5-alpha-reductase Finasteride is a commonly used medication for treating androgen driven conditions such as male pattern baldness or benign prostatic hyperplasia. It inhibits the activity of the type II 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which converts testosterone into the much more potent androgen Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). [1] The Type II isoform is expressed in the liver, skin, and prostate. Additionally, it is responsible for around two thirds of circulating DHT. [2] Despite testosterone having…
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