| 5-Alpha Reductase |
The medical term for the enzyme in the body this converts
testosterone to DHT. |
| 5-Alpha Reeducates Inhibitors |
5-alpha reeducates inhibitors prevent the body from converting
testosterone to DHT by blocking the action of the enzyme 5-alpha
reeducates. |
| Alopecia |
The medical term describing any hair loss. |
| Alopecia Areata |
An
autoimmune form of hair loss not related to male pattern loss.
Sometimes people confuse this for male pattern loss, but alopecia
areata occurs in patches anywhere on the head and sometimes
results in total loss of hair on the head and body. |
| Anagen Phase |
This is the phase in which hair is growing. |
| Androgens |
The medical term for male hormones. |
| Androgenetic Alopecia |
The medical term for male pattern loss. It is also experienced by
some women, mostly after menopause. |
| Antiandrogen |
The medical term for a substance that counteracts male hormones
(androgens). Sometimes they only work against specific androgens,
sometimes against multiple androgens. There are two main types of
antiandrogens, androgen blockers and androgen inhibitors. Blockers
prevent male hormones from binding to receptors by using those
receptors themselves. In this way the male hormone still exists,
but is unable to do what it was going to do. Inhibitors prevent
one hormone (such as Tester one) from being converted to another
male hormone, such as DHT. Since these other male hormones do a
lot of the real work (damage), preventing them from being produced
often prevents them from doing damage. |
| Aromatization |
The process of converting one enzyme to another, such as
Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone. |
| Catagen Phase |
The transition phase in hair growth where a hair is not growing
but has not fallen out. |
| Di-Hydro-Testosterone (DHT) |
The male hormone (androgen) believed to be most responsible for
male pattern baldness. DHT is produced when the enzyme 5-alpha
reductase converts testosterone into DHT. The current theory is
that at the onset of puberty, DHT in the hair follicles causes
some kind of damage. The actual method by which the DHT causes the
damage to the follicle is still unknown. |
| Male Pattern Baldness |
The common term for androgenetic alopecia (male hair loss) in men. |
| Minoxidil |
The only FDA approved drug in the US for treatment of hair loss.
It is not the only substance proven to grow hair, but the only one
allowed to be sold and advertised for hair loss in the US. |
| Nitric Oxide |
One of the natural substances in the body which is believed to
play a role in signaling hair to grow. Low levels of NO are
associated with slow growth or loss, while increased levels are
associated with growth. NO levels are inhibited by Super oxide
Radicals. Chemically it is similar to Minoxidil. |
| Sebaceous Glands |
A
substance which destroys super oxide radical and may stimulates
hair growth. |
| Superoxide Dismutase |
A
substance which destroys super oxide radical and may stimulates
hair growth. |
| Super oxide Radical |
This natural substance signals hair to enter its resting phase and
decreases NO levels. |
| Telogen Phase |
The resting phase in hair growth. |
| Termina Hair |
This is the term for normal, pigmented hair. |
| Testosterone |
The primary male hormone (androgen). DHT is converted directly
from testosterone. Contary to "popular" belief, Testosterone does
not cause MPB. Testosterone is often referred to as "T" in medical
studies. |
| Vellus Hair |
Vellus hairs are small fine hairs without pigmentation. These
occur naturally on much of the body and are what most hairs
affected by male pattern loss change into as the follicle grows
smaller. |
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