You may have already read the word "DHT" in an article about hair loss, without really knowing what it was. Yet, this little hormone plays a major role in hair thinning, in both men and women. Good news: you don't need a medical degree to understand it. Three steps are enough.

First, what exactly is DHT?

DHT stands for dihydrotestosterone. It is a hormone that our body naturally produces from testosterone. And no, testosterone is not reserved for men: women also produce it, in smaller quantities.

DHT is not "bad" in itself. It even has a real role in the body, especially at the time of puberty. It is what triggers the appearance of underarm hair, the growth of a beard in boys, and stimulates the production of sebum (hence teenage pimples). It also participates in the development of certain male organs, starting before birth.

And that is the whole paradox: the same hormone that makes body hair grow can, conversely, weaken the hair on the scalp. The problem therefore only appears when it takes a little too much interest in our hair.

Step 1: the transformation

In our body, an enzyme (a kind of little chemical worker) called 5-alpha-reductase transforms part of the testosterone into DHT. This new version is much more powerful than the original testosterone.

Imagine an ordinary key that is resized so that it opens more doors, more easily. That is a bit what DHT is.

Step 2: it targets the follicle

The follicle is the little "root" under the skin, from which each hair comes. In some people, these follicles are very sensitive to DHT, and it is largely a matter of genetics.

DHT then comes to attach itself to the follicle, like a key in a lock. And over time, it weakens it.

Step 3: the hair thins

A hair lives according to a cycle: it grows for several years, rests, falls out, then a new one takes its place. Under the effect of DHT, the growth phase shortens and the follicle gradually shrinks.

Result: at each new cycle, the hair grows back thinner, shorter, less pigmented. We call this miniaturization. If nothing changes, some follicles eventually stop producing hair altogether.

That is why hair loss linked to DHT is often discreet at first: we don't necessarily lose more hair, we mainly lose density.

Men and women: not the same signs

In men, DHT is often to blame for the receding hairline and thinning at the crown. In women, it is seen more by a widening part and a diffuse loss of volume on top of the head.

In both cases, it is not necessarily the amount of DHT that matters most, but the sensitivity of the follicles.

How to recognize that DHT may be involved?

• Your hair seems thinner than before, especially on top

• Your ponytail has lost thickness

• Your part seems wider

• Members of your family have experienced the same pattern

These signs do not replace a diagnosis. If you have a doubt, a dermatologist can precisely identify the origin of your hair loss.

So, what do we do?

The good news is that the earlier we act, the more follicles we preserve. A weakened follicle is not a lost follicle.

That is why we created Grow No.1, a dietary supplement formulated by French chemists and hair experts. It acts on the mechanisms linked to DHT to slow down hair loss and progressive hair thinning. Its main active ingredients:

• Saw palmetto (320 mg, standardized to 45% fatty acids): also called dwarf palm, this plant helps reduce DHT. Its dosage and concentration in fatty acids make all the difference, because that is where its effectiveness lies.

• Keranat® (80 mg): a patented active ingredient derived from millet seeds, studied to improve hair quality and reduce hair loss.

• L-cysteine (80 mg): it contributes to the formation of keratin, the protein that makes up the structure and strength of the hair.

• Nettle (50 mg): rich in minerals, it is traditionally used to support scalp health.

Grow No.1 is suitable for both men and women, You only need 2 capsules per day, with a large glass of water, ideally during a meal. For visible and lasting effects, a course of at least 3 months is recommended: that is the time it takes for hair to go through a new growth cycle.

To remember: DHT is not your enemy. It is the sensitivity of your follicles that makes the difference, and that is what we can act on.