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What causes Androgenetic Alopecia or AGA?
The main culprit appears to be a combination of genes that make a person susceptible, and the
most potent male hormone or androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is created when an
enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase interacts with the male sex hormone, testosterone. The DHT binds
with what are called androgen receptors on the hair follicle cells. This creates what is called
the androgen-receptor/androgen complex (ARAC) which then gets transported into the hair follicle
cell. Once inside the hair follicle cell, the ARAC can bind with specific regions of the cell's
DNA called androgen-responsive elements (ARE's). When an ARAC binds with an ARE, it essentially
causes a modulation in the behavior of the cell. It is thought that specific ARE's are
responsible for initiating the process of miniaturization that causes hair loss.
Return to the Hair Loss FAQ
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