Serum DHT levels correlate with androgenetic alopecia severity in some but not all patients, making the relationship between DHT and your specific hair loss unpredictable without data. myhairline.ai lets you log DHT and free testosterone blood test results alongside density readings to build a personal hormone-density correlation record for your prescriber or endocrinologist.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Why DHT Matters for Hair Loss
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the primary androgen responsible for male pattern hair loss. It is produced when the enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone to DHT. In genetically susceptible follicles, DHT binds to androgen receptors and triggers a process called follicular miniaturization, where thick terminal hairs gradually become thinner vellus hairs until the follicle stops producing visible hair altogether.
However, serum DHT levels tell only part of the story. Two men with identical DHT blood levels can have completely different hair loss patterns because the density and sensitivity of androgen receptors in scalp follicles varies by genetics. This is why tracking both your DHT levels and your density readings over time is more valuable than either measurement alone.
Key Hormones to Test
| Hormone | Normal Range | Relevance to Hair Loss |
|---|---|---|
| Total DHT | 30 to 85 ng/dL | Primary driver of follicular miniaturization |
| Free Testosterone | 5 to 21 ng/dL | Precursor to DHT, converted by 5-alpha reductase |
| Total Testosterone | 300 to 1,000 ng/dL | Overall androgen status |
| SHBG | 20 to 60 nmol/L | Binds testosterone, affects free hormone availability |
| DHEA-S | 100 to 500 mcg/dL | Adrenal androgen, contributes to DHT production |
Request these tests from your doctor or order them through a direct-to-consumer lab. Testing in the morning (before 10 AM) provides the most accurate readings, as testosterone levels peak in the early morning hours.
Step 1: Get Your Baseline Blood Panel
Before starting any anti-androgen treatment like finasteride or dutasteride, get a complete hormone panel. This pre-treatment baseline is essential for two reasons:
- It establishes your natural hormone levels for comparison after treatment begins.
- It helps your prescriber assess whether your DHT levels are within the range where treatment is likely to be effective.
On the same day as your blood draw (or within a few days), take a density scan with myhairline.ai. This pairs your hormone levels with a density reading at the same point in time.
Log the blood test date, DHT value, free testosterone value, and any other relevant labs in your myhairline.ai treatment notes. These entries will appear on your tracking timeline alongside your density readings.
Step 2: Start Treatment and Track Both Metrics
If your prescriber starts you on finasteride (1 mg daily), the drug inhibits type II 5-alpha reductase, reducing serum DHT by approximately 70%. Dutasteride (0.5 mg daily) inhibits both type I and type II, reducing DHT even further.
After starting treatment:
- Take monthly density scans with myhairline.ai
- Retest your DHT and testosterone levels at 3 months and 6 months after starting treatment
- Log each set of lab values on your timeline
This creates a dual-axis tracking record: hormone levels and hair density, plotted against time.
Expected Timeline
| Timepoint | DHT Level Change | Expected Density Change |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline (pre-treatment) | Natural level | Current density |
| Month 1 | DHT reduced approximately 70% | No visible change yet |
| Month 3 | Sustained reduction | Shedding may slow, early stabilization |
| Month 6 | Sustained reduction | Density stabilization in most responders |
| Month 12 | Sustained reduction | Possible regrowth in 65% of users |
Finasteride halts further hair loss in 80% to 90% of users and produces visible regrowth in 65%. But these are population averages. Your personal tracking data reveals whether you are in the responding majority or the minority that needs a different approach.
For detailed treatment monitoring, see finasteride progress tracking.
Step 3: Identify Your Personal DHT Sensitivity
After 6 to 12 months of tracking both DHT levels and density, patterns emerge. You will fall into one of these categories:
High DHT, high sensitivity (strong responder to treatment): Your pre-treatment DHT was above average and your density was declining rapidly. After treatment reduced your DHT, your density stabilized or improved. Your data shows a clear inverse relationship between DHT and density.
High DHT, low sensitivity (partial or non-responder): Your DHT levels are high but your density decline was moderate. Reducing DHT may produce limited density improvement because your follicles are less sensitive to androgens. Your tracking data shows DHT dropping but density change lagging behind or remaining flat.
Normal DHT, high sensitivity: Your DHT levels are within the normal range but your follicles are highly sensitive. Your density was declining despite unremarkable hormone levels. Treatment still helps, but the mechanism is reducing DHT below the threshold your sensitive follicles can tolerate.
Normal DHT, low sensitivity: Your DHT is normal and your hair loss is mild. This pattern sometimes indicates that factors other than DHT (stress, nutrition, autoimmune conditions) are contributing. Your tracking data provides the basis for exploring alternative diagnoses with your prescriber.
Step 4: Share Your Correlation Data with Your Prescriber
When you bring hormone-density correlation data to your dermatologist or endocrinologist, you provide information that a single office visit cannot capture. Your prescriber can use your timeline to:
- Confirm that finasteride is reducing your DHT to the expected level
- Assess whether your density response matches the degree of DHT reduction
- Determine if adding minoxidil (40% to 60% regrowth rate) or PRP ($500 to $2,000 per session, 30% to 40% density increase) would complement your current regimen
- Decide whether switching to dutasteride is warranted if finasteride alone is insufficient
Learning how to document hair loss for your dermatologist ensures that your data is presented in a format your prescriber can act on quickly.
Side Effect Monitoring
Finasteride produces sexual side effects in 2% to 4% of users, and these are reversible upon discontinuation. If you experience side effects, your tracking data becomes even more important. It shows your prescriber exactly how much density benefit you gained from treatment, helping them weigh the cost-benefit of continuing, reducing dosage, or switching to an alternative.
Some prescribers may recommend reducing finasteride from daily to every-other-day dosing. Your DHT and density tracking data across this transition shows whether reduced dosing maintains adequate DHT suppression and density response.
Long-Term Tracking Value
The hormone-density relationship is not static. DHT levels change with age, weight, stress, and other medications. A hormone panel taken at age 25 does not represent your levels at 35 or 45. Annual blood tests paired with ongoing density tracking create a lifelong record of your androgenic hair loss profile.
At any point in the future, you or your medical team can review years of correlated data to make informed decisions about treatment adjustments, surgical planning (where graft needs range from 800 to 1,500 at Norwood 2 up to 5,500 to 7,500 at Norwood 7), or treatment discontinuation.
Start building your hormone-density correlation record. Get your free density scan at myhairline.ai/analyze