Are there side effects from using a DHT blocker shampoo?

It’s commonly known now that DHT causes the hair follicles in your scalp to shrink – eventually causing baldness.

Now, it seems pretty simple to use a DHT blocking shampoo to combat this – but are there any side effects? Well yes, there are.

Whilst you’re not guaranteed to experience all of these side effects (or any of them), it’s important to know which of these ingredients may cause side effects for you. As you’re able to see below, there’s totally different levels of side effects depending on which ingredients are contained in your DHT blocking shampoo, so it’s important to be aware of the risks of each.

DHT Blocking Shampoo Ingredients and their side effects

To really know whether you’re going to get any side effects from using a DHT blocker shampoo, you must consider what ingredients the shampoo uses. There are different DHT blockers that you can use, some more natural than others. In general, if you’re using a natural DHT blocker then it’s going to have less risk of side effects – though you may be trading some effectiveness in exchange for this.

For example, Propecia (or Finasteride) is a DHT blocker that may have stronger side effects than other natural DHT blocking supplements. Let’s have a look at a few of the most popular DHT supplements and see how they may produce adverse side effects.

Propecia/Finasteride

Probably the most well known DHT blocker is Finasteride. It’s the most well known and possibly the most effective, but it also has some pretty extreme side effects that you should definitely be aware of.

For the most part, Finasteride isn’t found in shampoos and is taken orally. But, there has been some Finasteride shampoos bouncing around recently, so I thought I had better mention it – especially since it’s side effects are so strong.

Weak Erection/Erectile Dysfunction – Probably the most commonly reported side effect of using Propecia is erectile dysfunction and having weaker erections in general. I don’t know about you, but no DHT blocker is worth losing my erections! Impotence has been linked with using Propecia in many studies, which is enough for me to steer clear of using it.

 Decreased Libido – Propecia doesn’t just decrease the power of your penis – it can effect your interest in sex entirely. It can cause lots of sexual problems from a lack of interest to difficulty ejaculating, which is enough for me to avoid it entirely!

 Dizziness and Weakness – Another possible side effect that you might experience when using propecia. This is pretty scary, and it’s still unknown why propecia can cause these side effects. Many people don’t even start to feel these side effects until years after they have started using them, which is even scarier!

There are various other side effects that you may experience when using propecia like headaches and rashes. It’s important to do some thorough research before making the choice whether propecia is right for you.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is another popular DHT blocker that has some side effects, though they are reported to be far less extreme than what you may experience with finasteride.

Dizziness – One of the more common side effects of saw palmetto is dizziness, though this is a pretty standard side effect that you’re likely to chance experiencing with any sort of pill or medication.

Nausea – Another general problem that you may experience when taking the majority of medications is nausea. If you do experience nausea from taking saw palmetto, then consult your doctor.

Liver Problems – There are rare cases of saw palmetto causing liver problems, though these are very rare and not common occurences.

Stinging Nettle Extract

Another good option if you are looking for a natural DHT blocker is stinging nettle. Stinging nettle has been used or many years for a wide variety of different health issues, so it’s no surprise that it can be used if you’re experiencing hair loss.

 Irritation – Of course, one of the main side effects that you’re likely to experience if you use stinging nettle.

 Kidneys – The use of stinging nettles is likely to increase the amount of urine that you’re produce. Of course, this will effect you if you already have issues with your kidneys. You should consult a doctor if you’ve previously experienced any issues with your kidneys before using stinging nettle as a DHT blocker.

 Low Blood Sugar – Another common issue that is sometimes experienced with using stinging nettle is a lowering in blood sugars. If you’re a diabetic, you should consider whether to consult your doctor before using this kind of treatment for hair loss.

Green Tea Extract

The main impact that you’re going to see from green tea is that it is anti inflammatory. It’s filled with anti oxidants, so it can be a great addition to many peoples diets whether they’re dealing with MPB or not.

It is however, very hard to link DHT to either an increase or decrease in testosterone – there are studies that tend to support both. It might not be the best or most impactful decision to start drinking green tea in regards to DHT, but let’s look at some of it’s side effects anyhow.

 Weight Loss – The main side effect, which we’re pretty much all aware of, is that drinking green tea can make you lose weight more rapidly. This isn;t a concern when you use small amounts of it in your shampoo, though.

 Cancer –I’m not one to write random studies on the internet, but I didn read one relating green tea in an increased risk of cancer. Now from what I’ve read, there are far more links between green tea and a decreased risk of cancer, so I wouldn’t consider this one too much.

Pumpkin Seed Oil

So, I know you may not have thought of pumpkin seeds as the saviour of your scalp, but they’re actually a great choice if you’re looking to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT. This is because they are filled with Beta Siterol.

Aside from running the risk of bloating and gas if you eat too many pumpkin seeds, there aren’t too many issues with their side effects – especially not when you’re just adding a tad to your shampoo.

Conclusion

Essentially, it’s pretty easy to see that the more natural that the DHT blocking ingredients are, the less side effects that they tend to produce – it’s a pretty direct correlation between side effects and natural. For me, I would never run the risk of using Propecia due to the adverse side effects you can see above, but it’s entirely your own choice. If I was to choose a hair loss product, I’d probably opt for Rogaine as the side effects tend to be less extreme than what you’d find with Propecia – I’d rather have no hair than no libido!