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Hart2Heart with Dr. Mike HartAuthor: Dr. Mike Hart
Dr. Mike Hart is a Cannabis Physician and Lifestyle Strategist. In April 2014, Dr. Hart became the first physician in London, Ontario to open a cannabis clinic. While Dr. Hart continues to treat patients at his clinic, his primary focus has shifted to correcting the medical cannabis educational gap which exists in the medical community. This is his podcast. Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Medicine Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#220 Wnt vs DHT: Understanding Androgenic Alopecia and the Top Treatments to Slow Hair Loss
Episode 220
Thursday, 7 May, 2026
In this solo episode on androgenic alopecia, the host explains that hair loss is slow and progressive, driven largely by genetics and DHT-mediated miniaturization of follicles across the anagen, catagen, and telogen cycle, and stresses early detection using periodic photos of the temples, hairline/vertex, and crown. He frames hair growth as a "battle" between Wnt signaling (promotes growth and anagen entry via stem cell activation) and DHT signaling (suppresses Wnt and increases inhibitors like DKK, TGF-beta, and PGD2), noting advanced loss involves inflammation, fibrosis, and irreversible follicle loss. He reviews contributors like poor scalp blood flow, iron deficiency (most evidence), possible zinc/B12/folate deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, and insulin resistance, then covers treatments: finasteride (oral and topical) and dutasteride as DHT blockers with potential systemic side effects, plus minoxidil and microneedling (home vs professional) as key options, with add-ons like ketoconazole shampoo, PRP, red light, and cautions about anabolic steroids and high-dose testosterone increasing DHT pressure. Hair loss diagnosis and treatment https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/diagnosis-treat Androgenetic alopecia https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/androgenetic-alopecia/ DHT and WNT signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29549490/ Finasteride https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698016.html Topical finasteride https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6609098/ FDA warning on compounded topical finasteride https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/fda-alerts-health-care-providers-compounders-and-consumers-potential-risks-associated-compounded Post-finasteride syndrome https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35983808/ Dutasteride https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603001.html Minoxidil https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/diagnosis-treat Microneedling for hair loss https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23960389/ Ketoconazole shampoo https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31858672/ Topical caffeine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39997270/ Pumpkin seed oil https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24864154/ PRP for hair loss https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30882509/ Red light / low-level light therapy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8906269/ Stem cells / exosomes for hair growth https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12433634/ Iron, zinc, B12, and folate deficiencies https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6380979/ Thyroid testing https://medlineplus.gov/thyroidtests.html Insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome https://medlineplus.gov/metabolicsyndrome.html Testosterone / TRT https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605020.html Tretinoin https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682437.html Anastrozole / Arimidex https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a696018.html Anabolic steroids https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/anabolic-steroids Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to the Hart2Heart Podcast 00:56 What Is Androgenic Alopecia 02:17 Hair Follicle Life Cycle 03:55 Miniaturization and Early Detection 06:51 DHT Basics and Other Causes 09:27 WNT Versus DHT Explained 13:10 Nutrients Thyroid and Insulin 16:26 Finasteride Benefits and Risks 19:21 Topical Finasteride and Dutasteride 25:01 Minoxidil Growth Booster 27:19 Microneedling for WNT Activation 30:21 Extra Treatments and Add Ons 37:04 Testosterone TRT and Steroids 40:16 Wrap Up and Key Takeaways The Hart2Heart podcast is hosted by family physician Dr. Michael Hart, who is dedicated to cutting through the noise and uncovering the most effective strategies for optimizing health, longevity, and peak performance. This podcast dives deep into evidence-based approaches to hormone balance, peptides, sleep optimization, nutrition, psychedelics, supplements, exercise protocols, leveraging sunlight, and de-prescribing pharmaceuticals — using medications only when absolutely necessary. Beyond health science, we explore the intersection of public health and politics, exposing how policy decisions shape our health landscape and what actionable steps people can take to reclaim control over their well-being. Guests range from out-of-the-box thinking physicians such as Dr. Casey Means (author of "Good Energy") and Dr. Roger Sehult (Medcram lectures) to public health experts such as Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dr. Marty Mckary (Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and high-profile names such as Zuby and Mark Sisson (Primal Blueprint and Primal Kitchen). If you're ready to take control of your health and performance, this podcast is for you.We cut through the jargon and deliver practical, no-BS advice that you can implement in your daily life, empowering you to make positive changes for your well-being. Connect with Dr. Mike Hart Instagram: @drmikehart Twitter: @drmikehart Facebook: @drmikehart
