The 5-alpha reductase enzyme converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is thought to trigger male and female pattern baldness in genetically susceptible individuals. There are two types of 5-alpha reductase enzymes (type I and type II) that are responsible for producing DHT throughout the body, including in scalp hair follicles where it can disrupt hair growth and lead to hair loss. Studies show that type I 5-alpha reductase, which is highly active in the scalp hair follicles, produces 60-70% of the body's DHT, while type II produces the remaining 30-40%.