Topical Dutasteride: Your Complete Guide

Dutasteride is a good non-surgical option to treat androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness). It blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by acting as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. DHT is the hormone that causes the hair follicles to shrink, leading to eventual hair loss.

While dutasteride is usually prescribed as a pill, topical dutasteride is in clinical trials as a daily pill substitute. Similar to topical finasteride,  it can interact with your scalp differently than oral treatment.

Below, we will discuss the effects of topical dutasteride and potential side effects and how Hairy Hair may help you treat your baldness.

What is dutasteride?

Dutasteride initially emerged as a medication for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This is because it can cause an enlarged prostate to shrink, and this can alleviate problems with urination and bladder control.

Being a DHT inhibitor, it leads to decreased levels of DHT in the body. That is, the hormone has fewer chances of binding with the androgen receptors on the hair follicles. When they do bind, it leads to the minification of the follicles and eventually prevents them from forming strands.

This is akin to finasteride, which is another DHT blocker. Topical dutasteride is prescribed off-label in Australia alone since it has not yet been approved for hair loss treatment. Dutasteride is a good option if you have already used finasteride without experiencing results. This is due to the fact that it can block all three isoforms of 5-AR, while finasteride can block only two of them.

Topical finasteride can produce fewer systemic side effects than oral finasteride, and for this reason, clinical trials are trying to ascertain if the same would be true of topical dutasteride.

What do clinical trials say about topical dutasteride?

At the moment, only smaller studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of topical dutasteride. In a study from the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, users saw a 53% increase in hair growth after taking dutasteride compared to the control group, who only saw 18% improvement, where both groups also used micro-needling.

Micro-needling may be required for the treatment because it is a big molecule that may struggle to penetrate the skin if it has not been primed beforehand. Micro-needling, in the form of being performed by a derma roller, is a treatment in which small needles are used to penetrate the skin and create minute pores in the skin.

It causes the body to produce collagen and hair growth. It can be done at home or in a clinic, but clinical-grade devices are more effective and incur fewer risks of infection with improper handling at home. Creating small punctures in the skin before application can help the medication penetrate more easily.

Topical dutasteride in this study also facilitated an improvement in hair thickness and density compared to just using micro-needling on its own.

In another study, topical dutasteride was combined with topical finasteride and minoxidil. Participants noticed a significant improvement in hair growth after 90 days. Improved results could be observed with aggressive treatment with these medications in combination with Propecia and ketoconazole hair loss shampoo.

The use of topical dutasteride on its own may yield different results, however. While it may be difficult to assess topical dutasteride’s role in improving hair growth, it at least can play a supplementary role in promoting hair growth.

Topical dutasteride side effects

Potential side effects noted as part of the topical dutasteride studies included headaches, itchiness, and pain at the treatment site. Since the studies used other medications and micro-needling, it is unclear if dutasteride was the root cause of these side effects.

Other potential side effects include flakiness, dryness, scaling, changes to hair colour or texture, irritation, and sensitivity to the sun. Side effects are usually not permanent in most cases. Users have reported that they can subside after the first year of treatment.

Topical dutasteride may help to avoid the systemic side effects of oral DHT blockers. These effects include erectile dysfunction and lack of sex drive. Topical dutasteride may eventually lead to systemic side effects anyway, but more research is required to determine this.

Because of the large molecule size of dutasteride, the best delivery method for the topical treatment is still being researched as well. The different delivery methods being researched, such as nanoparticles and liposomes, can have an impact on potential side effects, both systemic and localised.

How is topical dutasteride applied?

Topical dutasteride needs to be applied directly to the scalp. It is best to apply it after your hair has been washed and the scalp is dry. Pay attention to the prescribed amount that should be used as recommended by the doctor or trichologist.

You may be advised to use a derma roller beforehand to stimulate the area and allow for better absorption of the treatment. The solution should then be spread in the affected balding areas but should not be rubbed in. 

These steps should be repeated as prescribed. This may require multiple applications but can depend on the strength of the solution used. Initial research has suggested that the frequency may be less than that of topical finasteride or minoxidil applications, as it has a longer half-life than finasteride.

This means that it stays in your system for longer than finasteride. 

What does Hairy Hair do to help with my hair loss?

Dutasteride is an extremely effective DHT inhibitor that works against all of the isoenzymes responsible for the miniaturisation of hair follicles. The longer half-life compared to finasteride is the reason it remains in the body longer and, therefore, could influence the intensity of side effects experienced in comparison to finasteride.

For the majority of men, finasteride is a successful DHT inhibitor, yielding positive results with little likelihood of side effects. At Hairy Hair, we’ve created a unique formula that combines several beneficial ingredients into a single daily pill.

Our pills also function as a vasodilator to enhance the widening of blood vessels and escalate blood flow to the scalp, allowing oxygen and nutrients to travel more easily to hair follicles.

This treatment also contains natural ingredients that can help stimulate the production of keratin, the primary protein that makes up hair.

It further contains a natural DHT blocker and can also alleviate inflammation of the scalp, thereby encouraging hair growth. The synergistic effect of these ingredients can address a range of hair loss conditions and create a conducive environment for potential hair retention and growth.

Topical dutasteride and other treatments

Dutasteride is a potent drug in inhibiting the production of DHT in the scalp. It is a better treatment for some if finasteride does not work. Inhibiting DHT is critical in treating hair loss, but it is not the only way to give the optimum setting for encouraging hair growth.

If you are experiencing hair loss and seek a straightforward and convenient treatment, we invite you to contact Hairy Hair. To begin your hair loss treatment, please complete our online form, and your information will be assessed by an Australian general practitioner.

The GP will then devise a treatment plan specifically for your own hair loss condition and will call you to answer any questions you may have. Your prescription will then be delivered straight to your doorstep, without the need for a clinic visit. The earlier you treat hair loss, the more effective it is, so act now to possibly regain not only your hair but also your confidence.

Our committed staff will be available to oversee your development and provide assistance throughout your treatment. Should you encounter any adverse reactions, we can modify your medication and issue a new prescription at no additional cost.

You may benefit from our treatment while potentially managing any side effects to which you may be sensitive.