Dutasteride Mesotherapy
What is Dutasteride Mesotherapy for hair loss?
Dutasteride Mesotherapy is a hair growth treatment that uses the FDA-approved medication dutasteride (Avodart) in a sterile injectable form applied directly into the scalp during an in-office procedure. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so there is no pain or discomfort. The dutasteride solution is injected superficially under the skin at the level of the hair follicle. The purpose of Dutasteride Mesotherapy is to block the formation of DHT dihydrotestosterone in the scalp and hair follicles. DHT is the primary trigger for hair follicle miniaturization in hereditary hair loss, otherwise known as AGA or Androgenetic Alopecia.
Dutasteride Mesotherapy is now available at Bauman Medical using a high-quality compounded version of sterile dutasteride, which is compounded under strict quality protocols by a reputable compounding pharmacy here in the United States. Recent studies on less-expensive foreign sources of sterile dutasteride showed a significant variation in concentration (much weaker) than what was claimed to be in the solution by the overseas manufacturer. For adequate results, the dutasteride solution must be sterile and consistent in concentration. BEWARE of cheap Dutasteride Mesotherapy using weak concentrations or non-sterile concentrations.
To determine if you are a good candidate for Dutasteride Mesotherapy, a private, detailed one-on-one consultation with ABHRS-certified Hair Restoration Physician Dr. Alan J. Bauman is recommended. Start your in-office or virtual consultation here.
What is Dutasteride?
Originally FDA-approved as Avodart(dutasteride) for BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy, its effects on androgenetic alopecia have been well documented for years. In Korea and Japan, dutasteride has been approved as an oral treatment for hair loss. It is a very potent medication for reducing DHT dihydrotestosterone, the hormone responsible for AGA Androgenetic Alopecia, commonly known as hereditary male and female pattern hair loss.
What is the Mechanism of Action of Dutasteride?
Dutasteride is a potent 5AR 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, blocking the type 1 and type 2 isoforms of the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT dihydrotestosterone—the primary trigger for hair follicle miniaturization in AGA.
How is Dutasteride different from Finasteride?
Finasteride is an oral FDA-approved medication for hair loss that blocks the type 2 5AR enzyme, reducing DHT enough to produce a 90% success rate in men suffering from AGA. Dutasteride blocks two subtypes/isoforms of 5AR, producing an even more powerful reduction in DHT than finasteride. Another important difference is the fact that dutasteride has a much longer half-life in the body—which is the main reason that dutasteride is uniquely suited for a localized mesotherapy application into the scalp. Additionally, dutasteride has a larger molecular weight and size than finasteride which also may help its beneficial effects locally at the scalp.
The half-life (a measure of the amount of time it takes for the drug to be eliminated from the body) of finasteride is significantly shorter than dutasteride.
How can Dutasteride be Used for hair regrowth in AGA?
Dutasteride can be used as an oral treatment for AGA either as a daily dose or less frequently (e.g., 1-3x/wk). It can also be applied topically as Formula 82D–topical dutasteride with minoxidil. In recent years sterile injectable Dutasteride has been used as an intermittent injectable hair growth treatment, called Dutasteride Mesotherapy. Several published reports on its efficacy have appeared in the clinical literature, touting its sometimes dramatic hair growth benefits.
ABOVE: Saceda-Corralo D, et al. Mesotherapy With Dutasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Study in Real Clinical Practice. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022 Jul 1;21(7):742-747. doi: 10.36849/JDD.6610. PMID: 35816059.
What is Mesotherapy?
Mesotherapy is a technique of application of medications, nutrients, and other bioactive ingredients into the skin using very tiny superficial injections over a wide area.
How is Dutasteride Mesotherapy Performed?
After a detailed consultation, your hair will be measured and photographed, and the area cleaned with antiseptic shampoo.
Using local anesthesia and Pronox (on-demand nitrous oxide), a comfortable ring block is achieved, providing complete numbness in the treatment zone.
Then, the sterile dutasteride solution is applied into the scalp using a series of injections across the entire treatment area.
After your treatment, your scalp will be cleaned and dried, but your hair will not be styled (i.e., be prepared for “spa head.”)
How long does a Dutasteride Mesotherapy treatment take?
Because we will cleanse your hair and scalp antiseptically, as well as take photos and measurements prior to your procedure, you should expect your entire visit to last approximately 60-90 minutes.
What can I expect after Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
The scalp will be numb and appear pink or red for several hours.
As the local anesthesia wears off, you may notice some mild soreness or tenderness in the treatment area that can be easily treated with mild non-narcotic pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Are there any restrictions after Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
Immediately following your procedure, you may return to normal activities of daily life. However, your scalp will be numb for several hours, so we recommend avoiding scalding hot showers, contact sports, or other activities where lack of sensation in your scalp would put you at risk for injury. For the next several hours, you can engage in light exercise and carefully shampoo/shower. You may resume laser therapy that evening and topical medications the next day.
Is Dutasteride Mesotherapy FDA approved for hair loss?
No. Like other off-label therapies such as oral minoxidil, compound minoxidil formulations like Formula 82M, Formula 82F topical finasteride with minoxidil, Formula 82D topical dutasteride with minoxidil, etc., Dutasteride Mesotherapy is not FDA-approved. Physicians can legally prescribe and use approved medications in alternative preparations as long as the original medication is FDA-approved.
Why is dutasteride a more suitable mesotherapy treatment than finasteride?
Because of its longer half-life, the dutasteride will remain in the body longer, providing its effect, allowing for repeat treatments spaced weeks or even months apart.
How often should I repeat Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
Currently, we recommend treatment each month for three months, then maintenance once every 90 days. Every patient responds differently, so it would be important to receive routine measurements every 90 days.
ABOVE: Hair growth results Before and After 12 months of treatment with Dutasteride Mesotherapy every 90 days. [Photo: D. Saceda-Corralo]
What kind of results can I expect with Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
Every patient will respond differently. In fact, different areas of your scalp may respond differently to Mesotherapy Dutasteride depending on the amount of miniaturized hair in the area. Similar to other non-invasive treatments, hair follicles that are miniaturized but not “beyond repair” can be rejuvenated, and further hair loss may be slowed or stopped.
Am I a good candidate for Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
If you have had trouble being consistent with oral treatments or topical medications, Dutasteride Mesotherapy may be a very helpful adjunct to your hair growth treatment program. Dutasteride Mesotherapy is not typically considered a first-line therapy. A detailed medical evaluation and consultation with Dr. Alan Bauman are recommended to determine if you would be a good candidate for Dutasteride Mesotherapy.
What are some contraindications to Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
Because of risks to a developing male fetus, Dutasteride Mesotherapy is contraindicated in women of childbearing age.
Can Dutasteride Mesotherapy be used in postmenopausal women?
Unfortunately, there is little data currently on the use of Dutasteride Mesotherapy in postmenopausal women, but many women seeking additional treatment to add to their regimen should discuss Dutasteride Mesotherapy for hair growth with Dr. Bauman—especially those who are on hormone optimization therapy which includes testosterone. As in men, Dutasteride Mesotherapy is not a first-line therapy for postmenopausal women.
What are the Possible Side Effects of Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
Aside from the temporary numbness or soreness from the treatment, systemic effects from 5AR inhibitors include mild and temporary decrease of libido (sex drive) or mild, temporary erectile dysfunction. For those who experience side effects from Dutasteride Mesotherapy, it may take weeks to months for these side effects to resolve.
While there are some reports that Dutasteride Mesotherapy may have fewer side effects than oral finasteride or oral dutasteride, you should discuss any previous sensitivities to 5AR medications with your doctor.
What are some of the benefits of Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
Because the treatment is performed in-office, it is uniquely suited to those who may have trouble being compliant with a daily at-home topical or oral medication.
Can I use Dutasteride Mesotherapy in combination with other therapies?
Yes, absolutely. There is good evidence to support the use of a multi-therapy regimen when it comes to the treatment of hair loss. In that regard, Dutasteride Mesotherapy can be used in conjunction with oral minoxidil, oral finasteride, oral dutasteride, photobiomodulation (laser therapy), PRP, or other regenerative therapies like PDO or Exosome Therapy, TED, and hair transplantation.
What does the Recent Research Say About Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
Mesotherapy With Dutasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Study in Real Clinical Practice – David Saceda-Corralo et al.
Background: 5-alpha inhibitors are an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia. Mesotherapy with dutasteride has been proposed as an effective method to improve hair loss and reducing systemic absorption.
Objective: The main objective was to describe the safety profile of mesotherapy with dutasteride in real clinical practice in a large cohort of patients with androgenetic alopecia. A secondary aim was to describe the effectiveness of this treatment.
Methods and materials: A multicentric retrospective study was designed. Patients treated with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in the study. Side effects and response to the treatment were analyzed.
Results: A total of 541 patients were included. The commonest approach during the first year was to perform the treatment every 3 months. Response to the mesotherapy in monotherapy could be assessed in 86 patients (15.9%) after one year. Most of them presented clinical improvement, being a marked improvement in 33 patients (38.4%). Pain was the most frequent side effect of the treatment (246 patients, 45.5%). No serious or sexual adverse events were detected.
Conclusion: Mesotherapy with dutasteride was effective in male and female hair loss in real clinical practice. Side effects related to the treatment were mild and self-limited. This therapy may be an effective option for select patients wishing to avoid oral treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(7):742-747. doi:10.36849/JDD.6610.
How long will it take to see results with Dutasteride Mesotherapy?
As with any hair growth medication or treatment, results take time, and patience is required. Changes in hair growth can be typically measured within three to six months after treatment, with full results requiring a year or more.
How will I know if the Dutasteride Mesotherapy is working?
Hair measurements using devices such as HairMetrix and HairCheck trichometer, in addition to standardized global photos, will be used to establish your baseline at the time of treatment. Repeat measurements are recommended in 90-day intervals so that progress can be tracked in various areas of the scalp. Changes in measurements typically precede those seen visually (e.g., in photos) by several months. Remember, measurement changes predict visual changes.
At Bauman Medical, we have waited for a trusted, reputable, and qualified US-based compounding pharmacy to produce a high-quality, sterile, injectable dutasteride specifically for mesotherapy. We are confident that this is the highest quality injectable dutasteride available in the United States and are excited to bring this to our patients at Bauman Medical!
If you or someone you know has hair loss, hair thinning, baldness, or eyebrow / eyelash concerns, click to start either a long-distance virtual consultation OR an in-person, in-office consultation with Dr. Bauman. You can also Ask Dr. Bauman a Question or simply call Bauman Medical Group at +1-
*Each individual's treatment and/or results may vary
REFERENCES
Topical Dutasteride Formula 82D
Is Dutasteride the Strongest Hair Loss Drug?
VIDEO: What Are the Best Hair Loss Treatments for Men + Women?
Dr. Alan J. Bauman, M.D.Hair Loss & Hair Transplant ExpertBoca Raton, FL
