Dutasteride for Hair Loss: Is It the Right Choice for You?

Hair loss can be a frustrating experience, especially when tried-and-true treatments like minoxidil or finasteride don’t deliver the results you hoped for. But there’s another option worth considering: dutasteride for hair loss.

While healthcare professionals primarily prescribe it to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), dutasteride has gained attention as an off-label treatment for male pattern baldness — AKA androgenic alopecia or androgenetic alopecia.

Dutasteride isn’t FDA-approved for hair loss, but several studies suggest it might be an effective solution for hair regrowth — particularly in people with more advanced hair loss.

In this article, we explore what dutasteride treatment is, how it works, and how it compares to other hair loss treatments. Let’s dig in!

Dutasteride, also sold under the brand name Avodart, is an oral medication doctors prescribe to treat BPH, a condition resulting from an enlarged prostate.

Because it significantly lowers dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, healthcare professionals also prescribe it off-label for male androgenetic alopecia.

DHT is a testosterone-derived hormone that plays a major role in hair follicle miniaturization — a process where hair follicles shrink, leading to thinner hair and eventually no hair growth at all.

Dutasteride helps slow hair loss because it’s a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT, reducing DHT levels in the scalp and throughout the body.

Does dutasteride regrow hair? Not exactly. But it does prevent further hair loss.

By reducing DHT levels, dutasteride slows down hair follicle shrinkage in areas with thinning.

Unfortunately, it can’t stimulate non-functioning hair follicles to start working again.

The typical dosage for oral dutasteride is 0.5 mg once daily.

Like with other hair loss treatments, it can take 3 to 6 months before you notice visible improvements.

It’s important to be patient. And to keep DHT levels in check, it’s essential to use dutasteride consistently. If you stop taking dutasteride, DHT levels will increase, and you may continue to lose hair.

Is dutasteride safe? Yes. But like with all medications, it can have side effects. Most people tolerate the medication well, but some may notice a few unwanted effects, such as:

• Sexual dysfunction, including reduced libido (sex drive) and erectile dysfunction (ED)

• Ejaculation disorders, like decreased semen volume

• Breast tenderness or enlargement (gynecomastia)

There’s also a low risk of the following serious adverse effects:

• Allergic reactions

• Increased risk of prostate cancer

• Mood changes like depression and anxiety

Because dutasteride affects DHT levels throughout the body, some men may experience sexual side effects. The good news? These side effects are often temporary and may improve over time as your body adjusts to the medication.

If you’re experiencing persistent side effects, though, it might be a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional. They may suggest lowering your dose.

If your healthcare provider prescribes dutasteride for hair loss, they’ll likely prescribe oral dutasteride.

Dutasteride is also available in topical form, and it’s been put to the test in a few small clinical trials.

In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, participants received microneedling treatments with either dutasteride or a saline solution for male pattern hair loss. The researchers found that microneedling with topical dutasteride seemed to improve hair thickness. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

A 2020 review found that both oral and topical dutasteride may help reduce hair loss and improve hair density. However, more research is needed to figure out which treatment is more effective.

Dutasteride works similarly to the FDA-approved hair loss treatment finasteride (Propecia). Both dutasteride and finasteride are DHT-blocking medications that can slow down male pattern hair loss.

But there are some key differences between the two.

Some research suggests that dutasteride might be more effective than finasteride for tackling hair loss. A meta-analysis found that dutasteride was better at increasing total hair count than finasteride.

Additionally, a South Korean clinical study involving 600 male patients compared the two medications. The participants were split into two groups: 295 took dutasteride, while 305 took finasteride.

What did the researchers discover? Patients using dutasteride showed greater hair growth, especially in areas with significant thinning at the hairline.

This could be because dutasteride blocks type 1 and type 2 5-alpha-reductase enzymes that convert testosterone to DHT, while finasteride only targets type 2.

At the moment, only finasteride has FDA approval to treat androgenic alopecia. This doesn’t mean dutasteride isn’t safe, though. It just means it has yet to get FDA approval.

For men with mild hair loss, finasteride might be a better starting point. But for those with more extensive hair thinning, dutasteride could offer better results.

While DHT blockers like dutasteride and oral finasteride play a key role in treating hair loss, they aren’t the only options. Many people actually find the best results by combining multiple hair loss treatments.

Here are a few other popular treatment options:

• Topical minoxidil. Minoxidil (Rogaine®) is a topical solution or foam that promotes new growth by improving blood flow to the scalp.

• Oral minoxidil. If topical minoxidil isn’t working for you, oral minoxidil might be a good choice.

• Topical finasteride. If you’re interested in a combo treatment, you can try topical finasteride and minoxidil.

• Hair transplant surgery. Hair restoration surgery is a permanent solution that involves moving hair follicles from areas with healthy growth to balding areas.

• Low-level laser therapy (LLLT). LLLT is a non-invasive treatment that uses red light therapy to stimulate hair follicles.

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.  This involves injecting platelet-rich plasma from your blood into the scalp to stimulate hair growth.

Another strategy for boosting hair health? Adopt good hair care habits.

Be gentle to avoid breakage, which can make thinning hair appear even sparser. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends avoiding frequent chemical treatments, heat styling, and tight hairstyles that pull on your follicles.

Want more hair care routine tips? Read our guide to hair care tips for men and our guide to regrowing hair.

Tried everything to tackle that receding hairline? If finasteride and other treatments haven’t worked for you, dutasteride could be a potential treatment for male pattern hair loss.

Let’s recap what we know about Avodart for hair loss:

• Dutasteride blocks scalp DHT from impacting hair follicles. DHT is the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness.

• It has some potential side effects. As with all medications, dutasteride carries some risks, like sexual dysfunction.

• There are alternatives. If dutasteride isn’t for you, you have other options, like  finasteride or minoxidil — two well-studied, FDA-approved hair loss treatments.

You don’t have to accept hair loss as inevitable. With the right treatment strategy, hair regrowth is possible.

Whether you choose dutasteride, finasteride, minoxidil, or a combination of hair loss treatments, the key is to stay consistent with your plan and consult with a healthcare provider for the best results.

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