Local scalp delivery of dutasteride, usually topical or injection-based, with limited standardisation.
Topical dutasteride and dutasteride mesotherapy are attempts to deliver dutasteride locally to the scalp while reducing systemic exposure. The idea is attractive because dutasteride is a powerful DHT-reducing medicine, but protocols vary widely in concentration, vehicle, injection depth and frequency. Evidence is less mature than for established treatments such as topical minoxidil and oral finasteride. It should be presented as a specialist/off-label option rather than a first-line guaranteed treatment. Patients should ask about evidence, consent, side effects, sterility, pregnancy precautions and what objective monitoring will be used.
Anastassakis K. Androgenetic Alopecia From A to Z, Vol. 2, Springer, 2022 — https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08057-9; Kaiser M et al. Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: Current Guidance and Unmet Needs, 2023 — https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S385861
