Effectiveness and Safety of Intralesional Dutasteride in Patients With Androgenic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

December 2025 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Abdullah Almeziny, Asail Alghamdi, Alhanoof Alajlan, Norah A. Almarhab, Areen E Almatham, Esraa A Shaheen, Saad Altalhab, Abdullah Ibrahim AlKhalifah

dutasteride androgenic alopecia intralesional injection hair density hair thickness scalp irritation AGA

TLDR Intralesional dutasteride improves hair growth in androgenic alopecia with minimal side effects.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness and safety of intralesional dutasteride for androgenic alopecia (AGA) across eight studies with sample sizes from 1 to 541 participants. The findings indicate that intralesional dutasteride significantly improves hair regrowth, with a mean increase in terminal hair count of 8.73, though there was high variability among studies. The treatment was more effective when combined with other drugs, achieving an 82% improvement rate compared to 65% for dutasteride alone. Adverse effects were reported in 37% of cases, primarily pain, but no systemic side effects like sexual dysfunction were noted. The study suggests intralesional dutasteride is promising for AGA, but further research is needed due to methodological limitations and high heterogeneity.

View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

20 / 20 results

research The Boosting Effect of Minoxidil 0.1% Combined With Dutasteride 0.01% and Microneedling in the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss

January 2024 in “Journal of the Egyptian Women's Dermatologic Society (Print)”

Combining minoxidil with dutasteride and microneedling is more effective for female pattern hair loss than just dutasteride and microneedling.

research Efficacy of Intralesional and Oral Dutasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

5 citations , January 2020 in “Skin appendage disorders”

Oral dutasteride works better for hair loss, but has more sexual side effects; intralesional dutasteride is a possible alternative.

Clinical, Trichoscopic, and Folliscopic Identification of the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on the Response to Intradermal Dutasteride 0.02% Injection in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Prospective Cohort Study

research Clinical, Trichoscopic, and Folliscopic Identification of the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on the Response to Intradermal Dutasteride 0.02% Injection in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Prospective Cohort Study

2 citations , December 2019 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

Metabolic syndrome reduces effectiveness of hair loss treatment.

The Efficacy and Safety of Dutasteride Compared with Finasteride in Treating Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

research The Efficacy and Safety of Dutasteride Compared with Finasteride in Treating Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

38 citations , February 2019 in “Clinical Interventions in Aging”

Dutasteride more effectively treats hair loss than finasteride, but may increase risk of altered libido.

research Androgenic Alopecia and Dutasteride in Hair Mesotherapy: A Short Review

January 2018 in “Our Dermatology Online”

Dutasteride injections can help hair growth in androgenic alopecia but need more research for long-term use.

research Hair Loss at Injection Sites of Mesotherapy for Alopecia

18 citations , February 2017 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Mesotherapy for hair loss can sometimes cause more hair loss and scarring.

research Mesotherapy with Dutasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

24 citations , January 2017 in “International Journal of Trichology”

research Adverse Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors: What Do We Know, Don't Know, and Need to Know?

111 citations , August 2015 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders”

5α-reductase inhibitors may cause persistent sexual dysfunction and depression, needing more research on long-term effects.

A Randomized, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia

research A Randomized, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia

97 citations , January 2014 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride 0.5 mg works better than finasteride and placebo for increasing hair in men with hair loss.

research Evaluation of the Effect of Injection of Dutasteride as a Mesotherapeutic Tool in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Males

17 citations , January 2013 in “Our Dermatology Online”

Dutasteride mesotherapy helps treat male hair loss but may harm sperm and sexual function.

Mesotherapy Using Dutasteride-Containing Preparation in Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss: Photographic, Morphometric and Ultrastructural Evaluation

research Mesotherapy Using Dutasteride-Containing Preparation in Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss: Photographic, Morphometric and Ultrastructural Evaluation

41 citations , April 2012 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

Dutasteride-containing mesotherapy effectively treats female hair loss, improving density and thickness with minimal side effects.

research S1 Guideline for Diagnostic Evaluation in Androgenetic Alopecia in Men, Women, and Adolescents

151 citations , August 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Guidelines for diagnosing common hair loss include detailed history, clinical examination, and various diagnostic techniques.

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dutasteride 0.5 mg Once Daily in Male Patients with Male Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Study

research Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dutasteride 0.5 mg Once Daily in Male Patients with Male Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Study

92 citations , June 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride 0.5 mg daily improves hair growth safely in men with hair loss.

research Medical Treatments for Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss

212 citations , September 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil and finasteride treat hair loss in men, while minoxidil treats hair loss in women.

The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

research The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

215 citations , November 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

193 citations , August 2005 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

Hair loss common in Australia; men affected earlier, more often than Asians; women less concerned.

research Marked Suppression of Dihydrotestosterone in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Dutasteride, a Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

408 citations , May 2004 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

Dutasteride more effectively lowers DHT levels in men with enlarged prostates than finasteride.

research The Genetics of Androgenetic Alopecia

50 citations , March 2001 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Genes and hormones cause hair loss, with four genes contributing equally.

research Androgenetic Alopecia and Microinflammation

131 citations , August 2000 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

Inflammation may be linked to hair loss, and targeting specific enzymes could help treat it.

research Androgens and Human Hair Growth

157 citations , April 1994 in “Clinical endocrinology”

Androgens can cause hair growth in some areas and hair loss on the scalp.

Similar Research

5 / 1000+ results

research Advanced Medical Therapies in the Management of Non-Scarring Alopecia: Areata and Androgenic Alopecia

14 citations , November 2020 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”

Advanced therapies like gene, cell, and tissue engineering show promise for hair regrowth in alopecia, but their safety and effectiveness need more verification.

research The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Restoration and Facial Aesthetics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

31 citations , January 2019 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy can promote hair growth and improve facial aesthetics, including reducing acne scars and facial burns, and it works best with three initial monthly injections.

research Recent Advances in Understanding of the Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management of Hair Loss Diseases

May 2023 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine”

New understanding and treatments for hair loss are improving, but more research is needed.

research Efficacy of Fractional Lasers in Treating Alopecia: A Literature Review

25 citations , August 2017 in “Lasers in Medical Science”

Fractional lasers seem effective and safe for treating hair loss, but more research is needed to find the best treatment methods.

research Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Treating Alopecia: Focusing on Efficacy, Safety, and Therapeutic Durability

24 citations , January 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe and potentially effective way to treat hair loss, especially when combined with minoxidil.