Tag Archive for: Topical Dutasteride

The Benefits of Dutasteride for Hair Growth In Men & Women

Chemical makeup of hair growth ingredient and DHT blocker, Dutasteride.

 

The Benefits of Dutasteride for Hair Growth In Men & Women

Hair loss is more common than you think, affecting millions worldwide, men and women alike. With many treatments claiming to regrow hair, one ingredient’s results stand out from the rest: Dutasteride. 

Most people are familiar with Finasteride as a primary ingredient in hair growth medication, but Dutasteride is considered superior in performance as it targets two of the enzymes responsible for converting Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). According to a study done on 600 patients, Dutasteride reduced DHT by 98% compared to 71% with Finasteride. (1)  

This article explores the benefits of using Dutasteride for hair growth and how it can help those struggling with hair loss. Our prescription-grade Dutasteride is available online at the highest concentrations and in multiple forms. Learn how and why Dutasteride may be the key to your hair growth. 

 

Dutasteride Explained

Dutasteride is used primarily in the treatment of enlarged prostate glands in men and is FDA-approved for such use. Dutasteride blocks two enzymes 5-alpha reductase type I and II (responsible for converting Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone or DHT), an androgen hormone that contributes to prostate enlargement but also hair loss. Clinical studies have found that men who took Dutasteride saw thicker, fuller hair as a result. (2) Because of these results, the powerful DHT blocker is used off-label for hair loss.

How Can Dutasteride Promote Hair Growth?

DHT contributes to hair loss by attacking hair follicles, causing them to shrink and shortening their growth cycle. When hair follicles shrink, they lose access to vital growth nutrients as they separate from blood vessels at the follicle’s base. Without nutrients, hair follicles continue to shrink until they eventually fall out. By blocking this conversion of the hormone Testosterone to DHT, Dutasteride prevents hair loss and promotes growth, especially in combination with stimulating Minoxidil. 

Dutasteride also can reverse the miniaturization in hair follicles that causes them to shrink and eventually fall out, leading to thicker and fuller hair overall. It can also extend the anagen or growth phase of hair follicles, so hair is much longer before it enters the resting or telogen phase in the growth cycle. 

Benefits of Dutasteride for Hair Growth

Is Dutasteride Effective for Male Pattern Hair Loss?

Male pattern hair loss commonly known as androgenetic alopecia, is men’s most common form of hair loss. A combination of genetics and the effects of DHT on hair follicles causes it.

Studies have shown that Dutasteride can be more effective in promoting hair growth than finasteride, another medication used to treat male pattern hair loss. In a study of 416 men with male pattern baldness, those who took Dutasteride experienced a 23% increase in hair count after 24 weeks, compared to a 17% increase in those who took finasteride. (1)

Can Women Use Dutasteride?

While Dutasteride is primarily used to treat hair loss in men, it has also been effective for women. (2) In a study of 87 women with female pattern hair loss, those who took Dutasteride experienced a 10% increase in hair count after 24 weeks, compared to a 7% increase in those who took a placebo.

Dutasteride is often prescribed to women over 50 who cannot become pregnant and have yet to see results with other hair loss treatments, such as hair growth stimulant Minoxidil and/or Spironolactone. However, it should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, typically women under 50, as it may be harmful to the developing fetus. Dutasteride for women can expand treatment options when others have failed. 

Can I Combine Dutasteride With Other Hair Growth Treatments?

Dutasteride can be combined with other hair growth treatments, such as Minoxidil, to enhance its effectiveness. Minoxidil stimulates blood flow in the scalp, providing nutrients that hair follicles need to grow. By combining Dutasteride and Minoxidil, we can block the effects of DHT and stimulate hair growth more effectively.

How to Use Dutasteride for Hair Growth

At Happy Head, Dutasteride is available in oral capsules and as a custom topical that should be taken once a day or applied topically twice daily. It’s essential to follow the dosage and application instructions provided by your Happy Head dermatologist. 

With consistent use, it may take 3 to 6 months to see results from Dutasteride. If you were to stop taking Dutasteride consistently, any hair growth progress will be lost in about 12 months. We make it easy to incorporate your custom Dutasteride prescriptions into your daily routine so you can see results and keep them. 

Side Effects of Dutasteride When Used for Hair Growth

As with any medication, Dutasteride may cause side effects in some patients. The most common side effects of oral Dutasteride in men include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), and reduced semen volume. For women over 50 (to whom this ingredient may be prescribed, those not within childbearing years) common side effects include changes in mood, weight gain, reduced libido, breast tenderness, and muscle soreness. Dutasteride also has a 6-month half-life, meaning that it can stay within your system for up to 6 months, so anyone looking to donate blood for example must wait until 6 months have passed to do so. A complete list of side effects of Dutasteride can be found here on our drug safety and information page. These side effects are usually mild and may improve with continued use. In rare cases, it’s possible to experience allergic reactions, breast tenderness or breast enlargement, and depression. If you experience any of these side effects with Dutasteride, talk to your dermatologist immediately and stop using the medication.

For patients looking to reduce their chance of experiencing side effects, especially sexual side effects, we recommend our custom topical Dutasteride. While experiencing side effects can occur with oral medication, topically applied solutions can help significantly reduce this chance of developing side effects because they’re not ingested and don’t travel through the body. 

Dutasteride is a powerful DHT blocker used to treat hair loss in men and women. By blocking the conversion of the male sex hormone Testosterone to DHT, Dutasteride helps prevent hair loss and promote growth.

Dutasteride SuperCapsule exclusive to Happy Head Inc. This is the only 3-in-1 daily capsule to include three hair growth ingredients plus one essential vitamin.

Happy Head Solutions Formulated With Dutasteride

Our Dutasteride solutions are formulated at the highest available strengths and are made fresh for you every month. Once you have a consultation with your Happy Head board-certified dermatologist and they’ve looked at your hair, they’ll prescribe and send it off to our pharmacy to formulate. The best part is you don’t have to wait in a doctor’s office or in line at the pharmacy because we’ll ship it free to your door. Here are our most popular Dutasteride solutions to try: 

  1. Custom Topical Dutasteride & Minoxidil 
  2. Oral Dutasteride
  3. HH EXCLUSIVE! 3-in-1 daily SuperCapsule™ Dutasteride, Minoxidil & Vitamin D3
  4. A combination of our custom Topical + SuperCapsule™ Dutasteride formula here

If you are considering Dutasteride for hair growth, it is essential to consult your doctor first to determine if it is the proper treatment for you. Dutasteride can help you achieve thicker, fuller hair and boost your confidence with daily applications. It’s the ingredient of the year for hair growth, so get it made custom for 60% off your first order when you take the quiz and use code HAIR60 at checkout. 

References:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9561294/#:~:text=Dutasteride%20inhibits%20type%20II%205,Taiwan11%2C12%2C13. 
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962206012874 
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6388756/#:~:text=One%20study%20discovered%20that%20dutasteride,in%20inhibiting%20type%201%205AR.&text=After%20studying%20the%20mechanism%20of,than%20finasteride%20in%20treating%20AGA  
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10334345/ 
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6388756/ 
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1472914/ 

Can You Block DHT Naturally Without Medication?

“No way,” was my initial reaction when my dermatologist first recommended oral Finasteride for my rapidly receding hairline.  My mind was made up, and I was absolutely not taking prescription medication for my hair loss.  I was too afraid of the potential side effects I’d heard about.  Bald certainly was better than impotent, although neither seemed like a great option. True, the number of men who experience sexual dysfunction from Finasteride is minuscule.  With my luck, though, I would be one of the three men out of a million affected.

So, I started checking out natural DHT blockers.  Natural is a better way to go, right?  Here’s what I discovered.  Yes, some natural DHT blockers are showing promise and are worth a test drive.  Are they strong enough to stop your hair loss and regrow your hair?  After many nights of research and weighing the pros and cons, I ended up going the prescription route after all. That doesn’t mean that you won’t come to a different conclusion.   Here’s a guide to help you decide whether natural DHT blockers are the right choice for you.  

Do Natural DHT Blockers Work Differently Than Finasteride, Dutasteride, and Other Prescription Hair Loss Medications?

Is there a difference between how natural supplements and prescription DHT blockers work?  Yes and no.  Functionally, both natural and prescription DHT blockers do the same thing.  They prevent testosterone from converting into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that attacks and shrinks your hair follicles.  When your hair follicles are miniaturized, it’s difficult for healthy new hair to grow, and existing hair falls out.  So functionally, both natural and prescription blockers do the same thing.  The main difference is the way they block the DHT and their strength.  

What Enzymes are Being Inhibited?

One milligram per day of Finasteride selectively inhibits the Type 2 isoenzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.  Half a milligram of Dutasteride inhibits both Type 1 and Type 2.  Yes, Dutasteride is considered a stronger medication because it’s a broader spectrum drug.  How do natural remedies compare?  The jury is out.  Not enough research has been conducted to fully understand which enzymes natural DHT blockers inhibit or the amount needed to do the job.  That said, let’s discuss what we do know.  

Some Supplements Effectively Block DHT

Even though more research is needed, preliminary studies indicate that certain supplements show the potential to stop hair loss and promote new growth. Here are some to watch:

Pumpkin Seed Oil

According to a study conducted on 76 men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness), pumpkin seed oil increased participants’ mean hair count by 40 percent compared to 10 percent of men who used the placebo.  Most participants did not experience any adverse effects from the pumpkin seed oil. (01)  Before you rush out and buy pumpkin seed oil, consider this.  The study was the first of its kind and the sample size was small.  The study also did not determine how pumpkin seed oil works.  Neither DHT nor prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were tracked.  

Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil was put to the test in 2015 during a small research study of 50 men.  When compared to two percent Minoxidil, rosemary oil had a surprising result.  It was found to be equally as effective. (02)  Here’s the catch, though.  Five percent Minoxidil is stronger than two percent and more effective. (03)  Is there a dosage of rosemary oil strong enough to regrow your hair?  The jury is out.  More research is needed.      

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is a palm-like tree with berries.  Extracts are known to have medicinal purposes, and there’s evidence that saw palmetto stimulates hair growth.  Thirty-eight percent of men in one research study saw increased growth after using saw palmetto every day for two years.  Sounds promising, right?  It is.  That’s why we added saw palmetto to our supplements, shampoo, and conditioner.  

While saw palmetto is a good complementary treatment to prescription hair loss medications, we don’t recommend it as a stand-alone treatment for androgenetic alopecia.  In the same study, more men who used Finasteride experienced hair growth than men who used saw palmentto.  The study also indicated Finasteride was more effective for men with more advanced hair loss. (04)   

Green Tea

Green tea contains a plant compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that is believed to act as a DHT blocker and prevent hair loss due to male and female pattern baldness.  A study on mice indicated that 33 percent of the mice who drank extracted polyphenol from dehydrated green tea had significant hair growth compared to mice who drank plain water. (05)  Another study conducted in vivo and in vitro on humans substantiated the findings. (06)  Before you stock up, though, keep in mind that further research is needed.  We still don’t know exactly how much green tea is required to stimulate growth in humans or how green tea compares to other hair loss medications.  

Lifestyle Enhancements Can Help With Hair Loss

Sure, you know that eating a lot of junk food, drinking too much, and smoking are bad for you.  But, did you know that certain lifestyle changes can help you fight genetics?  Here are a few:

Scalp Massage

Research has indicated that just four minutes of scalp massage that stretches your skin to open the hair follicles can increase your hair thickness. (07)  Should you run out and get a scalp massager?  Maybe.  The study is promising, but it was only conducted on nine men.  A follow-up study indicates that scalp massage is more effective for frontal, temporal, or vertex thinning than diffuse thinning. (08)  More research is still needed.  

Exercise

Contrary to popular belief, exercise won’t make your hair fall out.  Although not proven, it may help promote hair growth and health by improving blood flow to your scalp.  

Diet

Certain foods aren’t likely to make your hair fall out, but nutrient deficiencies are another story.  Vitamin D and iron are the most common deficiencies that contribute to hair loss.  The good news is that the deficiencies are usually temporary.  Once supplements are taken, hair loss will be reversed.  Foods can help make your hair look thicker, healthier, and shinier.  If you’re concerned about hair loss, ensure you’re eating plenty of protein.  Protein is the primary building block contained in keratin that makes up your hair.  

Sleep

Little research has been conducted on the association between sleep and male and female pattern baldness.  One study did find that men with androgenetic alopecia tend to have more sleep disturbances than men who were not experiencing hair loss. (09)  Neither cause nor effect were established.  One explanation could be stress.  Chronic stress can push your hair into a resting phase and cause hair loss.  The solution?  A good eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Is There A Downside to Experimenting With Natural DHT Blockers?

If you’ve seen a Hamilton-Norwood scale, you know that male and female pattern hair loss progresses over time.  Early on, the hair follicles are still open, even though they may be starting to shrink.  It’s easier to regrow hair while those follicles are still viable.  If you use a natural DHT blocker that isn’t strong enough as a stand-alone treatment, the follicles could completely close, and you may lose the opportunity to maximize growth. 

What if you Need Something Stronger?

It’s understandable if you want to go the natural route to block DHT.  If going au natural isn’t right for you, though, there are options that will help you avoid the undesirable side effects that you may have heard about.  Topical treatments exist to treat male and female pattern baldness and have been proven to be as effective as oral pills. (10)  They avoid side effects because they are not metabolized systemically.  Here are the top contenders:

  • Topical Minoxidil 
    • Enlarges your hair follicles to allow for new, healthy growth
    • Sold over the counter in two and five-percent solutions
    • Available by prescription in higher dosages
  • Topical Finasteride
    • First-line DHT blocker 
    • Available to men and women who are not childbearing age
  • Topical Dutasteride
    • Broad-spectrum DHT blocker
    • Available to both men and women who are not childbearing age
  • Topical Spironolactone
    • DHT blocker 
    • Only prescribed to women

Another benefit of topicals is the ability to combine multiple treatments into one formula to give the highest opportunity for regrowth.  Minoxidil is often combined with DHT blockers to enlarge the hair follicles while preventing hormones that attack the hair follicles from converting.  

Want to try prescription topical medication?  Topicals can complement natural DHT blockers or work on their own.  New customers can get 50 percent off of their first order.  Visit us and learn how to get started.  

 

Resources:

(01) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017725/

(02) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25842469/

(03) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12196747/

(04) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23298508/

(05) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2569505/

(06) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17092697/

(07) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740347/

(08) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6380978/

(09) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35469370/

(10) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34634163/#:~:text=Conclusion%3A%20Topical%20finasteride%20significantly%20improves,impact%20on%20serum%20DHT%20concentrations.