Topical Dutasteride 0.02%

Dutasteride: 0.02% (0.2 mg in each ml).

This is a low strength topical dutasteride solution without any other ingredient.  We also have 0.1% and 0.3% topical dutasteride solution available.

The product is free of propylene glycol (PG) to avoid any PG caused skin irritation.

Unit size: 60 ml (2oz).

Concentration: 0.02% (0.2mg in each ml)

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Ethanol, and Glycerin

Each unit comes with a dropper.

Use up to 1 ml per application. Apply this solution once or twice daily as needed.

Dutasteride is commonly abbreviated as “Dut” in the hair loss community. It is a dual inhibitor of type I and type II 5α-reductase, whereas finasteride inhibits only type II 5α-reductase.

5α-reductase is the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Elevated levels of DHT in the scalp are widely believed to contribute to hair loss.

As illustrated in the figure below, both finasteride and dutasteride work by inhibiting 5α-reductase and thereby reducing DHT production. In contrast, other compounds—such as RU58841, spironolactone, and ketoconazole—primarily act by blocking DHT from binding to androgen receptors in hair follicles.

Literature:

“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”
Walter Gubelin Harcha et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Mar.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24411083/

Superiority of dut over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled open-label, evaluator-blinded study
Sujit J S Shanshanwal et al. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. Jan-Feb 2017.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27549867/

Efficacy of Oral and Dutasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review
Maira Elizabeth Herz-Ruelas et al. Skin Appendage Disord. 2020 Nov.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33313048/

“5-Alpha reductase inhibitors in androgenetic alopecia: Shifting paradigms, current concepts, comparative efficacy, and safety”
Rachita Dhurat et al. Dermatol Ther. 2020 May.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32279398/

You may be familiar with the “500 Dalton rule,” which suggests that molecules with a molecular weight (MW) above 500 Dalton have difficulty penetrating the skin.

Dutasteride has a molecular weight of 528.5 Dalton, which leads some to question whether topical dutasteride can be effectively absorbed. An article discussing the 500 Dalton rule is available here.

As illustrated in the figure referenced in that article, the skin penetration rate decreases significantly once molecular weight exceeds 500 Dalton. However, it does not drop to zero until around 600 Dalton. Based on this data, the penetration rate of dutasteride (MW: 528.5 Dalton) is estimated to remain above 50%, assuming the model is accurate. This suggests that dutasteride can still be absorbed through the skin, although likely to a lesser extent than smaller molecules.

In addition, our experience with DuDerma strongly supports its ability to penetrate the skin, as reflected in customer feedback and product reviews (see the reviews at the end of this page).