Topical Dutasteride 0.3% (Pre-Order)

Dutasteride: 0.3% (3 mg in each ml).

This is a high strength topical dutasteride solution without any other ingredient.  We also have 0.1% and 0.02% topical dutasteride solution available.

The product is formulated without any propylene glycol.

Unit size: 60 ml (2oz).

Concentration: 0.3% (3mg in each ml)

Inactive ingredients: Water, Ethanol and Glycerin.

Use up to 1 ml per application. Use no more than once a day.

Each unit is 60 ml (2 oz). The product comes with a calibrated dropper.

One unit can last for at least 2 months.

It is usually abbreviated as Dut in the hair loss community. It is a type I and type II 5α-reductase inhibitor (Finasteride is a type II 5α-reductase inhibitor only). 5α-reductase is an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Excessive amount of DHT in the scalp is believed to be responsible for hair loss. The figure below shows how different products work for hair loss treatment. As shown, both finasteride and dutasteride work by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, while other products such as RU58841, spironolactone, and ketoconazole work by preventing DHT from binding to 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 know the 500 Dalton rule, which says any molecule with a molecular weight (MW) over 500 Dalton is difficult to be absorbed through skin.

Dut is 528.5 Dalton. Thus some people question if topical dutasteride is effective. An article discussing the 500 Dalton rule can be viewed here.

In the article, it has the figure below. It shows the penetration rate of a molecule through a normal skin (NS) decreases rapidly when the molecular weight (MW) is over 500 Dalton. However, the rate does not become zero until MW reaches 600 Dalton. The penetration rate of dutasteride (mw: 528.5 Dalton) is estimated to be still >50% if the figure is accurate. This means it can be absorbed through skin, although it may not be as fully as smaller molecules.

In addition, we have no doubt that DuDerma can penetrate skin based on the feedback of our customers (see the product review at the end of this page).