Injectable Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

    January 2026 in “ Dermatologic Surgery ”
    Jacob Beer, Tanya Boghosian, Hannah Mendez, Mira Sayegh, Nazar Boghosian, Antonella Tosti
    From the encyclopedia
    Dutasteride →

    Heavy duty finasteride that comes with higher risks

    Minoxidil →

    An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

    Bicalutamide →

    a nonsteroidal anti-androgen, most commonly used orally for women

    Studysummary In this systematic review, researchers found that injectable therapies, including agents like dutasteride and multivitamin formulations, may offer cosmetic benefits for androgenetic alopecia; however, evidence is limited by small study sizes, varied methods, and short follow-up periods, necessitating standardized trials for routine use recommendations.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    Injectable therapy for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) shows potential cosmetic benefits, particularly with the use of dutasteride, according to a systematic review of 30 studies, including 7 interventional, 11 observational, and 12 descriptive reports. The review highlights the use of multivitamin and peptide formulations, dutasteride, minoxidil, bicalutamide, growth factors, and finasteride, with varied techniques in needle type, depth, and dosing schedules. While outcomes such as increased hair density and stabilization of shedding were reported, adverse events like paradoxical alopecia and scarring were generally mild. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, variable protocols, and short follow-up periods, indicating a need for standardized randomized trials before injectable therapy can be routinely recommended for AGA.
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