Microneedling Plus Topical Dutasteride Solution for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study

This randomized placebo-controlled study investigated the efficacy of microneedling plus topical 0.01% dutasteride solution (MNDS) versus microneedling plus saline solution (MNSS) for the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Thirty-four men with AGA were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive three sessions of either MNDS or MNSS every 4 weeks, with follow-up visits at weeks 16 and 20. The primary endpoint was the global photographic assessment (GPA) of hair improvement, while secondary outcomes included changes in hair density, hair thickness, the ratio of vellus hair/terminal hair, and quality of life. At week 16, 52.9% of the MNDS group showed marked improvement in GPA compared to 17.6% in the MNSS group, with a significant difference (P = 0.037). The MNDS group also had statistically significant improvements in hair thickness, hair density, and the ratio of vellus/terminal hair, particularly in the frontal area. Adverse events were mild and well-tolerated. The study concluded that MNDS is an effective and safe therapy for AGA and can be considered as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatments, especially for patients concerned with sexual adverse events associated with oral dutasteride.