Mesotherapy using dutasteride-containing preparation in treatment of female pattern hair loss: photographic, morphometric and ultrustructural evaluation

Abstract

Background: Treatment of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is frustrating for both patients and doctors. Mesotherapy is a novel treatment for hair fall and its efficacy in FPHL has not been evaluated.

Objective: Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of mesotherapy using dutasteride-containing preparation in treatment of FPHL.

Methods: This study included 126 female patients with FPHL. They were classified into two groups; group I (86 patients) injected with dutasteride-containing preparation and group II (40 control patients) injected with saline. Patients received 12 sessions and were evaluated at the 18th week by: photographic assessment, hair pull test, hair diameter and patient self-assessment. Ultrastructural evaluation was done for three patients.

Results: After mesotherapy with dutasteride-containing preparation, photographic improvement occurred in 62.8% of patients compared with 17.5% in control group (P < 0.05), mean number of epilated hairs was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), mean hair diameter was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Patient self-assessment showed statistically significant improvement compared with the controls (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between degree of improvement and duration of FPHL (P < 0.05). Side effects were minimal with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Ultrastructural examination of pretreated hairs revealed absent cuticle in one patient and focal destruction of the cuticle in the second patient, which reappeared in both after therapy.

Conclusion: We concluded that mesotherapy with dutasteride-containing preparation was effective, tolerable and minimally invasive treatment modality in FPHL with better response for shorter duration of the disease.