Dutasteride - does it help against hair loss?

Dutasteride - does it help against hair loss?

Dutasteride (also known as Avodart and Avolve) is a drug used to treat enlarged prostate glands in men, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is also sometimes used for the treatment of male pattern baldness.

Dutasteride works by blocking the conversion of the male sex hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is mainly formed in the prostate gland, testes, adrenal glands and hair follicles and is a cause of enlargement of the prostate and the miniaturisation of the hair follicle associated with hair loss in men. Dutasteride is not currently licensed and available in the UK for the treatment of hair loss.

Last reviewed: 16-04-2020 by Dr Simran Deo