Dutasteride Infusion in Male Androgenetic Alopecia Using a Novel Drug Delivery Technique: MMP®.

INTRODUCTION: MMP® (the Portuguese acronym for microinfusão de medicamentos na pele [i.e., microinfusion of drugs into the skin]) is a novel drug delivery technique that uses microneedling to infuse drugs into the skin. Scalp microinfusion is a promising intervention for hair loss. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microinfusion of dutasteride with the MMP® technique compared with microinfusion of saline solution (placebo) in men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). This is the first study that compared microinfusion with MMP® using dutasteride versus placebo for the treatment of AGA. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, controlled clinical trial was conducted in eight (8) adult male patients with AGA. Three applications of dutasteride or placebo (saline solution 0.9%) using the MMP® were made every 30 days. Photos pre- and posttreatment were analyzed by three blinded dermatologists and the patient. Efficacy and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: No statistical difference in the clinical assessment was found between the groups. However, patient self-assessment reported marked improvement in the vertex area in the dutasteride group. CONCLUSION: Dutasteride microinfusion using the MMP® technique is effective in treating male AGA. Microneedling with MMP® without any medication is effective in treating male AGA.