Maintenance and thickening from Dutasteride Mesotherapy 0.01%, with minimal sides

[21stcenturysamson]

Hey all,

Firstly, sorry for the slight discrepancy in pictures - I switched out the original lightbulb for a higher intensity LED one this year and have tried to adjust my position accordingly to match. I'm aware that my hair length is very different between the photos, but hadn't initially taken the first one with the intent of sharing.

Photo 1 (with longer hair) was taken nearly 2 years ago. Photo 2 was taken on 24th February after 8 months of mesotherapy treatment.

Approximately 8 months ago I took my first plunge into the murky world of 5AR inhibitors. Having read horror stories of reduced libido and depression from oral fin and dut (whether exaggerated or not), I was keen to minimise sides as much as possible when beginning this journey.

After some research into topical dutasteride, I chose to use a 0.01% dutasteride mesotherapy solution, purchased from FUE clinic. I chose this because it seems most topical solutions go somewhat systemic anyway, so I was keen to use the option that would lead to the least possible systemic reduction of DHT in the long run. I applied this by dermaneedling at 1mm depth with a Derminator device and dropping 2ml into the wound afterwards, at a frequency of once every 14 days.

Initial side effects were some gyno pain, which has since subsided. I also struggle to sleep on the day of application but this is no longer an issue by the second day, so only affects me once in a fortnight. As my body has become a little more accustomed to dutasteride this has also begun to affect my sleep less.

The rest of my routine is pretty basic as follows:

Regenepure shampoo i.e. Ketoconazole 3 x a week (seems to reduce itching)

Shiseido Adenogen i.e. Adenosine (controversial I know!) once daily. This seems to improve hair quality in the areas that were beginning to thin, but is definitely too weak a treatment for most. I choose to use this to avoid any side effects associated with minoxidil.

I credit DUT mesotherapy with a significant reduction in scalp itching (and by proxy inflammation). I seem to shed a little more on average now, but would say that my hairline feels more stable and healthy than before. Given the speed I was shedding (photo 1 was taken at 26 years old), I would say that I'm happy with the degree of maintenance offered by this treatment for such a minimal side effect profile.

Photo 1: (Jan 2020)

 

Photo 2: (Feb 2022)

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by 21stcenturysamson
cropping out face

[mustang]

I can't believe more people are not trying this.

The results are as good or better than oral finasteride with pretty much none sides and it's only once a month or every 15 days for most.

I think the ideal regime is using lower dose topical dutasteride 0.1% once a week and doing Mesotherapy 0.01% the next. 

Or Topical Dutasteride 0.05% - (1ml) Monday and Thursday and Dutasteride Mesotherapy 0.01% (1ml) Sundays.

For those with sides I would say Topical Finasteride 0.025% 3 times a week would be the safest next option.

[Riktigriktig]

Are the risk for side effects lower with this product than with the topical 0.1 dut solution? I dont understand how mesotherapy somehow reduces side effects. 

[21stcenturysamson]

On the topical dutasteride discord server it seemed that for most people topical application went systemic, despite the molecular size supposedly being too large to go beyond the follicle. My opinion is that as mesotherapy is such a low dosage (0.01% every 2 weeks vs 0.1 or 0.2% more regularly), it's a significantly smaller amount that enters the bloodstream in the long run.

That said, the small amount that is used absolutely will go systemic faster than topical without wounding.

[mustang]

19 hours ago, 21stcenturysamson said:

On the topical dutasteride discord server it seemed that for most people topical application went systemic, despite the molecular size supposedly being too large to go beyond the follicle. My opinion is that as mesotherapy is such a low dosage (0.01% every 2 weeks vs 0.1 or 0.2% more regularly), it's a significantly smaller amount that enters the bloodstream in the long run.

That said, the small amount that is used absolutely will go systemic faster than topical without wounding.

I did several blood tests and a few people I know as well, it was pretty safe when using 1ml per week at 0.1%, DHT reduction was almost non existent. 

This said, others have seen a decrease a little higher. I think the key is to gradually build it up. I would not use it more than twice a week but that is my personal experience.

Most importantly the drug when used topically avoids liver's first pass which is what ultimately creates metabolites that lead yo systemic accumulation and side effects.

From what I gathered speaking to Dr Mwamba this is way safer than oral finasteride and results are as good. 

Mesotherapy is of course a combination of derma rolling, vitamins, growth factors and dutasteride, a more complete approach. 0.01% is a low dose indeed, very low but because it's very effective. 

[BurnieBurns]

On 3/12/2022 at 11:30 PM, mustang said:

I did several blood tests and a few people I know as well, it was pretty safe when using 1ml per week at 0.1%, DHT reduction was almost non existent. 

This said, others have seen a decrease a little higher. I think the key is to gradually build it up. I would not use it more than twice a week but that is my personal experience.

Most importantly the drug when used topically avoids liver's first pass which is what ultimately creates metabolites that lead yo systemic accumulation and side effects.

From what I gathered speaking to Dr Mwamba this is way safer than oral finasteride and results are as good. 

Mesotherapy is of course a combination of derma rolling, vitamins, growth factors and dutasteride, a more complete approach. 0.01% is a low dose indeed, very low but because it's very effective. 

I unfortunately got sides from the 0.1% dut from at FUE (I'm hypersensitive, and have naturally dry porous skin). I was advised by the clinic to try the 0.01% mesotherpy but without microneedling every 2 weeks. Have you heard of anyone having success on that?

Also, is the 0.025% finasteride safer than the topical dutasteride all-together?

Wish I could speak to Dr Mwamba about this haha

[mustang]

I think 0.01% is an option topically, something is better than nothing, just be cautious and use it once a week at most.

Finasteride 0.025% might be safer for neurosteroid related side effects (brain fog, anxiety, sleep) but will probably block more DHT systemically than Topical Dutasteride. 

[Harry Bosch]

On 3/12/2022 at 5:30 AM, mustang said:

I did several blood tests and a few people I know as well, it was pretty safe when using 1ml per week at 0.1%, DHT reduction was almost non existent. 

This said, others have seen a decrease a little higher. I think the key is to gradually build it up. I would not use it more than twice a week but that is my personal experience.

Most importantly the drug when used topically avoids liver's first pass which is what ultimately creates metabolites that lead yo systemic accumulation and side effects.

From what I gathered speaking to Dr Mwamba this is way safer than oral finasteride and results are as good. 

Mesotherapy is of course a combination of derma rolling, vitamins, growth factors and dutasteride, a more complete approach. 0.01% is a low dose indeed, very low but because it's very effective. 

Is it true that Mwamba's topical Dut starts to lose potency after ~6 months?  If you're applying 1mL per week, then a 60mL bottle should last 60 weeks.  But if it indeed lose potency around 6 months, then essentially half the product gets wasted.  I suppose you could apply 2mL to get your money's worth, but I am curious how you might navigate the seemingly short shelf-life of the bottle?

[mustang]

17 minutes ago, Harry Bosch said:

Is it true that Mwamba's topical Dut starts to lose potency after ~6 months?  If you're applying 1mL per week, then a 60mL bottle should last 60 weeks.  But if it indeed lose potency around 6 months, then essentially half the product gets wasted.  I suppose you could apply 2mL to get your money's worth, but I am curious how you might navigate the seemingly short shelf-life of the bottle?

I wish it was 6 months. It's 90 days.

Bottle will last you 3 months, the rest you can dispense.