Was also reading about Dutasteride and it gave some contradicting information about Finasteride not being effective. Here is what i found:
While dutasteride is similar in structure and action to finasteride, it differs from the first generation reductase inhibitor in its tissue selectivity. Finasteride inhibits the type-2 isozyme of the 5- alpha reductase enzyme, found prominently in the scalp and prostate. Dutasteride is non-specific for isotype, and inhibits both type-1 and type-2 reductase. As such, it inhibits DHT conversion in all tissues including the scalp, liver, prostate, and skin. Because of this it also lowers systemic levels of DHT much more effectively than finasteride.
The DHT inhibiting effects of dutasteride make this drug of some interest to bodybuilders and athletes, particularly those concerned with the androgenic component of testosterone-based steroids. Dutasteride is capable of reducing the androgenic side effects produced by DHT conversion, changing the profile of testosterone drugs measurably. Provided moderate doses of testosterone are being used, the result can be a substantial reduction in the occurrence of oily skin and acne. For those prone to male pattern hair loss, dutasteride may also reduce the harsh impact of testosterone on the hairline. Note that as a selective type-2 inhibitor, finasteride is also effective at lowering DHT levels in the scalp (and reducing hairline impact of testosterone use), but does not work as well for reducing oily skin and acne.
The beneficial effects of this drug also occurred over a wide range of dosages. For example, a 5 mg daily amount caused 98.4% inhibition in DHT levels, while 1/10th of this amount (.5 mg daily, the adopted therapeutic dose) lowered levels by an average of 94.7%.
This was in great contrast to the 5 mg finasteride group, which noticed only 70.8% inhibition. Researchers also noted that there was significantly more of a variation in the results of the finasteride group, with some patients noting DHT suppression in the range of only 50-55%.
Dutasteride, at 2.5mgs/day is roughly 1.5x more effective than Finasteride at 5mgs/day, at treating hair loss (both halting it as well as regrowing it). In addition, Dutasteride can be used successfully at that same dose to treat prostate enlargement , and a lesser known effect of Dutasteride (again, at that same dose) use is to treat Acne caused by an overabundance of androgens in the body.
User Notes
For the steroid using athlete suffering from DHT-related side effects, Dutasteride may be the answer. Hairloss, Acne, and prostate growth can all (potentially) be completely halted with the use of this product. Unfortunately, DHT is not all bad, and you potentially lose some muscle hardness (an amorphous quality if ever there is one), and even some of the other qualities we like from our androgen use.