Can dutasteride cause drug eruptions or photosensitivity?

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Last updated: February 18, 2026 • View editorial policy

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Dutasteride and Cutaneous Reactions

Dutasteride does not cause drug eruptions or photosensitivity based on FDA labeling and available evidence. The FDA-approved prescribing information for dutasteride does not list photosensitivity, phototoxic reactions, or photoallergic eruptions among its adverse effects 1.

Evidence from Drug Labeling

The official FDA label for dutasteride capsules identifies the following dermatologic adverse events 1:

  • Serious skin reactions (rare): skin peeling as part of serious allergic reactions
  • Breast-related changes: enlarged or painful breasts, breast lumps, or nipple discharge
  • No mention of photosensitivity: The comprehensive adverse event profile does not include any photo-induced cutaneous reactions

Context from Photosensitizing Medications

Multiple systematic reviews have identified the most consistently implicated photosensitizing drugs, and dutasteride is notably absent from these lists 2, 3:

  • Consistently implicated agents include tetracyclines (especially doxycycline), fluoroquinolones (nalidixic acid), NSAIDs (naproxen, piroxicam), thiazide diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide), amiodarone, chlorpromazine, thioridazine, vemurafenib, and voriconazole 2, 3
  • 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (the drug class to which dutasteride belongs) are not recognized as photosensitizing agents in guideline literature 4

Clinical Implications

If a patient taking dutasteride develops a cutaneous eruption or photosensitivity reaction:

  • Consider alternative causes: Evaluate other medications the patient is taking, particularly those with established photosensitizing potential 2, 3
  • Assess for allergic reactions: The FDA label warns of rare serious allergic reactions with skin manifestations, but these are not photosensitivity reactions 1
  • Rule out unrelated dermatologic conditions: The temporal relationship between sun exposure and eruption onset should be carefully evaluated 5

Important Caveat

While dutasteride is primarily used orally for benign prostatic hyperplasia, topical formulations are being investigated for androgenic alopecia 6. The safety profile of topical dutasteride may differ from oral administration, though photosensitivity has not been reported with either formulation based on current evidence.

References

4
Guideline

Medications That Cause Photosensitive Skin

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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