Androgenetic Alopecia and Microneedling: Every Needling Is Not Microneedling

March 2019 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Abhijeet Kumar Jha, Keshavamurthy Vinay

androgenetic alopecia microneedling minoxidil dermal pricks subcutaneous injections AGA Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Microneedling →

technique to create small wounds in skin to activate collagen production and hair growth

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This commentary discusses a study reporting that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment led to increased hair growth in androgenetic alopecia patients, while critiquing its conclusion on the ineffectiveness of microneedling.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The authors of this letter to the editor disagree with a previous study's contention that microneedling is ineffective as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA). They clarify that microneedling should not be confused with needling, and that microneedling has been shown to improve hair growth in patients with AGA when used as an adjuvant to minoxidil. They also note that the number of dermal pricks inflicted by microneedling is much greater than the number of subcutaneous injections used in the previous study. The authors suggest that the previous study's argument on microneedling being ineffective in the treatment of AGA is premature and lacks evidence.

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Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

Platelet-Rich Plasma and Microneedling Improve Hair Growth in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia When Used as an Adjuvant to Minoxidil

research Platelet-Rich Plasma and Microneedling Improve Hair Growth in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia When Used as an Adjuvant to Minoxidil

24 citations , January 2019 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

In this study, the authors reported that among patients with androgenetic alopecia, treatment with minoxidil 5% lotion combined with PRP and microneedling resulted in better hair growth and higher satisfaction compared to other treatment groups.

Treatment of Male Pattern Alopecia with Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Double-Blind Controlled Study with Analysis of Platelet Number and Growth Factor Levels

research Treatment of Male Pattern Alopecia with Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Double-Blind Controlled Study with Analysis of Platelet Number and Growth Factor Levels

57 citations , October 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that platelet-rich plasma significantly increased hair count, density, and the percentage of anagen hairs in patients with androgenetic alopecia, but these improvements did not correlate with platelet or growth factor levels.

research Repeated Microneedle Stimulation Induces Enhanced Hair Growth in a Murine Model

55 citations , January 2016 in “Annals of Dermatology”

This study found that repeated microneedle stimulation in mice promoted hair growth and increased the expression of hair-growth-related genes, suggesting potential therapeutic uses for alopecia.

research A Randomized Evaluator Blinded Study of Effect of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study

136 citations , January 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study found that adding microneedling to minoxidil treatment significantly improved hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to minoxidil alone across all assessed measures.