Efficacy and Safety of 5% Minoxidil Alone, Minoxidil Plus Oral Spironolactone, and Minoxidil Plus Microneedling on Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Prospective, Single-Center, Parallel-Group, Evaluator-Blinded, Randomized Trial

July 2022 in “ Frontiers in Medicine ”

Xuelei Liang, Yuan Chang, Hai-Xuan Wu, Yi Liu, Jian Zhao, Leyi Wang, Fenglin Zhuo

minoxidil spironolactone microneedling female pattern hair loss hair density hair shaft diameter epidermal thickness follicle diameter Rogaine

TLDR Combining minoxidil with microneedling or spironolactone is more effective for female hair loss than using minoxidil alone.

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of three treatments for female pattern hair loss (FPHL): 5% minoxidil (MX) alone, MX plus oral spironolactone (SPT), and MX plus microneedling (MN). Conducted at Beijing Friendship Hospital, 120 women aged 18-45 were randomized into three groups. Results showed that hair density significantly increased in all groups by week 24, with the MX + MN group showing the greatest improvement (30.33 ± 15.18/cm²), followed by MX + SPT (16.76 ± 11.75/cm²), and MX alone (9.95 ± 10.16/cm²). Hair shaft diameter increased in all groups, but no significant differences were found among them. The MX + MN group also showed significant increases in epidermal thickness and average follicle diameter. The study concluded that combining MX with MN or SPT is more effective than MX alone for treating FPHL.

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