Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Combined Microneedling Therapy Versus Topical Minoxidil in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    March 2025 in “ Archives of Dermatological Research ”
    Khalid Ahmed, Yasmeena Abdelall Kozaa, Mohammad T. Abuawwad … Angeliki Giannopoulou
    Studysummary This study found that combined microneedling with minoxidil significantly improved hair count and diameter in patients with androgenetic alopecia, although more mild adverse events were reported compared to minoxidil alone.
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    Research cited in this study 34

    1. Comparative Efficacy of Minoxidil, Dermaroller, and PRP Treatments in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Clinical Study Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences · 2024
    2. Effect of Microneedle on Hair Regrowth in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Chinese medicine and natural products · 2024
    3. Effectiveness and Safety of Combination Therapy of Microneedling and Minoxidil in Androgenetic Alopecia of Indonesian Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial Dermatology Reports · 2024
    4. Efficacy and Safety of Combinational Therapy Using Topical Minoxidil and Microneedling for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Archives of Dermatological Research · 2023
    5. Randomized Trial of Microneedling Combined With 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution for the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss in a Chinese Population Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2022
    6. A Survey of Patient Attitudes Towards Topical Minoxidil in the Treatment of Hair Loss PubMed · 2022
    7. 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 Frontiers in Medicine · 2022
    8. Conflicting Reports Regarding the Histopathological Features of Androgenic Alopecia: Are Biopsy Location, Hair Diameter Diversity, and Relative Hair Follicle Miniaturization Partly to Blame? Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology · 2021
    9. Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia: Comparing Two Different Depths of Microneedles Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2020
    10. Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway for Developing Therapies for Hair Loss International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2020
    11. Usefulness of Home-Use Microneedle Devices in the Treatment of Pattern Hair Loss Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2020
    12. Randomized Trial of Electrodynamic Microneedling Combined with 5% Minoxidil Topical Solution for Treating Androgenetic Alopecia in Chinese Males and Molecular Mechanistic Study of the Involvement of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Journal of Dermatological Treatment · 2020
    13. Does Microneedling with 5% Minoxidil Offer Added Advantage for Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia Compared to Use of Topical 5% Minoxidil Alone? International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences · 2020
    14. Nonsurgical Hair Restoration Treatment PubMed · 2019
    15. A Pilot Split-Scalp Study of Combined Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling and 5% Topical Minoxidil in Treating Male Pattern Hair Loss Clinical and Experimental Dermatology · 2018
    16. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Male-Pattern and Female-Pattern Hair Loss, 2017 Version Journal of Dermatology · 2018
    17. A Randomized Controlled, Single-Observer Blinded Study to Determine the Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil Plus Microneedling Versus Topical Minoxidil Alone in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery · 2018
    18. Evidence-Based Guideline for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women and Men – Short Version Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2017
    19. Randomized Trial of Electrodynamic Microneedle Combined with 5% Minoxidil Topical Solution for the Treatment of Chinese Male Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy · 2017
    20. Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review Endocrine · 2017
    21. A Comparative Study of Microneedling with Platelet-Rich Plasma Plus Topical Minoxidil (5%) and Topical Minoxidil (5%) Alone in Androgenetic Alopecia International Journal of Trichology · 2017
    22. Micro-Needling Depth Penetration, Presence of Pigment Particles, and Fluorescein-Stained Platelets: Clinical Usage for Aesthetic Concerns Aesthetic Surgery Journal · 2016
    23. Repeated Microneedle Stimulation Induces Enhanced Hair Growth in a Murine Model Annals of Dermatology · 2016
    24. A Randomized Evaluator Blinded Study of Effect of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study International Journal of Trichology · 2013
    25. Prevalence of Androgenetic Alopecia in China: A Community-Based Study in Six Cities British Journal of Dermatology · 2010
    26. Wnt-Dependent De Novo Hair Follicle Regeneration in Adult Mouse Skin After Wounding Nature · 2007
    27. Effect of 5α-Dihydrotestosterone and Testosterone on Apoptosis in Human Dermal Papilla Cells Skin Pharmacology and Physiology · 2006
    28. A Study of Patterns of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men: An Indian Perspective British Journal of Dermatology · 2005
    29. Identification of Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 Derived from Dermal Papilla Cells as a Key Mediator in Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings · 2003
    30. Androgen-Inducible TGF-β1 from Balding Dermal Papilla Cells Inhibits Epithelial Cell Growth: A Clue to Understanding Paradoxical Effects of Androgen on Human Hair Growth ˜The œFASEB journal · 2002
    31. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Topical Minoxidil Solution: Etiology and Treatment Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology · 2002
    32. The Prevalence and Types of Androgenetic Alopecia in Korean Men and Women British Journal of Dermatology · 2001
    33. Finasteride The New England Journal of Medicine · 1994
    34. The Effect of Topical Minoxidil on Hair Follicular Cycles of Rats Journal of Dermatology · 1990

    Related research 10

    1. Evaluation of the Effect of Topically Applied Methylsulfonylmethane and Their Combination with Minoxidil Solution for Improvement of Hair Growth in Male Mice Wiadomości lekarskie (Warsaw Poland) · 2022
    2. Deterioration of Scalp Environment by Exogenous Factors and Its Influence on Hair Growth Promoting Effect of Minoxidil The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan · 2020
    3. Effect of Minoxidil on Hair Growth in Minipigs Journal of Investigative Dermatology · 2018
    4. A New Topical Formulation of Minoxidil and Finasteride Improves Hair Growth in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of clinical & experimental dermatology research · 2015
    5. Effects of Mixed Medicinal Herbal Extract on Hair Growth in Mice with Alopecia 2014
    6. Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Minoxidil and Topical Alfatradiol in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft · 2007
    7. A Study on Effects of Water-Soluble Minoxidil on Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice Strait Pharmaceutical Journal · 2007
    8. Effect of Minoxidil on Hair Growth in Androgenic Alopecia in Women PubMed · 2002
    9. Evaluation of Hair Regrowth by Cyclosporine and Minoxidil Using C3H Mouse Model Journal of Dermatological Science · 1995
    10. The Hair Growth Effect of Minoxidil Juntendō Igaku/Juntendo igaku · 1992