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

The study investigated the efficacy of combining microneedling with topical minoxidil versus using topical minoxidil alone in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 68 men. Participants were divided into two groups: one received weekly microneedling with twice-daily 5% minoxidil, while the other received only the minoxidil treatment. Results showed a significantly greater increase in hair count for the combination treatment group (12.52 hairs/inch²) compared to the minoxidil alone group (1.89 hairs/inch²). Additionally, four patients in the combination group reported a 50% improvement in hair growth, whereas none in the minoxidil alone group did. The study concluded that the combination treatment was superior in increasing hair count and patient satisfaction, although the cosmetic significance was limited.