Mesotherapy in the Management of Hair Loss: Is It of Any Use?

In the 2010 article by Dr. Venkataram Mysore, mesotherapy, which involves injecting substances directly into the skin, is critically examined for its role in treating androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss). The author highlights the lack of documented evidence supporting mesotherapy's effectiveness and safety for this purpose. While mesotherapy has been publicized as a treatment for hair loss, only two substances commonly used in this treatment, minoxidil and finasteride, have established roles in managing pattern hair loss. The article points out that there is a significant discrepancy between the number of Google search results and the lack of scientific literature on the topic. Moreover, reports of adverse effects, such as the development of alopecia and abscesses following mesotherapy, raise concerns about its safety. The FDA has not approved mesotherapy for any indication, and guidelines from Singapore categorize it as a procedure with low evidence of efficacy. The author concludes that routine use of mesotherapy for hair loss is not justified without well-designed scientific studies to support its claims and calls for regulatory oversight and public health education to prevent commercial exploitation of patients.