Systematic Review of Mesotherapy for the Treatment of Hair Loss

August 2023 in “ Journal of Dermatological Treatment ”

Aditya K. Gupta, Shruthi Polla Ravi, Tong Wang, Milton Talukder, Michela Starace, Bianca Maria Piraccini

mesotherapy intradermal injections Pattern Hair Loss Telogen Effluvium dutasteride minoxidil botulinum toxin A multivitamins plant-derived polypeptide solution hair growth hair loss scalp melanoma Botox Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Mesotherapy →

technique to inject very small amounts of beneficial chemicals into the scalp

Dutasteride →

Heavy duty finasteride that comes with higher risks

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary This systematic review concluded that mesotherapy shows potential for improving hair growth outcomes, yet lacks standardized regimens and requires further large-scale trials to establish its efficacy and safe use.

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

Mesotherapy, which involves intradermal injections of therapeutic agents, has been studied as a potential treatment for hair loss disorders like Pattern Hair Loss and Telogen Effluvium. A systematic review of 27 articles, including 10 Randomized Controlled Trials, found that mesotherapy using agents like dutasteride, minoxidil, botulinum toxin A, multivitamins, and a plant-derived polypeptide solution has shown significant improvements in hair growth. However, there is a lack of standardized regimens and some studies reported serious adverse effects, including hair loss at the injection site and scalp melanoma. The treatment is not yet approved by the U.S. FDA or Health Canada. The review concludes that further large-scale, controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate the utility and safety of mesotherapy for hair loss disorders.

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research Human Stem Cell Use in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

March 2023 in “Cells”

This review suggests that stem cells might be a promising addition or alternative to standard treatments for androgenic alopecia, but larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Systematic Review of Newer Agents for the Management of Alopecia Areata in Adults: Janus Kinase Inhibitors, Biologics and Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors

research Systematic Review of Newer Agents for the Management of Alopecia Areata in Adults: Janus Kinase Inhibitors, Biologics and Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors

12 citations , December 2022 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This review suggests that oral Janus kinase inhibitors are a promising treatment for alopecia areata in adults, showing significant hair regrowth with fewer side effects than conventional treatments, while PDE-4 inhibitors and biologics show limited efficacy.

research Emerging Drugs for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata

7 citations , October 2022 in “Expert opinion on emerging drugs”

This review reports on new and effective drug developments for treating severe alopecia areata, including oral baricitinib, but emphasizes that no treatment guarantees permanent remission or works for all patients, with high recurrence rates after stopping medication.

research Recent Modalities in Treatment of Telogen Effluvium: Comparative Study

2 citations , July 2022 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This study concluded that both botulinum toxin A and multivitamins mesotherapy effectively treat telogen effluvium, but a single botulinum toxin A session may be preferable due to its convenience and comparable efficacy.

research Dutasteride Intralesional Microinjections in Combination with Oral Minoxidil vs. Oral Minoxidil Monotherapy in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Analysis of 105 Patients

2 citations , March 2022 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This letter to the editor presents no new research results; it discusses a combination of dutasteride intralesional microinjections with oral minoxidil versus oral minoxidil alone for treating androgenetic alopecia in men.

research Current Application of Mesotherapy in Pattern Hair Loss: A Systematic Review

8 citations , March 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study concluded that mesotherapy appears effective for treating pattern hair loss, but emphasizes a need for more research comparing it to other treatments due to limited sample sizes.

research Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin A Injection in the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia: A Comparative Controlled Study

3 citations , January 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study found that for treating androgenetic alopecia, LC hair essence serum injections provided excellent results with fewer side effects compared to botulinum toxin A, which also showed significant efficacy but with higher associated costs and more frequent side effects.

research Frontal Edema Due to Mesotherapy for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Case Series

4 citations , December 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This study reported 14 cases of frontal edema following mesotherapy for androgenetic alopecia, suggesting clinicians should be aware of this potential side effect.

research Two Cases of Paradoxical Nonscarring Alopecia After Mesotherapy with Dutasteride

August 2021 in “Skin appendage disorders”

This case report highlights two instances of patchy alopecia occurring after mesotherapy with dutasteride, illustrating a possible paradoxical side effect of this treatment for androgenetic alopecia.

research Preliminary Result of Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Treatment for Female Pattern Hair Loss

April 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Stem cell treatment improved hair density in female hair loss patient.

Comparison of QR 678 and QR 678 Neo as Monotherapy and Combination Therapy with 5% Minoxidil Solution and Oral Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia—Which Is Better?

research Comparison of QR 678 and QR 678 Neo as Monotherapy and Combination Therapy with 5% Minoxidil Solution and Oral Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia—Which Is Better?

3 citations , April 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Combination therapy with QR 678 Neo and 5% Minoxidil is most effective for male hair loss.

Evaluation of Efficacy of Intradermal Injection Therapy vs Derma Roller Application for Administration of QR678 Neo Hair Regrowth Formulation for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia—A Prospective Study

research Evaluation of Efficacy of Intradermal Injection Therapy vs Derma Roller Application for Administration of QR678 Neo Hair Regrowth Formulation for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia—A Prospective Study

4 citations , April 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study found that both intradermal injection and derma roller techniques for QR678Neo® hair regrowth therapy improved androgenetic alopecia symptoms, with intradermal injections showing non-significantly better video-microscopic outcomes but more pain and erythema associated with derma rollers.

research Lyophilized Growth Factor Intralesional Injection in Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Clinical and Trichoscopic Study

February 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This study concluded that intralesional lyophilized growth factor injections are safe and improve trichoscopic hair parameters and clinical scores in patients with female pattern hair loss.

research Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Science and Current Obstacles

23 citations , January 2021 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This review describes the diagnosis and management challenges of telogen effluvium, a type of hair loss triggered by physiological stress, and summarizes current understanding of its mechanisms and treatments while recommending future research directions.

research Intradermal Injections With 0.5% Minoxidil for the Treatment of Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

7 citations , December 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

In this study, intradermal injections of 0.5% minoxidil significantly improved hair growth and volume in women with female androgenetic alopecia compared to a placebo, with a good safety profile reported.

research Therapeutic Effect of Botulinum Toxin on Scalp Alopecia: Physiopathology and Reported Cases - A Systematic Review

13 citations , May 2020 in “Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery”

This systematic review found inconclusive evidence on the effectiveness of botulinum toxin for treating alopecia and highlighted the need for further prospective randomized controlled trials.

research Mesotherapy: From Historical Notes to Scientific Evidence and Future Prospects

49 citations , May 2020 in “The Scientific World JOURNAL”

This position paper from the Italian Mesotherapy Society discusses the application of intradermal therapy based on scientific evidence, highlighting its potential benefits for certain localized conditions, although it acknowledges the lack of randomized clinical trials for some uses.

Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy

research Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy

65 citations , April 2020 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”

This review indicates that most studies reported positive effects of platelet-rich plasma injections for treating androgenic alopecia, with no major side effects, suggesting it may be a safe alternative to Minoxidil and Finasteride.

research Novel Drug Delivery Approaches for the Management of Hair Loss

34 citations , January 2020 in “Expert opinion on drug delivery”

This review discusses various novel drug delivery approaches to enhance scalp drug penetration for alopecia treatment but reports no new clinical results.

research Efficacy of Intralesional and Oral Dutasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

5 citations , January 2020 in “Skin appendage disorders”

This study found that oral dutasteride increased hair count more than intralesional administration in androgenetic alopecia, but more research is needed for a reliable comparison.

Clinical, Trichoscopic, and Folliscopic Identification of the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on the Response to Intradermal Dutasteride 0.02% Injection in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Prospective Cohort Study

research Clinical, Trichoscopic, and Folliscopic Identification of the Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on the Response to Intradermal Dutasteride 0.02% Injection in Patients with Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Prospective Cohort Study

2 citations , December 2019 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

This study found that metabolic syndrome negatively affected the response to intradermal dutasteride injection in female pattern hair loss, with participants showing reduced terminal hair and increased vellus hair compared to those without the syndrome.

research Excellent Response to Mesotherapy as Adjunctive Treatment in Male Androgenetic Alopecia

11 citations , May 2019 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This case report observed significant improvement in hair density and thickness in a male patient with androgenetic alopecia following the addition of mesotherapy, alongside topical minoxidil and oral finasteride, over 20 sessions, with no side effects reported.

research Permanent Hair Loss in a Patient with Hypersensitivity to Intralesional Triamcinolone Injection

2 citations , January 2019 in “Annals of dermatology/Annals of Dermatology”

This case report highlights a rare instance of permanent hair loss caused by an allergic reaction to a mesotherapy mixture containing triamcinolone acetonide, suggesting that hypersensitivity reactions to such mixtures are possible.

research Comparative Study Between Mesotherapy and Topical 5% Minoxidil by Dermoscopic Evaluation for Androgenic Alopecia in Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial

11 citations , January 2019 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study observed no significant improvement of mesotherapy over 5% topical minoxidil for male androgenic alopecia, despite a small increase in hair shaft diameter variation with mesotherapy.

research Scalp Melanoma After Anti-Hair Loss Mesotherapy

6 citations , November 2017 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

A woman got melanoma on her scalp after anti-hair loss treatment with injections.

research The Effect of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors on Pattern Hair Loss: A Pilot Study

70 citations , February 2017 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study reports that plasma rich in growth factors appeared to improve hair follicle regeneration and patient satisfaction in individuals with androgenetic alopecia, though further trials are needed.

research Hair Loss at Injection Sites of Mesotherapy for Alopecia

18 citations , February 2017 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study reports that mesotherapy for androgenetic alopecia may paradoxically lead to hair loss and scarring, highlighting the need for improved regulation and monitoring of this treatment.

research Mesotherapy with Dutasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

24 citations , January 2017 in “International Journal of Trichology”

research Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update Of Treatment Options

110 citations , August 2016 in “Drugs”

Minoxidil is the only FDA-approved topical drug for treating male or female pattern hair loss, and other medications like finasteride and dutasteride can also increase hair growth.

research Neonatal Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mesotherapy in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Observational Study and Review of Literature

2 citations , May 2015 in “International Journal of Scientific Reports”

In this observational study, 95% of androgenetic alopecia patients treated with neonatal mesenchymal stem cells through mesotherapy showed mild to moderate improvement in hair growth and reduction in hair loss.

research Evaluation of the Effect of Injection of Dutasteride as a Mesotherapeutic Tool in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Males

17 citations , January 2013 in “Our Dermatology Online”

This study concluded that mesotherapy with a dutasteride-containing solution was the most effective option for treating androgenetic alopecia in males, promoting hair growth and reducing hair loss.

research Mesotherapy: What Is New?

34 citations , December 2012 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

Mesotherapy shows promise for cellulite and facial rejuvenation but has mixed results for body sculpting and hair loss, with more research needed for safety and effectiveness.

Mesotherapy Using Dutasteride-Containing Preparation in Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss: Photographic, Morphometric and Ultrastructural Evaluation

research Mesotherapy Using Dutasteride-Containing Preparation in Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss: Photographic, Morphometric and Ultrastructural Evaluation

41 citations , April 2012 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found that mesotherapy with a dutasteride-containing preparation improved hair growth indicators in female pattern hair loss better than saline, with minimal side effects and greater effectiveness in patients with shorter disease duration.

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

25 citations , January 2010 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This commentary reviews the controversial use of mesotherapy for androgenetic alopecia and emphasizes the need for documented evidence, without reporting new clinical results.

research Alopecia Secondary to Mesotherapy

49 citations , July 2009 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This report highlights two cases where patchy alopecia developed after mesotherapy for androgenetic alopecia, indicating potential risks associated with this treatment.