Mesotherapy as a Promising Alternative to Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

May 2024 in “ Curēus ”

Esraa M AlEdani, Harleen Kaur, Malik Kasapoglu, Rajesh Yadavalli, Nikhil D. Shah, Abdulaziz Althwanay, Tuheen Sankar Nath

mesotherapy minoxidil androgenetic alopecia microinjecting medications vitamins scalp headache pain angioedema Rogaine AGA

TLDR Mesotherapy is a promising alternative to minoxidil for hair loss with mild side effects.

This systematic review compared mesotherapy and minoxidil 5% for treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and included 11 studies. Mesotherapy, which involves microinjecting medications and vitamins into the scalp, showed similar effectiveness and high patient satisfaction as minoxidil, with improvements in 25%-50% of cases. Mesotherapy's side effects were generally mild, such as headache and pain, but rare serious side effects like angioedema were noted. The review concludes that mesotherapy is a promising alternative to minoxidil with a low rate of side effects, but calls for larger controlled trials to confirm its safety and efficacy.

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Research cited in this study

10 / 10 results

research Systematic Review of Mesotherapy for the Treatment of Hair Loss

August 2023 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

Mesotherapy might improve hair growth, but more research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.

research Intradermal Delivery of Alopecia Therapeutics: Current State and Future Prospects

June 2023 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

New injection methods for hair loss treatment show promise but need more research.

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

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

Mesotherapy might help with hair loss but more research is needed.

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

4 citations, December 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Mesotherapy for hair loss can cause temporary forehead swelling.

research Two Cases of Paradoxical Nonscarring Alopecia After Mesotherapy with Dutasteride

August 2021 in “Skin appendage disorders”

Two people lost hair unexpectedly after getting a common hair loss treatment with a drug called Dutasteride.

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”

Injections with 0.5% minoxidil effectively treat female hair loss, increasing hair density and thickness.

research Comparing the Efficacy of Mesotherapy to Topical Minoxidil in the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss Using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

March 2019 in “PubMed”

Mesotherapy is more effective and preferred for female hair loss than topical minoxidil.

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”

Mesotherapy is not significantly better than minoxidil for treating male hair loss.

Low-Level Light and Minoxidil 5% Combination Versus Either Modality Alone in Management of Female Patterned Hair Loss: A Randomized Controlled Study

research Low-Level Light and Minoxidil 5% Combination Versus Either Modality Alone in Management of Female Patterned Hair Loss: A Randomized Controlled Study

34 citations, May 2017 in “Lasers in Surgery and Medicine”

Combining low-level light therapy and minoxidil 5% is more effective for female hair loss than using either treatment alone.

research A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of 5% and 2% Topical Minoxidil Solutions in the Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss

219 citations, March 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

5% and 2% minoxidil solutions effectively promote hair growth and reduce hair loss, with 5% being slightly more effective but having more side effects.

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research Minoxidil Sulfotransferase Enzymatical Activity in Plants: A Novel Paradigm in Increasing Minoxidil Response in Androgenetic Alopecia

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