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.
Cited in this study
10 / 10 results
August 2023 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Mesotherapy might improve hair growth, but more research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.
June 2023 in “Dermatologic Surgery” New injection methods for hair loss treatment show promise but need more research.
8 citations
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March 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Mesotherapy might help with hair loss but more research is needed.
January 2022 in “Skin appendage disorders” Two people lost hair unexpectedly after getting a common hair loss treatment with a drug called Dutasteride.
4 citations
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December 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy” 
7 citations
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January 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Injections with 0.5% minoxidil effectively treat female hair loss, increasing hair density and thickness.
11 citations
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March 2019 in “International Journal of Trichology” 
34 citations
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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.
219 citations
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April 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.
August 2023 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Some plants like spinach, broccoli, and matcha may boost the effectiveness of the hair growth drug minoxidil.
14 citations
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January 2015 in “Skin appendage disorders” Minoxidil treatment for hair loss can cause scalp allergy and severe hair loss.
