July 2025 in “International Journal of Biological Macromolecules” A new microneedle system effectively delivers finasteride to treat hair loss.
March 2025 in “Journal of Controlled Release” This study found that a biocomposite microneedle system, which includes selenium nanozyme and hypoxic extracellular vesicles, enhanced hair density and follicle diameter in androgenetic alopecia mice by fighting inflammation, promoting blood vessel growth, reducing reactive oxygen species, and counteracting androgen effects.
January 2025 in “Journal of Controlled Release” This study developed a gas-propelled microneedle patch with puerarin/quercetin nanoparticles, which demonstrated improved hair-regenerating effects in an androgenetic alopecia mouse model by increasing drug delivery, alleviating oxidative stress, promoting angiogenesis, and rejuvenating senescent cells.
6 citations
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August 2024 in “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery” 
April 2024 in “Bioactive materials” This study found that a microneedle system delivering VEGF and Ritlecitinib improved hair regeneration in mice with androgenetic alopecia, showing faster anagen onset and better hair quality compared to minoxidil.
September 2023 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” Using minoxidil with microneedling increases hair count for hair loss without serious side effects.
17 citations
,
April 2023 in “ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering” This study explored the potential of silk fibroin methacrylate hydrogel microneedles to deliver α-MSH directly to the epidermis in vitiligo patients, enhancing melanocyte protection and melanosome transfer, potentially offering a new treatment avenue for this challenging condition.
38 citations
,
July 2021 in “ACS Nano” This study found that a ceria nanozyme-integrated microneedles patch accelerated hair regeneration in an androgenetic alopecia mouse model more effectively than minoxidil, with reduced application frequency and minimal skin damage.
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.
46 citations
,
January 2020 in “Research” This review discusses the design, properties, and potential applications of smart microneedles, with no new clinical results presented.
64 citations
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May 2019 in “Materials Science and Engineering: C” This review outlines the development, applications, and challenges of microneedle-based drug delivery from 2000-2019, particularly highlighting fabrication techniques, but reports no new clinical results.
163 citations
,
April 2019 in “Nature Communications” This study found that mechanical skin stretching can stimulate hair stem cell proliferation and hair regeneration by activating a complex pathway involving WNT, BMP-2, and M2 macrophages.
26 citations
,
August 2018 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This review discusses the research supporting the approval and use of minoxidil for androgenic alopecia and reports no new clinical results, emphasizing recent findings and developments.
153 citations
,
March 2017 in “Endocrine” This review examines recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia, highlighting two major genetic risk loci, but does not report new clinical findings.
35 citations
,
January 2017 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” This study suggests that stress-induced premature senescence of dermal papilla cells may contribute to hair follicle aging by impairing critical epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and promoting inflammatory cytokine production.
76 citations
,
October 2016 in “Clinics in dermatology” This review discusses the hormonal and genetic factors influencing acne development, emphasizing the role of androgens and insulin signaling but reports no new clinical results.
55 citations
,
January 2016 in “Annals of Dermatology” This study found that repeated microneedle stimulation in mice promoted hair growth and increased the expression of hair-growth-related genes, suggesting potential therapeutic uses for alopecia.
93 citations
,
February 2015 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” This study suggests that oxidative stress may contribute to androgenetic alopecia by inducing premature senescence and secretion of hair growth inhibitors in dermal papilla cells from balding scalp.
115 citations
,
September 2012 in “Experimental Dermatology” This article reviews the molecular mechanisms involved in androgenetic alopecia and the androgen's paradoxical role in hair growth, but reports no new experimental findings.
76 citations
,
July 2011 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” This review discusses clinical methods for diagnosing alopecia and examines current treatments for both cicatricial and noncicatricial forms but provides no new clinical results.
11 citations
,
April 2011 in “Biomolecules & Therapeutics” This study found that finasteride-containing anionic liposomes enhanced skin retention and had moderate hair growth efficacy, suggesting potential for treating androgenetic alopecia with reduced systemic side effects.
147 citations
,
October 2004 in “Experimental dermatology” This paper reviews the role of androgens in human skin function and the challenges in developing treatments for androgen-associated disorders, reporting no new experimental results.
233 citations
,
November 2002 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” This review explores androgen metabolism in the skin, highlighting enzyme localization and potential implications for treating androgen-dependent skin conditions, but it reports no new clinical results.
