Investigating the Potential Mechanism of Microneedling in Alopecia Areata Mice Based on 16S rRNA Sequencing and Metabolomics

This study on 40 C3H/HeJ mice with alopecia areata (AA) found that microneedling, especially when combined with halometasone, significantly improved hair regrowth and increased gut microbial diversity compared to halometasone alone. Microneedling enhanced the intestinal bacterial structure by increasing beneficial bacteria and reducing harmful ones, although the reduction in Escherichia-Shigella was not statistically significant. It also altered short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels, reducing acetic and propanoic acids while slightly increasing butyric acid. These results suggest that microneedling may effectively address hair loss in AA by modulating gut microbiota and SCFAs, offering a potential alternative to conventional treatments. Further research is needed to explore the role of SCFAs in AA pathogenesis.