Platelet-Rich Plasma Microneedling Versus 5% Topical Minoxidil in the Treatment of Patterned Hair Loss

January 2016 in “ Journal of the Egyptian Women's Dermatologic Society (Print) ”

Carmen Farid, Rania Abdelmaksoud

platelet-rich plasma microneedling 5% topical minoxidil patterned hair loss hair density alopecia minoxidil PRP scalp irritation hair shedding rate Rogaine

TLDR Minoxidil works faster and is more cost-effective for treating hair loss, but platelet-rich plasma microneedling can be an alternative for those who can't use minoxidil.

In 2015, a study involving 40 patients with patterned hair loss compared the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) microneedling and 5% topical minoxidil. Both treatments were found to be similarly effective in improving hair density and alopecia grade after 12 and 28 weeks. However, minoxidil acted significantly faster. The study concluded that minoxidil should be the first-line treatment due to its efficacy, tolerability, and lower cost, while PRP with microneedling could be a second-line therapy for those intolerant or unfit for minoxidil. The minoxidil group showed a higher percentage of improvement (65%) than the PRP group (45%), but this was not statistically significant. Patient satisfaction was higher in the PRP group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Normalization of daily hair shedding rate was significantly higher in the minoxidil group (95%) than in the PRP group (65%). Adverse effects included scalp irritation in 30% of the minoxidil group and pain during injection in the PRP group.

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