Microneedling: Procedure, Benefits, Risks

Table Of Content

• A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction Following Surgical and Non-surgical Treatments for Hair Loss
• Microneedling: Collagen Induction Therapy
• Addressing shortfalls through diet and supplements: Does it help hair growth?
• The Comprehensive Guide to Microneedling for Hair Restoration and Skin Health
• Combining Microneedling and Other Hair Loss Treatments

Microneedling is less expensive than laser therapy and may work better for some people. The average treatment starts by making sure your scalp is clean, then applying a mild numbing agent to the scalp. Although microneedling is unlikely to hurt, this can prevent you from feeling any discomfort or pain during and immediately after treatment. One common plan that exacerbates the side effects of microneedling is the immediate use of minoxidil after the procedure. Make sure to speak with your doctor about when to apply minoxidil after microneedling.

A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction Following Surgical and Non-surgical Treatments for Hair Loss

Animal studies in mice with before- and after-treatment photos suggest that microneedle stimulation alone induces enhanced hair growth, but larger, randomized human studies are needed. Kim et al.[6] also noted earlier and faster hair re-growth with more shiny texture of the hair in micro needle treated group than the untreated mice group. The authors also suggested that micro needle roller could be useful to treat hair loss refractory to Minoxidil therapy.

Microneedling: Collagen Induction Therapy

In most people, the hair follicle bulge containing specialized stem cells resides 1.00–1.80 mm below the skin's surface. However, using needles longer than 0.25 mm at home isn't recommended because it increases the risk of infection, scarring, or permanently damaging your hair follicles. As with any procedure that involves cutting the skin and creating an open wound, microneedling for hair loss does come with the risk of infection, says Kashian.

Addressing shortfalls through diet and supplements: Does it help hair growth?

This technique is performed similarly to how micro-needling is done for skin problems, where a trained practitioner utilizes specialized tools such as skin rollers or derma rollers to create these minuscule punctures in the skin. 87.1 percent of patients who received minoxidil lotion, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and microneedling were shown to retain their hair during a “hair pull” test, which is pulling on the hair to determine how much comes out. Only 64.5 percent in the group receiving PRP and minoxidil alone retained their hair during this test, and this declined to 48.4 percent for the control group, who only received minoxidil lotion.

The Comprehensive Guide to Microneedling for Hair Restoration and Skin Health

Study designs should consider 12-month durations, include groups using MN as a monotherapy, and evaluate MN against a placebo and/or untreated group. As an adjunct therapy, MN may improve AGA by enhancing transdermal delivery, and by improving sulfation and Wnt pathway expression when paired with topical minoxidil. Henry et al. demonstrated in vitro that 0.15 mm needles inserted into human skin for 10 seconds enhanced transdermal permeability of calcein by more than 1000-fold [41]. These effects may partly explain the equivalent and/or additive improvements to hair parameters from intradermal growth factors or PRP injections versus MN alongside their topical applications [16, 17]. Topical minoxidil is a pro-drug that requires sulfation by sulfotransferase enzymes in the outer root sheath of hair follicles [8].

Can you use topical hair loss medications after microneedling?

Get ready to take action against that frustrating bald spot or thinning hair today, set up a complimentary FREE online consultation with one of our expert ForHair hair restoration specialists. By partnering with a ForHair Physician, we're dedicated to unraveling the root causes of your hair loss and determining the most suitable treatment path for your unique needs. Microneedling should not be performed too frequently, as it carries the risk of scarring and can limit blood circulation to the treated area, leading to hair shedding. Consulting with a physician is crucial to determine the ideal frequency and number of passes based on your specific needs.

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What is the optimal care for skin after microneedling?

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If you’re dealing with hair thinning, it’s tempting to pick up an at-home microneedling device so you can get immediate results. But store-bought devices don’t compare to a professional microneedling treatment. If you typically use a topical hair loss product on your scalp, you should wait hours after microneedling before applying this product again. And don’t worry — the synergistic effect between microneedling and your topical hair loss product will still be achievable. Microneedling is believed to stimulate the stem cells found within hair follicles, which play a crucial role in hair growth and regeneration.

Combining Microneedling and Other Hair Loss Treatments

The FDA considers microneedling a medical procedure that should be performed by a trained healthcare provider who uses sterile needles in their devices. The roller devices used at home—or at non-medical spas—have shorter, duller needles that are not meant to penetrate the skin like the microneedling devices used in a doctor's office. Choosing the correct length of microneedles is crucial for both a safe and effective treatment. Using needle lengths that are too short can result in ineffective treatments, while needles that are excessively long can damage the scalp which can lead to scarring.

Can Microneedling Cure Androgenic Alopecia?

Professionals use sterilized equipment and adhere to strict hygiene protocols in their clinics to reduce the risk of this occurring. To protect your skin from infection, you’ll want to avoid heavy sweating (whether that’s at a sauna or through exercise) and entering bodies of water (such as hot tubs, pools, and the ocean) for the first two days after microneedling. Similarly, bodies of water tend to contain bacteria, which has the potential to infect your skin more easily following microneedling.

Finally, Ragab et al. demonstrated that, over a 3-month period, MN alongside topical PRP improves SALT scores similarly to fractional CO2 laser therapy alongside topical PRP (Table 3) [29]. The information on HairScience is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice.

According to Healthline, other common types of alopecia include traction alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), and lichen planopilaris (LPP). However, if your scalp is feeling very irritated, is bleeding, or very inflamed, the pressure was too much or the needle was too long. If at any point your scalp is feeling painful and irritated, stop and apply pressure more gently next time. After you have completed the front-to-back lines, you can complete the same steps going from one side to the other across your scalp, making sure to pick up the roller after each pass and rewetting the hair as needed.

Finally, we identify limitations in the current body of research and provide recommendations for future clinical trials. It's important to speak to a healthcare provider, such as a dermatologist, about what type of hair loss you're experiencing and if professional microneedling would be worth it. Still, large-scale randomized controlled human studies are needed to see how well it works as a standalone treatment and establish best practices regarding needle depths and treatment frequency.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), the skin’s healing process after microneedling can help reduce the appearance of scars and dark spots and improve skin elasticity. Any redness, irritation, and inflammation should be brief, and the procedure should never cause scarring. Of the six MN monotherapy groups, two noted significant increases to total hair counts, one found significant increases to hair diameters and total hair density, and three showed no effect [13, 18,19,20, 25, 27]. Microneedling for hair loss is generally considered safe, but like any medical procedure, there are potential side effects that patients should be aware of. Suitable for improving the effect of Minoxidide & other products on the scalp.

(3) Patient evaluation – In the Microneedling group, 41 (82%) patients reported more than 50% improvement versus only 2 (4.5%) patients in the Minoxidil group. Unsatisfied patients to conventional therapy for AGA got good response with Microneedling treatment. How long you continue the treatment after those first eight months is entirely up to you. A licensed microneedling professional will also know how to help you minimize side effects from treatment. You could end up seeing a healthcare provider anyway if you develop any side effects.

The benefits of using a dermapen include increased precision and consistent penetration depth. Dermapens can target areas a dermaroller might not be able to, such as around the eyes, mouth, and nose. Dermarollers are widely available for purchase and can range from $40 to over $400 USD, CA$35-$500, or AU$40-300! Cheaper devices in the $10-20 range are also available, but these are knock-offs and do not provide the quality or safety you need. Post-treatment, "There may be slight bruising or redness in the treatment area of the scalp," notes Joseph.