A randomized evaluator blinded study of effect of microneedling in androgenetic alopecia: a pilot study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial with blinded evaluator
PubMed 23960389 · doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114700
What was done
A 12-week randomized, evaluator-blinded pilot study compared weekly microneedling plus twice-daily 5% minoxidil lotion against twice-daily 5% minoxidil lotion alone in 100 men with mild-to-moderate (grade III vertex or IV) androgenetic alopecia. Scalps were shaved at baseline. Efficacy was measured at week 12 by hair count change in a tattooed 1 cm² area, blinded investigator assessment of global photographs using a 7-point scale, and patient self-assessment.
What was found
The microneedling plus minoxidil group demonstrated a significantly greater mean increase in hair count from baseline at week 12 compared to the minoxidil-only group (91.4 versus 22.2). On investigator evaluation, 40 patients in the combination group achieved a +2 to +3 response on the 7-point visual analogue scale compared to 0 patients in the minoxidil group. On patient evaluation, 41 (82%) patients in the combination group reported more than 50% improvement versus 2 (4.5%) patients in the minoxidil group.
Why it matters
This study provides early randomized evidence that combining microneedling with topical minoxidil substantially enhances hair regrowth compared to minoxidil monotherapy in male androgenetic alopecia.
Limits
The study had a small sample size (n = 100) and a short follow-up duration (12 weeks). Patients could not be blinded to the microneedling procedure, there was no sham microneedling control, and long-term durability or adverse events were not detailed in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Studies have shown that combining microneedling with topical minoxidil can produce up to four times greater hair regrowth results compared to minoxidil alone.