Microneedling in androgenetic alopecia; comparing two different depths of microneedles.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual three-arm controlled clinical trial in humans
PubMed 32897622 · doi:10.1111/jocd.13714
What was done
Sixty patients aged 18–45 years with moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia (AGA) were allocated into three 12-week treatment groups: control (5% minoxidil lotion monotherapy), Group A (5% minoxidil lotion plus biweekly microneedling at 1.2 mm depth), and Group B (5% minoxidil lotion plus biweekly microneedling at 0.6 mm depth). Efficacy was evaluated via changes in hair count and hair thickness from baseline, alongside patient and investigator assessments of hair growth.
What was found
All three groups showed statistically significant increases in hair count and thickness compared to baseline (P < .05). Compared with the control group, Group B (0.6 mm depth) showed a significantly greater mean rise in hair count (P = .017) and hair thickness (P = .007). Investigator-evaluated hair regrowth was significantly higher in both Group A (P = .04) and Group B (P = .007) compared to control. Exact numerical values for hair counts, thickness, and direct statistical comparisons between the 0.6 mm and 1.2 mm groups were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that shallow microneedling (0.6 mm) combined with topical minoxidil improves hair count and thickness over minoxidil monotherapy, indicating that deeper penetration (1.2 mm) may not be required for clinical benefit.
Limits
The abstract lacks absolute numerical outcome data, confidence intervals, and direct statistical testing between the two microneedling depths. The sample size is modest (n = 60 across three arms), follow-up was limited to 12 weeks, patient sex distribution is unstated, and randomization/blinding details are not specified in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Recent research indicates that microneedling at a depth of 0.6 mm is potentially as effective for hair loss as a 1.5 mm depth.