2 Chinese studies (2020): Microneedling monotherapy vs minoxidil vs combined application

[5minutesbeforemiracle]

Note: Study 2 also actually investigates the pathway by which these treatments may provide regrowth.

Study 1:

Randomized trial of electrodynamic microneedle combined with 5% minoxidil topical solution for the treatment of Chinese male Androgenetic alopecia - PubMed

<span><b>Background</b>: In treating androgenetic alopecia, 5% minoxidil is a commonly used topical drug. By using electrodynamic microneedle at the same time may increase absorption of minoxidil and further stimulate hair growth.<b>Objective</b>: A 24-week, randomized, evaluator blinded...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Full study link: https://sci-hub.ru/10.1080/14764172.2017.1376094
Notes:
- Microneedling at 2 week frequency was superior to minoxidil monotherapy, but combination therapy had much greater results than either alone.

Study 2:

Randomized trial of electrodynamic microneedling combined with 5% minoxidil topical solution for treating androgenetic alopecia in Chinese males and molecular mechanistic study of the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway - PubMed

Microneedling combined with 5% minoxidil can improve Androgenetic Alopecia, and the underlying mechanism may involve activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Full study link: https://sci-hub.ru/10.1080/09546634.2020.1770162
Notes:
- Microneedling at 3 week frequency was superior to minoxidil monotherapy, but combination therapy had much greater results than either alone.

 

[Baldingtooyoung]

Good for me as I am starting microneedling but can't take any form of minoxidil.

 

[5minutesbeforemiracle]

Honestly, I have my doubts about the legitimacy of these studies. Microneedling as monotherapy hasn't produced any notable results in practice...
Someone recently posted about how China has a lot of scientific paper mills where it's mostly frauded results.