Microneedling Does it just make topicals more effective?

[potatopirate]

Does it actually work? If so how? Is it actually helpful in itself or does it just make topical's more effective?

 

[OtyMac]

I think it works else how could these non-responders to other treatments start growing hair?

Response to Microneedling Treatment in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Who Failed to Respond to Conventional Therapy - PubMed

Treatment with microneedling showed an accelerated response with addition of microneedling procedure leading to significant scalp density. This is the first case series to report the boosting effect of microneedling with respect to new hair follicle stimulation in patients with androgenetic...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[potatopirate]

I think it works else how could these non-responders to other treatments start growing hair?

Response to Microneedling Treatment in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia Who Failed to Respond to Conventional Therapy - PubMed

Treatment with microneedling showed an accelerated response with addition of microneedling procedure leading to significant scalp density. This is the first case series to report the boosting effect of microneedling with respect to new hair follicle stimulation in patients with androgenetic...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Yea but that's my point, is it just used to help topical's be more effective, or is it in itself a growth stimulant

 

[keepcoolmybabies]

Yea but that's my point, is it just used to help topical's be more effective, or is it in itself a growth stimulant

It's a growth stimulant. The process of wounding is essentially telling the body that it needs to repair the area with new tissue and can generate new follicular tissue in the process.

 

[Lumalux]

I think it works synergistically with Minoxidil. Microneedling can encourage hair growth on its own, but it also creates perforations in the skin through which Minoxidil can be more readily absorbed, resulting in better absorption.

 

[OtyMac]

How long does microneedling keep the "window open" for enhanced topical delivery? I think at max 3 days but that is in the face study.
If others have similar studies please post them. I don't have time now but a good start would be "microneedling and micropore closure time."

Facial Skin Barrier Function Recovery After Microneedle Transdermal Delivery Treatment

Download Citation | Facial Skin Barrier Function Recovery After Microneedle Transdermal Delivery Treatment | Background: Microneedle treatment is currently used in the cosmetic industry for several skin conditions. Despite their extensive use, there is... | Find, read and cite all the research...

www.researchgate.net

Transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, and skin erythema were measured at baseline, immediately after treatment, 4 hours after treatment, and 8 hours after treatment and at 24-hour intervals for 3 days.

Results: Prompt recovery of barrier function (within 72 hours) was observed after microneedle treatment. Conclusion: Microneedle treatment is simple and inexpensive, and the skin barrier disruption it causes resolves quickly. Therefore, it can serve as an effective physical method of enhancing transdermal delivery of medications for the treatment of many cosmetic and dermatological conditions

Micropore closure time is longer following microneedle application to skin of color - Scientific Reports

Microneedles (MNs) allow transdermal delivery of skin-impermeable drugs by creating transient epidermal micropores, and micropore lifetime directly affects drug diffusion timeframes. Healthy subjects (n = 111) completed the study, self-identifying as Asian (n = 32), Bi-/multi-racial (n = 10)...

www.nature.com

The ranking of predicted t1/2 was as follows: Latinos, 20.4 ± 9.9 h > Blacks, 19.3 ± 9.0 h > Whites, 17.8 ± 11.0 h > Bi-/multi-racial, 17.4 ± 10.1 h > Asians, 14.1 ± 8.7 h > Native American/Hawaiian, 11.24 h.

No significant differences in predicted t1/2 were observed between any of the studied ethnic/racial groups (p > 0.05). Based on general principles of pharmacokinetics, a window of 3–5 half-lives can be used to describe the timeframe at which ~ 87.5 to 97% of micropores are expected to be closed, thereby prohibiting further drug absorption through the micropores15.

Based on this approach, the micropore closure window was calculated for each group: 61.2–102.0 h for Latinos, 57.9–96.5 h for Blacks, 53.3–88.8 h for Whites, 52.2–87.0 h for Bi-/multi-racial, 42.4–70.6 h for Asians, and 33.7–56.2 h for the Native American/Hawaiian.

 

[Micky_007]

Yea but that's my point, is it just used to help topical's be more effective, or is it in itself a growth stimulant

It's a growth stimulant on its own.
Studies show Microneedling + Minoxidil generated 3 to 4 times more hairs than Minoxidil alone.

A Randomized Evaluator Blinded Study of Effect of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study

Dermal papilla (DP) is the site of expression of various hair growth related genes. Various researches have demonstrated the underlying importance of Wnt proteins and wound growth factors in stimulating DP associated stem cells. Microneedling works by ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Jakejr]

Yes

 

[joseph castelli]

How do you perform microneedling? How many times do you roll over the same area? I hear too much conflicting info on the technique.

 

[joseph castelli]

I doubt that this is that well understood and that you will find very strong arguments here.

To my knowledge, the best literature on minoxidil + needling is probably this paper here:

(PDF) A Randomized Controlled, Single-Observer Blinded Study to Determine the Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil plus Microneedling versus Topical Minoxidil Alone in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia (researchgate.net)

So if you want to "follow the literature", you could do exactly what is said here in the "Materials and Methods" section. (The PDF is available.) Amongst other things, they say

"A derma roller of needle length 1.5mm (ReGe Roller System; Geosmatic Cosmeceuticals and Cosmocare, Pune, India) was rolled over the affected areas of the scalp after proper cleansing in all directions (longitudinal, vertical, and diagonal) until pinpoint bleeding was noted, which was considered as the end point of the procedure. All patients were instructed not to apply minoxidil on the day of procedure and to resume its application 24h thereafter."

But I don't think there is any problem with deviating from that in various ways and being flexible about it.

The directions above are not what has been recommended. The directions I was told were to derma roll after application of the topical in the said directions vertical, diagonal, etc., and not to the point of bleeding. Not sure who to believe now.

 

[Micky_007]

The directions above are not what has been recommended. The directions I was told were to derma roll after application of the topical in the said directions vertical, diagonal, etc., and not to the point of bleeding. Not sure who to believe now.

Make sure you do not use Minoxidil (or any other topical) on the same day of Microneedling, only use Minoxidil 24 hours after Microneedling to prevent too much systemic absorption which can result in an increased possibility of side effects from Minoxidil.

 

[Moz5x]

Can one get benefits from microneedling while taking oral minoxidil instead? Or is it not worth doing in the absence of a topical treatment?

 

[Lumalux]

I am inclined to think that microneedling enhances the action of oral Minoxidil. The microneedling (slightly) injures the tissue where it is done and should cause an increase in bloodflow to that area. That, in turn, should cause more Minoxidil to infuse the skin tissue. This action is different than the "puncturing" or "laceration" action which would increase the absorption and effectiveness of topical Minoxidil.

 

[Lurker otto]

Can one get benefits from microneedling while taking oral minoxidil instead? Or is it not worth doing in the absence of a topical treatment?

Hi bro, if i remember correctly you were taking sublingual minoxidil right?
Could you please share your dose and results?
Thanks!

 

[gman95]

no there's youtubers who have grown hair just doing