Effects of microneedling with 5% minoxidil topical solution combination therapy in treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Microneedling (MN) therapy is one of minimal invasive operations with needles rolled over skin to puncturing the epidermis, and it is becoming a widely used treatment during various dermatological diseases includes androgenetic alopecia (AGA). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study is to investigate the clinical observation and safety of MN combined with 5% minoxidil on triggering hair growth in AGA patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study has analyzed 18 AGA patients who were treated by MN in combination with 5% minoxidil topical solution between July 2021 and February 2022. All patients received six sessions of treatment under aseptic condition at an interval of 1 week. Assessment of hair regrowth was done at the baseline and 10 weeks by photography, investigator, and patient assessment global scoring table on clinical improvement, and the patient's final satisfaction was investigated. RESULTS: According to the standardized 7-point scale, mean scores of investigator and participant assessments were 1.44 ± 0.61 and 1.66 ± 0.59, respectively, indicating that the hair appearance was considerably improved by MN combined with 5% minoxidil treatment. Fifteen patients (83.3%) were satisfied with the improvement in hair growth. No severe adverse events were noted in patients during and after the procedure. CONCLUSION: The combination of the length of 1.5 mm MN and 5% minoxidil in the treatment of AGA showed efficacy with high safety, which is worthy of clinical application.