Evaluation of the efficacy of microneedling without and with minoxidil 5% and autologous platelet-rich plasma for androgenetic alopecia in men.

INTRODUCTION: Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of non-cicatricial hair loss in men. The condition also affects young adults and can cause significant psychological distress. In addition to widely accepted methods, clinicians have at their disposal a number of therapies for which there are no established treatment algorithms. METHODS: The study was conducted on a selected group of 92 men aged between 20 and 50 years. The patients were divided into three groups, each with a different therapeutic algorithm: group A - three microneedling treatments 1 month apart, group B - three microneedling treatments 1 month apart and daily topical application of 5% minoxidil, group C - three platelet-rich plasma treatments 1 month apart. RESULTS: Each group showed an increase in mean hair number and density. However, only group C demonstrated a statistically significant increase in hair shaft thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, there is no clear consensus in the literature regarding algorithms for microneedling and platelet-rich plasma treatment of the scalp. For the study, we selected a minimum effective algorithm that yielded satisfactory results.