Non-ablative radio frequency for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

INTRODUCTION: Medical treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is mainly limited to pharmacological and surgical interventions. Patients' desire for noninvasive and non-systemic treatments has accelerated research into medical devices that can promote hair growth. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was the first such device. However, its success has been limited by contradictory and often controversial efficacy claims. Work previously performed in animal models of AGA has demonstrated the viability of the wound repair mechanism as a potential treatment modality. This study therefore explores the use of a non-ablative radio frequency (RF) device in the treatment of AGA. METHODS: A single blindedstudy compared a non-ablative RF device versus a sham device in 24 men with AGA. Each subject received four treatments over the 12-week study. RESULTS: In this preliminary study of 24 AGA patients treated with a novel RF device, we demonstrated that 54% showed a clinical response. Furthermore, among patients that underwent four or more treatment sessions, 40% experienced a 30% or more increase in hair counts compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: If validated in a larger cohort, non-ablative RF may prove to be an important clinical tool in the treatment of AGA.