Microneedling: Procedure, Benefits, Risks

Table Of Content

• Performing Microneedling for Hair Loss at Home
• Microneedling for Hair Loss: Does it really work? Uses & Benefits
• Dermaroller vs. Dermapen
• Increasing Blood Flow to the Scalp
• Does microneedling work to help promote hair growth?
• How to Use a Dermaroller for Hair Regrowth

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), the skin’s healing process after microneedling can help reduce the appearance of scars and dark spots and improve skin elasticity. Any redness, irritation, and inflammation should be brief, and the procedure should never cause scarring. Of the six MN monotherapy groups, two noted significant increases to total hair counts, one found significant increases to hair diameters and total hair density, and three showed no effect [13, 18,19,20, 25, 27]. Microneedling for hair loss is generally considered safe, but like any medical procedure, there are potential side effects that patients should be aware of. Suitable for improving the effect of Minoxidide & other products on the scalp.

Performing Microneedling for Hair Loss at Home

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Animal studies in mice with before- and after-treatment photos suggest that microneedle stimulation alone induces enhanced hair growth, but larger, randomized human studies are needed. Kim et al.[6] also noted earlier and faster hair re-growth with more shiny texture of the hair in micro needle treated group than the untreated mice group. The authors also suggested that micro needle roller could be useful to treat hair loss refractory to Minoxidil therapy.

Microneedling for Hair Loss: Does it really work? Uses & Benefits

When you get a medication injected at a doctor’s office, a long needle is used. In order for the drug to be delivered properly, the needle generally needs to pass all the way through your skin. It should only be injected once it reaches its intended place, like your vein or muscle.

Dermaroller vs. Dermapen

Get ready to take action against that frustrating bald spot or thinning hair today, set up a complimentary FREE online consultation with one of our expert ForHair hair restoration specialists. By partnering with a ForHair Physician, we're dedicated to unraveling the root causes of your hair loss and determining the most suitable treatment path for your unique needs. Microneedling should not be performed too frequently, as it carries the risk of scarring and can limit blood circulation to the treated area, leading to hair shedding. Consulting with a physician is crucial to determine the ideal frequency and number of passes based on your specific needs.

Increasing Blood Flow to the Scalp

That said, scalp microneedling won't work for everyone, and the risks of at-home microneedling for hair loss with needles longer than 0.25 millimeters (mm) outweigh the potential benefits. Microneedling is sometimes used to help topical skin treatments to penetrate the skin more effectively. For example, microneedling is sometimes performed before application of minoxidil, used to treat common hair loss (androgenic alopecia, which affects both men and women).

If you’re dealing with hair thinning, it’s tempting to pick up an at-home microneedling device so you can get immediate results. But store-bought devices don’t compare to a professional microneedling treatment. If you typically use a topical hair loss product on your scalp, you should wait hours after microneedling before applying this product again. And don’t worry — the synergistic effect between microneedling and your topical hair loss product will still be achievable. Microneedling is believed to stimulate the stem cells found within hair follicles, which play a crucial role in hair growth and regeneration.

Does microneedling work to help promote hair growth?

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Microneedling is less expensive than laser therapy and may work better for some people. The average treatment starts by making sure your scalp is clean, then applying a mild numbing agent to the scalp. Although microneedling is unlikely to hurt, this can prevent you from feeling any discomfort or pain during and immediately after treatment. One common plan that exacerbates the side effects of microneedling is the immediate use of minoxidil after the procedure. Make sure to speak with your doctor about when to apply minoxidil after microneedling.

Study designs should consider 12-month durations, include groups using MN as a monotherapy, and evaluate MN against a placebo and/or untreated group. As an adjunct therapy, MN may improve AGA by enhancing transdermal delivery, and by improving sulfation and Wnt pathway expression when paired with topical minoxidil. Henry et al. demonstrated in vitro that 0.15 mm needles inserted into human skin for 10 seconds enhanced transdermal permeability of calcein by more than 1000-fold [41]. These effects may partly explain the equivalent and/or additive improvements to hair parameters from intradermal growth factors or PRP injections versus MN alongside their topical applications [16, 17]. Topical minoxidil is a pro-drug that requires sulfation by sulfotransferase enzymes in the outer root sheath of hair follicles [8].

Benefits of Microneedling

In most people, the hair follicle bulge containing specialized stem cells resides 1.00–1.80 mm below the skin's surface. However, using needles longer than 0.25 mm at home isn't recommended because it increases the risk of infection, scarring, or permanently damaging your hair follicles. As with any procedure that involves cutting the skin and creating an open wound, microneedling for hair loss does come with the risk of infection, says Kashian.

This technique is performed similarly to how micro-needling is done for skin problems, where a trained practitioner utilizes specialized tools such as skin rollers or derma rollers to create these minuscule punctures in the skin. 87.1 percent of patients who received minoxidil lotion, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and microneedling were shown to retain their hair during a “hair pull” test, which is pulling on the hair to determine how much comes out. Only 64.5 percent in the group receiving PRP and minoxidil alone retained their hair during this test, and this declined to 48.4 percent for the control group, who only received minoxidil lotion.

According to Healthline, other common types of alopecia include traction alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), and lichen planopilaris (LPP). However, if your scalp is feeling very irritated, is bleeding, or very inflamed, the pressure was too much or the needle was too long. If at any point your scalp is feeling painful and irritated, stop and apply pressure more gently next time. After you have completed the front-to-back lines, you can complete the same steps going from one side to the other across your scalp, making sure to pick up the roller after each pass and rewetting the hair as needed.

Finally, Ragab et al. demonstrated that, over a 3-month period, MN alongside topical PRP improves SALT scores similarly to fractional CO2 laser therapy alongside topical PRP (Table 3) [29]. The information on HairScience is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice.

Does Shaving Make Hair Thicker? What Dermatologists Say

Table Of Content

• Shaving Tips For Your Pubic Area
• What makes hair grow thicker?
• Does Shaving Make Hair Grow Thicker?
• Medical Professionals
• Dr Chris van Tulleken has his legs waxed… in the name of science
• Are beards unhygienic?

Other shaving side effects include ingrown hairs, cuts, and pimples. Shaving does not change the rate of growth, color, or thickness of hair, according to Annie Gonzalez, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami. No — shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. Shaving doesn’t impact how quickly your hair regrows.

Shaving Tips For Your Pubic Area

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The misconception likely stems from the appearance of hair regrowth after shaving. When hair grows back, it may initially appear darker or coarser due to the blunt edge created by shaving. However, this is purely a cosmetic effect and does not indicate any changes in the hair’s thickness or density. To minizine risk of irritation, razor bumps and ingrown hairs, our experts recommend shaving in the direction of the hair growth.

What makes hair grow thicker?

Shaving cuts off the dead hair that’s located that the surface of your skin, so it’s not getting rid of the hair that grows under your skin like other hair removal processes. It’s nearly impossible to affect the growth rate, hair thickness, or color of your body hair with shaving. Contrary to popular belief, shaving does not make hair thicker.

Does Shaving Make Hair Grow Thicker?

You might switch up hair removal methods depending on the area you’re working with. Waxing pulls the hair from the root, so when they grow back it takes them longer to become visible above the skin, even though they’re growing at the same rate. It also means that when they appear above the skin the hairs have a naturally tapered end which makes them appear finer, and less visible. Discover the beauty of radiant, healthy skin with GlowskinCare, your go-to destination for specialized skincare and hair removal solutions.

The roots of the hair are formed with blood and proteins. Shaving gives the hair a blunt tip, which might feel coarse or “stubbly” for a while as it grows out, according to the Mayo Clinic. During this phase, the hair may appear darker or thicker than before, but it’s really an illusion. While there is no specific way to slow the regrowth of your hairs or encourage them to grow back softer shaving, there are methods that can help you get your smoothest shave yet. Dr. Garshick and Dr. Miller share their intel below.

Does Hair Really Grow Back Thicker After Shaving? Experts Tackle the Common Myth

Then samples from both legs were again carefully collected. Shaving at the same intervals as in the previous collection, and examining the hair in identical fashion. … This experiment gave additional evidence that shaving does not make hair grow faster or stimulate new hairs to grow. So shaving doesn’t make our hair thicker, but there are some hair removal methods out there that do as they remove the follicle. These methods can harm the follicle over time leading the hair to grow back less dense and with a finer texture. Waxing and laser hair removal are both methods that remove the follicle.

The very act of cutting may make hair appear thicker for a short time. A human hair shaft is like a pencil or javelin that tapers at the end. So when a razor slices away the tip, it may appear that the remaining hair, and subsequent stubble, is thicker or darker than it was before the cut. Those short hairs, sticking straight up from their follicles, may even appear coarser. But cutting away part of the hair does not typically change anything about that regrowth process. The tapered hair you had is the hair you’ll get back.

Don’t let this age-old misconception stop you from your preferred grooming habits. The dark shade of hair regrowth may also be more noticeable than you’re accustomed to. If you have lighter skin, you may notice new hairs even more. It isn’t attributed to the shaving process whatsoever.

There’s a bit more variation when it comes to leg-hair growth. According to Shays, a mixture of vellus and terminal hairs cover the legs of both men and women, which can range in density and color. During puberty, some of the vellus hair follicles on the legs become terminal hair follicles, resulting in thicker, faster-growing hair.

Laser removal zaps hair from the follicle and can either cause it to grow back thinner or to stop growing back at all, but it can be costly. Some hair removal methods, such as laser hair removal or waxing, can lead to reduced hair growth over time. These methods target the hair follicle, inhibiting future growth and potentially resulting in finer, lighter hair over time.

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Still, the myth lives on, even almost 100 years later. This may be due to the fact that hair regrowth after shaving often has a different appearance. + The modal amount of hair growth increased in direct proportion to the increase in the time period.

How Shaving Affects Your Hair Growth, According to a Hair Scientist

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• The Legs
• Can Japanese people handle Bangladeshi spices? Halal Hub thinks so
• Hair removal: How to shave
• Follow Us

And there’s a longer-term option to consider, especially if you have a lot of unwanted hair that tends to grow back very quickly. Longsworth suggests avoiding shaving this area right before you head to the beach, a pool, or any situation where a lot of sweating is involved. She recommends shaving at night and avoiding deodorant after the fact to give the skin a chance to repair overnight.

The Legs

It’s also important to avoid making multiple passes in the same area over and over, and to rinse your razor between washes. This will help clean the hairs and dead skin cells caught in the blades, giving you a smoother, closer shave. The growth phase for eyelashes, eyebrows, nasal hair, and ear hair is (thankfully) quite short—about a quarter of an inch per month, says Longsworth. They found growth to be about 0.03 millimeters per day or an average of .9 millimeters per month. For reference, that translates to a growth rate of less than 1/25th of an inch per month. Many people think that shaving your legs or underarms causes thicker hair growth.

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You can use a light exfoliating shower gel, a loofah, or even a washcloth. There are a lot of options available for facial or body hair removal, but shaving is considered the most convenient, cheap, easiest, and painless method to get rid of unwanted hair. When you shave it, you’re cutting the hair with a razor. The fine, tapered tip is gone, and what’s left is its wider base. But, in reality, its thickness is exactly the same as it was before. Shaving your groin area requires special care to stop the growth of ingrown hairs, irritation, and cuts.

Hair removal: How to shave

Longsworth suggests starting at your ankles and working your way up the leg using short, gentle strokes for better control. Take extra precaution when approaching the knee area, as it tends to be drier and more prone to nicks and cuts. Hair on the upper leg tends to be finer than the hair on the lower leg, so shaving direction matters a bit less according to Shays. Because the skin here is tougher, Longsworth says you can try a depilatory cream to dissolve the hair at its root, which will buy you a few weeks before new growth occurs.

They might recommend more permanent options, such as waxing or laser removal, depending on skin type, body part, and more. For best results, shave both with and against the direction of hair growth. Additionally, you should make sure that you’re rinsing the razor with each stroke. Remember that pubic hair tends to be coarser than other body hair and can clog the blades of your razor quickly.

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It’s also best to start brushing your hair at the ends and work your way up to the roots to prevent unnecessary tugging. Thinning hair can be caused by many factors, including genes, diet, stress, and illness. Thinning hair isn’t just a problem that men suffer from.

Take a hot shower before shaving—the steam helps open the pores for a close, clean shave with minimal skin irritation, Longsworth explains. Apply minimal pressure to your razor, use short, gentle strokes, and move with the grain. For those with less sensitive skin, Longsworth says you can re-lather the face with some extra shaving cream or gel and finish by gently shaving against the grain. This, she says, will give you the closest possible shave without suffering any nicks or cuts. For those with more sensitive skin, we suggest skipping that final pass.

Debunking the Myth

This thicker part of a hair follicle's shaft is the first to emerge from shaved skin, giving the appearance and feel of thicker-growing hair. Yet this thick base naturally wears down into a thinner tip over time as the hair continues to grow. Shaving the groin area also takes special care to prevent ingrown hairs, cuts, and other signs of irritation. It’s best to use a new razor each time you shave this part of your body. You may also find yourself noticing hairs more if you’re on the lookout for them. No, shaving does not affect the rate at which hair grows.

“Shaving only gives the appearance of thicker hair,” Dr. Miller explains. As this thinner end is shaved off, the thicker base is left behind, making it look thicker.” Shaving also does not make your hair grow back faster. Whether you shave your legs, facial hair, or both, you’ve no doubt heard that hair grows back thicker and darker after shaving.

Terminal leg hair grows about a half-inch per month, according to Longsworth, with a growth cycle of about two to six months. Vellus leg hairs grow far slower, she adds, though they still follow the same growth cycle as terminal (just at different rates). Vellus hair tends to have a shorter anagen phase than terminal phase. Women have always been told to avoid shaving their faces and body parts because it is a common belief that shaving increases the risk of cuts and infections. It is also presumed to cause redness and pigmentation and makes hair grow back darker and thicker as compared to waxing, threading and other forms of hair removal.

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So let’s try to put this myth to rest—although, like our hair, it will likely reemerge. Experts explain the root of this myth, why hair looks different after shaving, and how to get a better shave, too. If you want to remove unwanted body hair, whatever removal method you choose will usually have some pros and cons. "Scientists have tried to demonstrate, to test this idea, and some scientists claim that this occurs," he said. "But then they see the hair comes back thicker," he added. "In fact the bottom portion of the hair shaft that's shaved is already thicker."

Shaving simply removes hair that has already grown, allowing new hair to emerge from the follicle as part of the natural growth cycle. Shaving does not make your hair grow back thicker or faster, dermatologists at the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Healthline all say. This is a myth that has been disproved by strong scientific evidence for many years, according to an article on medical myths published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). “In general, proper shaving techniques are helpful to prevent razor bumps and irritation,” says Dr. Garshick. “This includes shaving in the direction of hair growth and making sure to always use a clean and sharp razor.” Using a razor with multiple blades can also help you get a closer shave.

What causes baldness? Understand why people lose their hair

Table Of Content

• Dermaroller at-home treatment
• Microneedling Might Be The Secret to Preventing (and Treating) Hair Loss
• How to Microneedle for Hair Loss: Plus What Needle Size Is Best
• Microneedling Devices Work in Different Ways
• Microneedling’s Effect on Hair Growth
• substantial weight loss over a short period of time
• Microneedling for Hair Loss: Does it really work? Uses & Benefits

However, it’s important to note that not everyone has the same pain tolerance for a 1.5mm depth needle. For individuals who find this depth uncomfortable, results can still be achieved with a shallower needle (e.g., 0.6mm), but the frequency of passes may need to be increased. Microneedling can also be employed to enhance the delivery of topical medications such as finasteride, dutasteride, minoxidil, spironolactone, latisse, and latanoprost. By creating micro-wounds in the skin, microneedling enables deeper penetration of these medications, thereby increasing their effectiveness. However, it’s crucial to be aware that combining microneedling with medications may raise the risk of systemic side effects due to enhanced absorption into the bloodstream.

Dermaroller at-home treatment

Similar to dermarollers, another tool in the arsenal of microneedling is the Dermapen. As the name suggests, this device is an electric, pen-shaped, automatic microneedling instrument that is much more precise than an average dermaroller. The mechanism of action is identical, as these devices also simply puncture the upper layers of skin with tiny needles, stimulating collagen and elastin production to produce healthier skin and promote hair growth. Originally lauded by skincare enthusiasts for improving your overall complexion, microneedling has now forayed into the area of treating and preventing hair loss. It has become a multipurpose cosmetic procedure that can benefit skin health—no matter if it concerns the face or scalp.

Microneedling Might Be The Secret to Preventing (and Treating) Hair Loss

Microneedling for hair loss is a minimally invasive procedure that involves using a handheld device with tiny needles to create small punctures in the scalp. These punctures stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which can help promote hair growth. Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that involves puncturing the skin with tiny needles to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture. However, microneedling can also be used to treat hair loss, as it can promote hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp and triggering the release of growth factors. However, results should be interpreted with caution due to significant heterogeneity across study interventions, comparators, and MN procedures (i.e., devices, needle lengths, session frequencies, and session endpoints). Large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to discern the effects of MN as a standalone and adjunct therapy, determine best practices for MN procedures, and establish long-term safety data.

How to Microneedle for Hair Loss: Plus What Needle Size Is Best

The reason you may decide to use one over the other may simply come down to price, ease of use, favorable reviews, skin type, or condition. When receiving a professional treatment of either kind, the device used will be handled by a trained professional and will usually deliver a more precise treatment. Dermarollers range in price and are produced by many brands, including Environ®, Sdara, Beauty ORA, GloPro®, and Cosmedica. There are also a range of needle lengths, accessories, wheel variations, and conditions that make deciding on a dermaroller tricky, but the overall process remains the same.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the sudden loss of hair in small, round patches on the scalp or other parts of the body. Microneedling has demonstrated effectiveness in treating alopecia areata by inducing a controlled inflammatory response and triggering the release of growth factors. This process helps regenerate the affected area and promotes hair regrowth within the patches of missing hair.

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Microneedling’s Effect on Hair Growth

This treatment can be performed as a standalone procedure or in combination with medications and regenerative therapies. In a 2019 study, microneedling was found to improve hair growth in patients with male-pattern baldness when combined with platelet-rich plasma and minoxidil lotion. It remains to be seen if microneedling the scalp for hair loss should be considered as a monotherapy, combined with established treatments, or used as a delivery system for other drugs. Still, microneedling is considered a promising treatment modality for hair regrowth. More evidence-based research is needed to determine how many weeks or months it takes until someone sees results or how long microneedling results last. Available studies suggest microneedling works best when combined with other hair-loss treatments, such as a topical 5% minoxidil solution.

And while the ideal candidate for microneedling would have no open wounds or acne, it is really open to all people and skin types, notes Rabach. No matter if we're talking about the professional or the at-home kind, we've graduated from microneedling 101 to earn a symbolic degree in the collagen-boosting skin treatment. We know it's an effective way to diminish acne scars, disguise dark circles, and plump up lips. What we didn't know, however, was that the potential perks of microneedling extend past our skin to include our hair.

So to calm and soothe the scalp, apply a serum like Oribe's Serene Scalp Leave-On Treatment ($48). It is meant to help mitigate any minor irritation or redness that could result from the practice. This article is based on previously conducted studies and does not contain any new studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Forty patients in Microneedling group had +2 to +3 response on 7-point visual analogue scale, while none showed the same response in the Minoxidil group [Table 2, Figures ​Figures66 and ​and77]. Once you’ve found a few prospective providers, request a consultation with each one. You can then get a better sense of their experience, as well as the projected treatment costs.

However, more research is needed to confirm its benefits and optimal treatment protocols. Clinical studies have indicated that the optimal needle depth for microneedling is typically 1.5mm. This depth allows the needles to penetrate the dermis, accessing a greater supply of blood capillaries, which triggers a potent inflammatory response.

Learn about how to microneedle for hair loss, the best size needle to use for the scalp, how often to microneedle, and the potential side effects. A dermatologist or hair loss specialist can assess your specific issues, recommend the most suitable treatment plan, and monitor your progress. They can often even quantify your results, measuring the thickness of your hair strands and your overall hair density. Professional microneedling devices, such as electrodynamic microneedling or radiofrequency microneedling devices, may also have specialized functions and additional features. It’s rare for the same tools to be sold to the general public, so it can be challenging to replicate the positive reports you see in scientific studies by applying at home.

These effects are usually expected and include redness, mild swelling, potential infection, and skin flaking in the treated area, which typically only last a few days. As an adjunct therapy, Giorgio et al. showed that MN alongside 5-aminolevulinic acid and photodynamic therapy improved 94% of AA lesions versus 53% of lesions receiving only 5-aminolevulinic acid and photodynamic therapy [31]. However, Yoo et al. found that in AT subjects, methyl 5-aminolevulinic acid and photodynamic therapy with and without MN led to no hair parameter improvements according to 4 mm punch biopsies [32].

Is a certified physician (M.D.) who works for Scandinavian Biolabs as a medical consultant. Zac writes articles about medicine, skincare, haircare, and nutrition-related topics. In February 2021, a journal in Korea published its findings on the role of microneedling in enhancing the absorption of minoxidil. Analyzing patient satisfaction showed that minoxidil plus microneedling showed the best outcomes.

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Then, you will want to apply water to your scalp to matt down any current hairs and prevent them from getting caught in the roller. The doctor typically moves the tool evenly across your skin so that the newly rejuvenated skin will be even. By encouraging the skin to make new tissue, additional collagen may help make the skin firmer. A dermatologist can help you decide if this is the right option for your skin. If you were to repeatedly poke yourself with a needle every day in the same spot, there’s a good chance you’d end up with a scar.

Microneedling is not the only treatment option available for skin and hair concerns. Microneedling involves stamping the skin with needles, while derma rolling uses a rolling motion on the treatment area. The derma pen, on the other hand, is an electronic device that can come in a roller format. Radiofrequency needles, often longer than those used in traditional microneedling, stimulate collagen and elastin production, although they may result in more significant discomfort. It’s important to note that not all electronic microneedling devices penetrate deep enough to produce a substantial effect.

After six sessions, people saw moderate improvement in their skin texture and good enhancement of scar appearance. While derma rollers work under the same principle as microneedling, they don’t penetrate the skin as deeply as microneedling does. If you want more effective and long-term results, microneedling may be better than a store-bought roller device.