Randomized trial of electrodynamic microneedle combined with 5% minoxidil topical solution for the treatment of Chinese male Androgenetic alopecia

Randomized trial of electrodynamic microneedle combined with 5% minoxidil topical solution for the treatment of Chinese male Androgenetic alopecia

J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2017 Oct 13
Bao L1, Gong L1, Guo M1, Liu T1, Shi A1, Zong H2, Xu X1, Chen H1, Gao X1, Li Y1.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
In treating androgenetic alopecia, 5% minoxidil is a commonly used topical drug. By using electrodynamic microneedle at the same time may increase absorption of minoxidil and further stimulate hair growth.

OBJECTIVE:
A 24-week, randomized, evaluator blinded, comparative study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of treating Chinese male androgenetic alopecia using microneedle combined with 5% minoxidil topical solution.

METHODS:
Randomized subjects received topical 5% minoxidil (group 1, n = 20), local electrodynamic microneedle treatments (group 2, n = 20)[/b], or local electrodynamic microneedle treatments plus topical 5% minoxidil (group 3, n = 20). A total of 12 microneedle treatments were performed every 2 weeks with 2ml 5% minoxidil delivery in group 3 during each microneedle treatment. Patient receiving topical 5% minoxidil applied 1 ml of the solution twice daily over the course of the study. A total of 60 Chinese male subjects with Norwood-Hamilton type III-VI androgenetic alopecia were treated.

RESULTS:
The mean improvement in total hair density from baseline to 24 weeks was 18.8/cm2 in group 1, 23.4/cm2 in group 2, and 38.3/cm2 in group 3. The hair growth in the 3 groups was significantly different (P = 0.002), but there were no significant differences in toxicity found between the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONS:
Treatment with microneedle plus topical 5% minoxidil was associated with the best hair growth.

The study shows that microneedling alone beat minoxidil alone in terms of regrowth.  I have a Derminator in my possession which I've used a couple of times on the scalp.  It's a pain (quite literally) when you're doing the face, so after a couple of treatments on the scalp in conjunction with the face I stopped until I will be done with the face because I could only put up with so much of it at one time.  The scalp isn't too bad though.  I think it would be even easier if I were to wet the scalp first, since doing that helped with the face. What I found to be even better than a moist face during needling was using some numbing cream, especially when the numbing cream is kept moist for an extended period of time with some plastic wrap prior to needling.

FWIW, the Derminator seems to be a good product for the money.  It didn't seem to work as well on a heavy duty scar as a Dermapen did in the past (the Derminator was prone to getting stuck if I went over it quickly) but for normal skin it seems to do a very good job.

The study says they used a microneedle depth between 1.5 and 2.5 mm. Ouch.