Combining Microneedling and Minoxidil Treatment for hair growth

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A comprehensive review on microneedling and its use in hair loss disorders was published recently, providing insights into the strengths and drawbacks of various studies on microneedling.
Microneedling shows positive benefits in both men and women of all ages, especially when used in combination with other treatments.
Needle lengths of about 1-2.5 millimeters are more effective than shorter needle lengths in microneedling.
Microneedling can cause some bleeding and inflammation of the scalp, but it is not considered a very painful procedure.
Combining microneedling with minoxidil treatment is more effective than either treatment alone and can even recover bald or mostly bald regions on the scalp, although it may take a long time for hair growth in these areas.
Minoxidil treatment may need to be continued for life to maintain the obtained hair growth.
The decision to go on minoxidil is likely a decision to be on minoxidil for the rest of your life.

In this episode, I explain the biology of hair, hair growth, why hair growth slows and what causes hair to stop growing and/or “fall out.” I discuss the essential role of hair stem cells and other supporting biological factors for healthy hair growth. Then I describe various approaches (mechanical and chemical) to slow hair loss by increasing blood flow to hair stem cells, including minoxidil, tadalafil, PRP, microneedling, Botox and ketoconazole treatments. I also discuss how age-related hormone changes cause hair loss and explain the effectiveness of treatments such as caffeine, saw palmetto, growth hormone, finasteride and dutasteride. For all hair growth options, I describe potential side effects, how soon to expect results and the amount of hair regrowth to expect and I highlight effective combination treatments for hair regrowth even in hair “dead” (bald) zones. For many listeners, thinning, brittle hair, or pattern baldness are a source of anxiety and stress. This episode explains the mechanisms underlying hair regrowth tools and the science behind them so that you can evaluate potential treatments and associated side-effect profiles and select the best one(s) for you.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.