This is probably one of my favorite topics to talk about. Not many people know the powerful benefits of the dermaroller or that, with consistency, it can treat a variety of conditions, including wrinkles, acne scars, stretch marks, and even hair loss.
So let's dive into just what dermarolling can do for those suffering from one of the worst, confidence-crushing conditions out there.
What is Androgenetic Alopecia?
Known as female or male pattern baldness (FPB, MPB), androgenetic alopecia is permanent hair loss from the scalp and hairline. Many studies have found that DHT in men is a particularly nasty culprit behind MPB and it really depends on genetics how sensitive you are to this hormone and at what rate you experience hair loss. Some hair loss involves a receding hairline and hair loss at the crown. Other types of hair loss can include thinning, spotting, and unfortunately, total and complete baldness.
While there’s no cure for androgenetic alopecia, there are a few treatments on the market including:
- Finasteride (for men)
- Minoxidil
- PRP Treatments
A few things you should know:
- Finasteride inhibits production of DHT in men and while it’s effective in preventing further hair loss, it’s really not a great option for hair regrowth.
- Minoxidil is an over-the-counter vasodilator applied directly to the scalp and works by expanding blood vessels to promote hair regrowth, but it’s really only effective in the crown area and doesn’t seem to work that well at the hairline.
- PRP treatment utilizes platelets in the blood to “grow” new capillaries in the scalp, stimulating hair growth, however these can be extremely pricey (think $700 per treatment) and you’ll need at least two or three treatments a year for prime results.
Can a Dermaroller Really Regrow Hair?
Absolutely. And we just love a good case study to prove it. According to a case study in 2013, microneedling was deemed an extremely effective tool for hair regrowth and even surpassed minoxidil in terms of hair growth results after just one week of use. Need a better visual?
Need more proof? This 12-week 2013 randomized study of 100 men in Mumbai was the first to examine the hair growth results of microneedling in humans.
Previously, researchers had observed promising results in mice. In this study, half of the participants were given minoxidil and the other half underwent microneedling procedures once per week, with the topical treatment minoxidil.
According to the researchers, participants who used microneedling in conjunction with minoxidil saw greater hair count changes and overall patient satisfaction. Eight months after the study, the participants still showed positive results.
A similar study several years later also showed promising results.
This 2018 study recruited 68 men and split them into two groups. The first group used minoxidil hair growth treatment twice daily, and the second used minoxidil twice daily and underwent weekly microneedling.
Study participants in the microneedling group experienced greater hair growth and satisfaction.
Consistency truly is king when it comes to the kind of results that you're seeing above. But this is just to show that there is hope for those suffering from this type of condition.
How Does it Work?
What’s the science behind its effectiveness? As many of us know, dermarollers create micro-injuries in the skin, which in turn trigger our body’s natural healing processes. When used on the scalp, this generates a huge upsurge in collagen production for effective hair regrowth. Some studies even suggest that it activates stem cells.
Are There Side Effects?
Aside from a bit of stinging, there are no serious side effects to dermarolling your scalp. Always be sure disinfect your dermaroller prior to and after use to avoid chances of infection. I show you how to properly do that here.
The area may be red and inflamed for a few days following the procedure. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), most side effects diminish within 5 days after your treatment.
Speak with your healthcare provider before considering this treatment if you:
- have a history of acne or eczema
- have a condition that slows healing, such as diabetes
- are on blood thinners or other medications
Also, keep in mind that using minoxidil immediately after dermarolling may increase its potency and increased bloodflow, but it's not recommended. Since microneedling ultimately creates microscopic puncture wounds in the skin, the minoxidil can potentially make this area incredibly inflammed and irritated. Again, speak with a health professional if you have any concerns.
Losing your hair can be detrimental to your overall self-confidence. For a lot of us, our hair is our identity and seeing it slowly begin to fall out, thin, or become dry and unhealthy can really take a toll on our overall perception of ourselves and our beauty and attractiveness level. So the side effects of not doing something about your hair loss are actually worse than if you were to take a chance with the dermaroller and give tackling hair loss a shot.
What's the Best Dermaroller to Use?
There are a variety of dermaroller needle sizes, but the sweet spot you’ll want here is between 0.5mm and 1.5mm.
If you’re undecided on which brand of dermaroller to buy, have no fear. I compare three brands of dermarollers in my video here, so you can see for yourself what separates my brand from others on the market and make a smarter purchase. Or you can jump directly to my store and checkout my unique line of 192-real individual needle dermarollers. Remember, you’ll want high quality needles for hair regrowth and a sacrifice in quality could mean a sacrifice in results.
Additionally, checkout my video tutorial on how to properly dermaroll your scalp.
And there you have it! Some basic information on just how dermarolling your scalp can battle balding and all types of hair loss! Thank you Amber Babies for tuning into another blog post and feel free to drop a comment below on your own hair loss journeys!