Does Microneedling for Hair Growth Actually Work?
By now, you’re probably familiar with the transformative anti-aging effects of microneedling. Its ability to improve blood circulation, stimulate collagen production, and encourage natural wound healing has made it a go-to treatment for addressing fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. But microneedling has another impressive application: enhancing hair growth. This guide will cover how microneedling can help men and women facing hair loss, and what you can expect from treatment.
Microneedling for hair growth treatment process
Let’s explore how microneedling treatments can reverse a receding hairline and stop thinning in its tracks.
How does microneedling for hair growth work?
During a microneedling session, your provider will use a specialized pen or derma roller to create microscopic holes or channels in the skin. These injuries trigger your body’s natural healing response, flooding the area with oxygen-rich blood and stimulating collagen production around dormant or weak hair follicles, which can kick them back into action.
Are there any side effects?
Your scalp may feel red and tender for two to three days after treatment, and some pinpoint bleeding is possible. As the recovery process continues, you may experience flaking and dryness. In some cases, temporary shedding may occur before regrowth begins.
Will microneedling really make hair grow back?
While each case is unique, research shows that microneedling can stimulate new hair growth in people with certain conditions, such as:
Androgenic alopecia: Male/female pattern baldness
Alopecia areata: Patchy hair loss caused by autoimmune disorders
Telogen effluvium: Stress or illness-related shedding
Thinning hair: Caused by inflammation or poor circulation
However, there are some limitations. Microneedling reactivates existing hair follicles, but it can’t create new ones. If you’ve been bald for a long time and the hair follicles on your scalp have disappeared, microneedling won’t improve your condition.
And if you have hormonal hair loss that isn’t properly managed with hormone replacement therapy or other medical interventions, don’t expect this treatment to resolve the underlying problem.
Read more: A Guide to SkinPen Microneedling for Beginners
What are the benefits of microneedling for hair growth?
When you microneedle for hair growth, you set several processes in motion that support thicker, healthier regrowth:
Triggers natural healing
The microneedling process alerts your body to thousands of tiny injuries on the scalp. Your body responds by creating controlled inflammation and prioritizing tissue remodeling and repair, which can reactivate dormant hair follicles.
Enhances collagen and blood flow
Microneedling doesn’t just put existing blood vessels to work. It also generates new ones, ensuring the area receives a plentiful supply of fresh oxygen and nutrients. As new collagen cells form, they strengthen the structural integrity of your scalp, creating the perfect environment for robust hair growth.
Boosts growth factors and stem cells
The oxygen-rich blood that floods the area during microneedling carries with it a surge of natural growth factors, which stimulate the stem cells surrounding your hair follicles and enhance their ability to enter the active phase of the growth cycle.
Boosts product absorption
All those tiny channels created during microneedling serve as pathways for topical hair growth treatments to reach below the skin’s surface. Products like minoxidil and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be more effective when they have direct access to the area where they’re most needed.
Regenerates and strengthens hair follicles
These processes work together to breathe new life into dormant follicles, helping them regain optimal function and generate new, healthy strands.
Thicker, denser hair
So, what does all this mean, exactly? By kicking your hair follicles back into gear and supplying them with all the essentials, including ample blood flow, nutrients, and collagen, microneedling can encourage the growth of healthy, new hair – and lots of it! Over time, you should see fresh strands that are softer, shinier, and less brittle.
Related reading: Benefits of Microneedling for Acne Vulgaris
What to expect with microneedling for hair growth
Microneedling for hair growth follows a similar process as it does for skincare treatment, with a few differences. Here’s what to expect with microneedling for hair growth:
Before your microneedling treatment
All microneedling journeys begin with a consultation. Your provider will ask about your medical history, the cause of your hair loss, and assess your skin and hair types to ensure compatibility.
Be sure to disclose any medications you take, including blood thinners and aspirin. You may need to stop using certain topical products a week or two before your first appointment.
During treatment
When you arrive for your session, your provider will cleanse your scalp and may apply a topical numbing cream. Then, they will use a specialized microneedling device to create tiny holes along your hairline and toward the crown of your head, covering the entire area of hair growth. Once completed, they will apply any pre-selected add-ons, such as PRP or other serums. Most scalp treatments take 30 to 60 minutes.
After your treatment
After your appointment, you may experience side effects like redness, swelling, and sensitivity. Wait at least 24 hours to wash your hair, and avoid heat, sweating, and sun exposure until your skin has fully recovered.
Microneedling offers gradual results, so don’t expect to see new strands growing right away. Most people really notice a difference after three to six sessions scheduled four to six weeks apart.
Related: What To Expect From the Fire and Ice Facial
Regain your confidence with results that last at Lux & Lav Aesthetics!
You’ll find plenty of at-home microneedling systems for hair growth, but they won’t yield the dramatic results of professional treatments. Lux & Lav Aesthetics can help you reverse hair loss and restore your healthy scalp. Book a consultation today to get started!
