Does Microneedling Work For Hair Growth
Does Microneedling Work For Hair Growth? Microneedling is a skin procedure which involves the usage of a needle to pierce the skin. It has many benefits, and if you have been planning to get one done, then it’s time to know whether it works for hair growth. In this post, we will find out the answer to this question. However, first of all, let us know more about microneedling.
In this post, we find out: Does Microneedling Work For Hair Growth, microneedling for hair loss cost, microneedling for hair loss cost, how to microneedle scalp, and microneedling for hair loss needle size.
Does Microneedling Work For Hair Growth
Microneedling is a treatment that uses small needles to create thousands of tiny channels in the skin. The idea behind microneedling for hair growth is that these channels will encourage new hair follicles to form, triggering your body into growing more hair.
What Is Microneedling
Microneedling is a skin needling procedure that uses a handheld device with multiple small needles to create tiny injuries in the top layer of your skin. The idea behind microneedling is to stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin fibers, which can help improve the appearance of scars, wrinkles and stretch marks as well as encourage hair growth.
Microneedling can be done at home using an at-home microdermabrasion kit or professionally by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
What Does Microneedling For Hair Growth Involve
Microneedling involves piercing the skin with tiny needles. This causes a controlled injury to the skin, which stimulates the body’s natural healing process and can lead to new collagen and elastin fibres being produced in the treatment area (this will help improve hair growth).
How Does Microneedling Work For Hair Growth
Micro-needling is a non-invasive treatment that uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries to the skin. The body responds to these injuries by producing new collagen and elastin, which stimulates the hair follicles.
When Can I See Results From Microneedling For Hair Growth
The results of microneedling are visible after the first treatment. The effects wear off after a few weeks and you need to repeat the process, but they will be visible again with each new session.
- After your first session, you should see an increase in hair growth within 2-6 months of regular sessions (about 1 per month).
- The second treatment is usually done at least 6 months later and may consist of two sessions spaced four weeks apart or one session spaced eight weeks apart depending on how much time has passed since your last microneedling session and how much of an improvement you want to achieve with another round of treatments.
- In general, it takes about three months for new hairs to appear after each treatment cycle begins so if you’re looking for long lasting results then keep up with regular appointments!
microneedling for hair loss cost
By now, we’re well-versed in the art of microneedling for our skin’s sake. 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. We even know the best serums to pair it with. What we didn’t know, however, was that the potential perks of microneedling extend past our skin to include our hair.
Allegedly, microneedling can boost scalp health in such a way as to treat and prevent hair loss, keeping hair full and healthy for longer. To find out more, we tapped experts Veronica Joseph and Morgan Rabach to let us in on everything there is to know about microneedling for hair growth.
Keep scrolling to learn how microneedling can boost collagen (and hair growth) in your scalp.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a dermatological procedure that involves piercing the skin with tiny needles to stimulate elastin and collagen production, thereby treating various skin concerns (e.g. reducing the appearance of scars, fine lines, wrinkles, etc.)—and even hair loss.
Benefits of Microneedling
To fully grasp the benefits of microneedling for the hair and scalp, we first need to understand the science behind microneedling. “Microneedling works by mechanical controlled injury into the dermis,” Rabach tells us. (The word injury has a negative connotation. In this case, each “injury” is minuscule, nowhere near large enough to cause pain or scarring. In most cases, the only physical change in the skin you should see after using a derma roller is a little redness). “Specifically, we use tiny needles that get pushed perpendicularly into the dermis which causes a healing reaction in the skin. Growth factors that promote healing are released and these same growth factors may promote hair growth. The trauma of the microneedling may also stimulate stem cells to grow which are helpful to grow new hair,” she continues.
This helps to explain why microneedling has emerged as a buzzy new treatment for alopecia (hair loss), comments Joseph. “Studies currently indicate that there are positive results when microneedling is used alongside oral or topical medications when treating alopecia. When microneedling is utilized as an adjunct therapy for alopecia, results present an increase in hair density, thickness, and the quality of hair regrowth.” However, “Further research and studies are required to determine if microneedling is as effective as a standalone therapy for alopecia,” she notes.
How to Prepare for Microneedling
If you’re considering microneedling to treat or prevent hair loss, you’ll want to start out with a clean and healthy scalp. This will ensure that you reap the most benefits from the procedure. 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.
Before beginning any microneedling session, it’s important to first consult a licensed expert who can customize the treatment to meet your needs. “Preparation for hair loss and microneedling treatment should be through consultation with a licensed professional dermatologist or trichologist. At that point bespoke pre-procedure precautions and requirements should be determined,” explains Joseph.
What to Expect During a Microneedling Treatment
A typical microneedling session may last 45 minutes to an hour—give or take. First, your derm or trichologist will cleanse your scalp or the exact area where you would like to stimulate hair growth. Then, using a topical serum they will numb said area so that the treatment is not painful. Finally, they will begin microneedling by puncturing the skin using an electric skin needling pen. Following the procedure, you can expect to see new hair growth in three to six months, confirms Rabach.
Microneedling vs. Microinfusion
In the world of microneedling treatments, dermarolling isn’t the only player. Microinfusion is another popular cosmetic procedure that gently stamps tiny needles over the skin in order to achieve a healthy and radiant complexion. However, unlike microneedling which uses hundreds of non-channeled needles to treat the skin—followed up with a separate application of serum—microinfusion involves about 20 to 30 hollow needles that deliver nutrients directly into the dermis. This may lead to more immediate results and less downtime than microneedling. And when it comes to preventing hair loss, a study shows that both microneedling alone and microinfusion with minoxidil have been shown to be effective in treating alopecia.
At-Home vs. In Office/By a Professional
Although microneedling can be done at home, both experts recommend scheduling an in-office treatment with a licensed professional. Why? “So that microneedling can support adjunct therapies, outcomes can be tracked and documented, and for the safe administration of therapies,” explains Joseph. Rabach adds, “There are microneedling pens that you can buy for home but they are usually less than 1 millimeter. This at-home length is too short to effect change where the hair follicles are, which is usually 2.5 to 3 millimeters deep.”
Potential Side Effects
Since microneedling is a non-invasive cosmetic treatment, side effects are generally minimal. These include localized swelling and bleeding, soreness a week after treatment, and increased sun sensitivity for up to two weeks post-treatment, notes Rabach. Skin irritations, bruising, and peeling are also common, yet mild, side effects following microneedling, adds Joseph. Still, no matter the tool used in your treatment—stamps or rollers—microneedling is thought to be relatively safe, Joseph tells us.
The Cost
As with any cosmetic procedure, cost will vary depending on a number of details: where you live, your provider, treatment goals, the number of sessions required, the area being treated, etc. For this reason, a single microneedling session can range anywhere from $200 to $800. “[Cost] and the expectations from microneedling as it relates to hair loss will be determined by factors that are specific to each individual client. A curated and tailored treatment plan can be established at consultation with the licensed practitioner,” says Joseph.
Aftercare
Most facial derma rollers are studded with minuscule needles so as to not irritate the gentle skin. However, larger derma rollers are widely accepted for scalp use, since they’re able to better infiltrate through the hair—not to mention any scalp build-up that might be present.
Post-treatment, “There may be slight bruising or redness in the treatment area of the scalp,” notes Joseph. 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. Plus, it’s just luxurious.
how to microneedle scalp
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.
Microneedling, dermarolling, derma-pens, and derma-stamps are all terms for the techniques and tools used in a relatively new way to help support and enhance healthy hair growth.
These rollers, pens, and stamps are all designed to do the same thing — create tiny punctures in your scalp in order to stimulate stem cells, circulation, collagen production, and, hopefully, increase the growth and thickness of new hairs.
The studies on the use of microneedling for hair growth seem promising, but this technique seems to be even better when paired with topical hair loss medications like Minoxidil.
Of course, nothing is magic, and while microneedling may help enhance hair growth and health, it isn’t going to take you from bald to needing a haircut in weeks. The benefits are modest, but when incorporating microneedling into a robust hair growth routine, it can definitely be a welcome addition.
Below, we will cover the specifics of exactly how to microneedle for hair loss, that size needles are normally used on the scalp, how often to microneedle for hair loss, plus potential complications and who is a good candidate for microneedling.
How to microneedle on the scalp for hair loss?
Microneedling can be tricky, and it is best to leave it to professionals. Microneedling appointments can be scheduled with hair specialists, dermatologists, and other medical professionals that specialize in hair loss procedures.
But, if you want to try out microneedling yourself at home due to the ease or the cost savings, you should have a pretty good idea of how to do it safely and effectively before you begin.
First off, the pressure used to press down on your microneedler needs to be relatively light, maybe a similar pressure to applying a deodorant stick. You don’t want to draw blood or damage your scalp from the pressure, and if you see blood pinpricks, you are pushing too hard.
The pressure should be firm enough for the scalp to turn a little pink after a few seconds, but nothing too painful.
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.
Finally, roll the clean roller from front to back (or back to front) applying a light pressure to the scalp, and then pick the roller up at the end. You want to avoid going back and forth as you may snag some hairs in the roller. Go over the whole scalp front-to-back in lines, rerolling over each area 2-3 times in the same direction.
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.
You will want to comb any hair in the direction of the roller’s motion before starting to help things go smoother.
At this point, you can stop microneedling, or you can use the same technique to go over the scalp diagonally.
For anyone with relatively long hair, you may want to use the technique of parting your hair to expose a line of scalp in your part and brush the hair down straight, then rolling side to side across the part to avoid tangling the hair, all the way down to the end.
Then, you can re-part the hair an inch or so to the side and redo the microneedling side-to-side motion. Continue parting the hair and microneedling until the majority of the scalp has been microneedled.
If at any point your scalp is feeling painful and irritated, stop and apply pressure more gently next time.
After you are done microneedling, you will want to apply a calming and soothing lotion all over the scalp.
If you are currently using topical hair loss medications, you may be able to apply them as well. Ask your doctor when they would recommend applying your specific topical medication after microneedling. Do not apply lotions to open wounds.
What size microneedle for hair loss?
You can find microneedles with needle lengths anywhere from 0.2mm all the way up to 2.5mm.
And, it is important to make sure to choose the right length before you start using one on your scalp.
The very short needles, like 0.2mm, are more likely to be used on the face to help with things like scarring, fine lines, and skin regeneration, but you may need something slightly longer for the scalp in order to get through any hair or scalp buildup that may be present.
For scalp microneedling, you often see needle lengths of 0.5mm to 1.5mm, although you should leave the longer lengths to the professionals.
0.5mm is a good starting point for scalp microneedling at home when done carefully. Try to find a microneedler that is made for the scalp, instead of for the face.
How often to microneedle for hair loss?
Experts recommend starting off microneedling the scalp once a week for the first month, then twice a week for the second month. After that, you can switch to microneedling just once a month for overall maintenance.
Listen to your scalp, and if your scalp seems irritated or it is still healing from using too much pressure previously, do not microneedle that day.
If you can’t seem to get it right, go see a professional for microneedling treatments.
What are the side effects or complications of microneedling?
These microneedles will be slightly puncturing your skin, so you need to take extra care to ensure that your microneedler is very clean.
Before each treatment, be sure to clean and disinfect to prevent infections. For this reason, you should also never share a microneedler with another person.
After microneedling, it is normal to see a slight pinkness or redness to the skin, or to feel a little inflammation, itching, or stinging.
However, if your scalp is feeling very irritated, is bleeding, or very inflamed, the pressure was too much or the needle was too long.
See a doctor if pain, inflammation, or infection occurs with microneedling. Bruising, oozing, redness, and swelling can also occur.
Not everyone is the best candidate for microneedling for hair loss. Women who are pregnant should not microneedle.
Also, people who are on blood thinners or who have hemophilia may bleed too much with microneedling and should avoid this procedure.
Those who have conditions like diabetes that may inhibit proper wound healing should also avoid microneedling.
microneedling for hair loss needle size
It’s no secret that microneedling is fantastic for staving off the ageing process of the skin – but did you know that it’s also an amazing treatment in the fight against hair loss and thinning hair?
Today we explore all things microneedling for hair loss.
Why do we lose hair?
Hair loss is something that impacts many people, and there can be a multitude of reasons. Some of the most common reasons for hair loss or hair thinning include:
How can hair loss be treated?
Hair health relies on scalp health – and as the scalp is part of your skin, it responds much the same as skin elsewhere on the face and body. For a healthy scalp, you need to maintain a healthy diet rich in nutrients (including essential fatty acids), get adequate rest and plenty of sleep.Of course, not all hair loss is related to lifestyle, and some types of hair loss may require additional treatment modalities to recover.
Microneedling is an excellent choice for those who wish to boost their hair loss treatment, to slow the spread of hair thinning or for those who want to improve their overall scalp health.
What types of hair loss can microneedling treat?
Hair loss can be notoriously tricky to treat, as there are many causes and factors.
However, dermatologists believe that microneedling shows promising results in treating hair loss such as that caused by traction alopecia (caused by frequent pulling of the hair), alopecia areata (where the immune system attacks hair follicles), and telogen effluvium (excess hair shedding due to stress).
How does microneedling work to treat hair loss?
Microneedling works on the skin by creating micro-injuries known as microchannels. These microchannels allow for skincare products to penetrate deeply into the skin, and also triggers the skin’s trauma healing response.
When the skin perceives an injury, its response is to produce more collagen and elastin. This is why microneedling is also known as Collagen Induction Therapy. In skincare, this healing response allows for the skin’s appearance to be rejuvenated with anti-ageing effects.
Did you know: Collagen is most well-known as a protein for helping your skin look younger, but it’s also essential for hair health. When it comes to microneedling for hair loss, the effects work in a very similar way as they do on our face.
This is because similar to our skin elsewhere, the skin on our scalp also loses collagen as we age. This can result in slow hair growth and passive hair follicles.Collagen and hair follicles exist within the same layer of the skin (the derms), and when collagen production naturally slows down at around age 30, this can affect the strength of your hair follicles.
Microneedling for hair loss
Microchannels are created on the scalp where the hair follicles sit. The microchannels then generate a rise in growth factors (including collagen) produced naturally by the skin, which causes an increase in hair production.Microneedling also exfoliates the surface of the scalp, resulting in a deep cleansing action that removes product build-up (such as that of hair sprays) which can suffocate the hair follicles and prevent new growth. The microneedling process also stimulates the scalp, which can help to trigger the growth of new hair and the strengthening of existing follicles. Microneedling brings blood flow to the scalp and stimulates the production of nutrients, which results in an overall healthier scalp – so even if your hair loss or hair thinning is minimal, your scalp health will still benefit. You’ll notice thicker, stronger hair overall.
How do I microneedle my scalp at home?
Microneedling the scalp for hair growth can be performed many different ways. You may wish to start gently with a derma roller, which is used by gently rolling the barrel across the scalp. If you wish to microneedle at a greater depth or with a little more power, you might instead opt to use a microneedling pen. Microneedling pens are motorised and with variable needle speeds and depths, give you greater options for your specific needs.TIP: Not sure whether to go with a derma roller or microneedling pen to treat hair loss? Be sure to check with your healthcare practitioner to assess the best fit for your needs.If you need help choosing the right device, you can also free to call us at any time, and our VIP Beauty Advisor will be happy to assist you!
When microneedling your scalp at home, we suggest wetting your hair down first to create a flat surface, and parting it into sections so you can keep track of where you’ve already rolled/needled.
Move your derma roller or microneedling pen in one direction, to avoid your hair getting tangled in the process.
For microneedling the scalp, we recommend using a needle depth of 1.5mm as this will best penetrate through hair and scalp buildup.
How frequently should I microneedle my scalp at home to treat hair loss or thinning hair?
To start with, we suggest microneedling your scalp once a week for the first month, then twice a week in the second month. After that, you can move back down to microneedling your scalp once a month to maintain your results.
This is the suggested treatment schedule for general use, as it allows for the healing process of the scalp to complete fully, so you can accurately gauge your results.
Remember, this is a general guide only so to achieve the best results for your specific hair loss needs, please check with your healthcare professional.
What does microneedling the scalp feel like?
Your scalp may feel a little irritated or tender after microneedling, and just like microneedling the face, your scalp may experience some redness.
Your hair will generally hide any redness. Aftercare Tip: If you are spending time outdoors, be sure to also take precaution by covering your scalp with a hat to protect it from harmful UV rays whilst it recovers and heals from the microneedling process!
You can calm the area by applying a little oil or a serum. We recommend using Femvy Hair Growth Serum, which will calm the area, balance the production of sebum and stimulate the follicles, aiding the process of increasing hair growth.
The protein and keratin bonds that form your hair strands need moisture to retain their strength and elasticity – but too much moisture can overwhelm your scalp and make it feel greasy.
Our Hair Growth Serum’s unique formulation deeply nourishes the scalp and hair, without stimulating an overproduction of oil, giving your scalp the perfect balance of moisture and strength.
How do I know if microneedling my scalp is right for me?
If you’ve got questions, that’s understandable! It can be overwhelming knowing where to start when it comes to microneedling for hair loss.
Why not join our VIP Private Facebook Support Group, or give us a call and speak one on one to our in-house Beauty Advisor. We’re here for you! And please don’t forget, always double-check any new treatments with your healthcare professional, as they’ll be able to advise you on the best option for your specific needs.