Current evidence for scalp microneedling in hair loss comes mainly from combination protocols in adults with pattern hair loss. A 24-week randomized trial in 60 Chinese men found that clinic-administered electrodynamic microneedling plus topical 5% minoxidil produced a larger hair-density improvement than 5% minoxidil alone (p=0.002) Randomized trial of electrodynamic microneedle combined with 5% minoxidil topical solution for the treatment of Chinese male Androgenetic alopecia. A network meta-analysis of 27 trials (1,110 adults with pattern hair loss) ranked 5% minoxidil plus microneedling highest for 24-week hair-density improvement Relative Effects of Minoxidil 5%, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Microneedling in Pattern Hair Loss: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. These are combination results; they do not show that microneedling alone outperforms minoxidil.
Key takeaways
- A 24-week randomized trial in 60 Chinese men with androgenetic alopecia found microneedling plus 5% minoxidil produced greater hair-density improvement than 5% minoxidil alone (p=0.002); the trial used clinic-administered electrodynamic microneedling.
- A network meta-analysis of 27 trials (1,110 adults with pattern hair loss) ranked 5% minoxidil plus microneedling highest for 24-week hair-density improvement, above minoxidil, PRP, and microneedling monotherapies.
- These results describe combination treatment; they do not establish that microneedling monotherapy is superior to minoxidil.
- Evidence for microneedling alone is more limited and less consistent than for combination with minoxidil.
- Findings do not extend to home devices, Biomaser products, or separate conclusions for women.
The randomized trial in Chinese men
In a 24-week randomized evaluator-blinded trial of 60 Chinese males with androgenetic alopecia, microneedling combined with topical 5% minoxidil produced a larger mean hair-density improvement than 5% minoxidil alone (p=0.002) Randomized trial of electrodynamic microneedle combined with 5% minoxidil topical solution for the treatment of Chinese male Androgenetic alopecia. The registered scope is adult Chinese males with clinic-administered electrodynamic microneedling over 24 weeks. The finding does not extend to women, home devices, or a claim that microneedling monotherapy is superior to minoxidil.
The network meta-analysis
A network meta-analysis of 27 trials (1,110 adults with pattern hair loss) ranked 5% minoxidil plus microneedling highest (SUCRA 95.8%) for total hair-density improvement at 24 weeks and found it significantly better than minoxidil, PRP, or microneedling monotherapies Relative Effects of Minoxidil 5%, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Microneedling in Pattern Hair Loss: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. This applies to adults with pattern hair loss; it is not a male-only population finding, and it does not claim microneedling monotherapy outperforms minoxidil.
Microneedling alone
Microneedling alone may improve hair regrowth in androgenetic alopecia, but the supporting evidence is more limited and less consistent than for combination with minoxidil A Randomized Evaluator Blinded Study of Effect of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study. This page does not present microneedling alone as equal to or better than minoxidil.
Women
Adding microneedling to topical minoxidil has not been shown to add benefit in women with androgenetic alopecia, as reported in one randomized trial via secondary reporting Microneedling Adds No Benefit to Topical Minoxidil in Women with AGA (news report). This is a single reported trial with secondary reporting; no separate female-population conclusion is drawn here.
Evidence limits
- Results come from combination protocols in registered populations (adult Chinese males in the trial; adults with pattern hair loss in the network meta-analysis).
- Combination outcomes are not evidence that microneedling monotherapy is superior to minoxidil.
- No finding extends to home-use devices, Biomaser MTS products, or women as a separate population conclusion.
- For who should not have the procedure, see the contraindications overview.
Frequently asked questions
Does microneedling alone regrow hair better than minoxidil? No. The registered evidence does not show microneedling monotherapy outperforms minoxidil; the strongest findings are for microneedling combined with 5% minoxidil.
Does this evidence apply to women? No separate conclusion for women is drawn. One randomized trial, reported secondarily, has not shown added benefit from adding microneedling to topical minoxidil in women.
Does this page apply to home microneedling devices? No. The registered trials used clinic-administered electrodynamic microneedling; findings do not extend to home-use devices or Biomaser products.
For education, not as medical advice: check with a qualified clinician about your own hair loss and always follow the device's instructions-for-use.