Microneedling for Hair Loss: What to Expect from the Treatment

If you’re grappling with hair loss, you’re not alone. It’s a concern that millions around the globe share, and the quest for effective solutions is never-ending. One treatment that’s been making waves recently is microneedling. But what exactly is it, and what can you expect from it?

Microneedling, a minimally invasive procedure, has been lauded for its potential in hair regrowth. But before you dive in, it’s essential to understand what the journey entails. In this article, we’ll demystify microneedling for hair loss, giving you a clear picture of what to anticipate.

From the procedure itself to the results and possible side effects, we’ll leave no stone unturned. So, if you’re considering microneedling as a potential solution for your hair loss, stick around. You’re about to get a wealth of information that could be a game-changer in your hair restoration journey.

Understanding Hair Loss and Potential Causes

In this section, we’ll delve deeper into the complex world of hair loss, unearthing its causes and understanding how it transpires.

The Science of Hair Growth

Understanding hair loss necessitates an understanding of how hair grows. Each strand of hair on your head grows from a tiny pocket in the skin, known as a follicle. Hair growth occurs in cycles — anagen (growth phase), catagen (transition phase), and telogen (resting phase). In the anagen phase, which lasts 2-7 years on average, hair cells multiply rapidly, leading to new hair growth. The catagen phase is a short transitional period that lasts about 2-3 weeks, during which the hair follicle shrinks. Hair enters the resting or telogen phase, which lasts about 3 months, and is eventually shed and replaced by new hair.

Shedding 50-100 hairs per day is normal; it’s when the shedding exceeds this range that thinning or baldness occurs. Additionally, if the anagen phase shortens or the telogen phase lengthens, hair loss may occur.

Major Factors Contributing to Hair Loss

Hair loss or alopecia could be a result of numerous factors, so let’s examine some of them:

Genetics: Quite often, hair loss runs in families. Known as androgenetic alopecia, this form exhibits as thinning hair along the top of the head and a receding hairline in men and overall hair thinning for women.

Hormonal Changes: Conditions such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems can cause temporary or permanent hair loss.

Medical Conditions: Certain diseases, including alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss), scalp infections like ringworm, and a hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania, can lead to hair loss.

Medications and Supplements: Hair loss can also be a side effect of certain drugs used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure.

Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of sufficient protein, iron, and other nutrients can affect hair health and lead to hair loss.

Hair Treatments and Styling: Some hair treatments, such as hair straightening procedures, coloring products, and hairstyles that pull your hair tight, like pigtails or cornrows, can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia.

Defeating hair loss begins with understanding its causes. In the next sections, we’ll dive into potential hair loss treatments, microneedling being one of them, and what to expect from them.

An Introduction to Microneedling

Microneedling is a recognized player in the line-up of hair loss treatments. This section delves into understanding microneedling and traces the advent and growth of this popular method.

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling, plainly put, is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. It involves pricking the skin with tiny sterilized needles. By creating small wounds or “micro-injuries,” it prompts the body’s healing ability. This reset boosts collagen production, vital in tissue regeneration. Though it’s commonly for facial rejuvenation, microneedling fits well in triaging hair loss.

The History and Evolution of Microneedling

The journey of microneedling dates back to 1905, with Ernest Kromayer, a German dermatologist, pioneering a needling technique for skin conditions. It’s been a slow but steady climb with marked milestones.

In 1995, needle-dermabrasion got recognition, and in 2000, Desmond Fernandes, a plastic surgeon, innovated a needling instrument for collagen induction therapy. Today, microneedling is an acclaimed procedure adopted in hair loss treatments, all thanks to its versatility, affordability, and limited downtime.

Microneedling for Hair Loss: The Medical Theory

Delving into the realm of hair loss treatments, let’s unlock the medical theory behind microneedling.

How Microneedling Stimulates Hair Growth

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, contributes to hair growth by invoking the body’s natural healing mechanism. The procedure involves pricking the scalp with tiny sterile needles, causing minor injuries in the skin. The body responds to these punctures by healing the areas, thus encouraging cell regeneration and hair growth.

Strategically, microneedling induces an inflammation reaction, leading to the release of growth factors that stimulate the growth phase in a hair’s life cycle, known as the anagen phase. Evidence from studies support this, indicating that miconeedling introduces bioactive stimulations that upshift the dynamics from the resting phase, known as the telogen phase, to the anagen phase, thus promoting hair growth.

The Role of Microneedling in Collagen Production

A significant part of microneedling’s effectiveness in hair regrowth links directly to its role in collagen production. As a potent factor in wound healing, collagen is essential for maintaining the strength, elasticity and integrity of our hair. When needles penetrate the skin during microneedling, they create micro-injuries. These injuries start the body’s injury response, triggering the release of various proteins, growth factors and cytokines, which together contribute to new collagen synthesis.

Interestingly, microneedling creates a unique situation. It creates damage without causing scars since it doesn’t remove the existing collagen fibers in the skin. In response, the body ups its game in collagen production. The end result? A denser network of collagen and elastin fibers, creating an environment more receptive for hair regrowth. This explains why microneedling is an increasingly popular procedure in hair loss treatments today.

What to Expect from a Microneedling Treatment

Coming from a discussion on hair loss treatments, and delving into the microneedling technique, let’s break down the entire treatment process, from preparation to post-treatment after-effects and care.

Preparing for a Microneedling Treatment

As I prepare for a microneedling session, it’s crucial to keep my scalp clean and avoid applying any hair products on the treatment day. It’s advised to wash my hair on the day of, ensuring no product residue is left. I should avoid drinking alcohol or consuming aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications for the 24 hours preceding the treatment, as these can increase bleeding and bruising risks.

The Microneedling Treatment Process

During the microneedling treatment, a professional uses a handheld device equipped with tiny needles. The device is then rolled over my scalp, creating micro-injuries that trigger the body’s healing response.

This prompt triggers collagen production in my scalp, which is proven beneficial for promoting hair growth. The length of each session can vary depending on my scalp’s area being treated, but generally, the process can take anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes.

Post-Treatment: Immediate After-effects and Care

Immediately after the microneedling treatment, my scalp might show signs of redness or slight swelling, which is normal. Any discomfort typically subsides within a couple of hours, and taking over-the-counter pain relief, if needed, is usually enough to alleviate this minor discomfort. For post-treatment care, it’s necessary to avoid harsh hair products or heat styling tools for at least a week, to allow the scalp to recover fully, and optimize the hair re-growth process. Regular follow-up treatments, typically every 4-6 weeks, are essential to maximizing results.