An interesting study about regrowing hair and microneedling

[Guest LizMarie]

A randomized evaluator blinded study of effect of microneedling in androgenetic alopecia shows interesting promise for those with hair loss but who are seeing some regrowth with minoxidil.

The study appears to suggest that, at least in some patients, weekly microneedling of the scalp, coupled with twice daily applications of 5% minoxidil (the usual strength and application regiment suggested for male pattern baldness) can produce as many as 4 times as many hairs per square centimeter as using minoxidil alone.

Since I've had some success with minoxidil and my HRT regimen thus far, I've decided to get a dermaroller and give this a try. Maybe in 6 months to a year I'll have some interesting results to report.

[Carolyn Marie]

"Microneedling" eh? Sounds like a cross between what I used to do to aggravate my brother when we were kids, and stitching a tapestry on the head of a pin.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest GinaInside]

That device looks painful, will be interesting to see if it helps.

[Guest LizMarie]

Dermarollers are also used on facial skin for women to stimulate collagen development and reduce wrinkles. I believe that's where they were first applied.

[Guest DianeATL]

Interesting - keep us posted on your results. I am scheduling to get a FUE hair transplant which should help a lot but a little more couldn't hurt.

Diane

[Guest Kaylee]

I all,

Not mu post, but I do have some results. Definite results. I saw this post, and because I was pretty deficient in the hair department, thought I would give the micro needling a try. It cost me only $22 on amazon. I also use the "nioxin" shampoo and conditioner. not cheap... but it's important to me.

I am only at about the 6 month marker, and for sure, I can see a difference! Surprisingly... a difference in my hairline! Surprise! It's not a mess load of hair as of yet... and it may never be, but for sure... my hair line has moved forwards. (rogain is supposed to be for male pattern balding only, but since everyone is different, I'm trying it everywhere).

Can I say for sure that it is because of the micro needling... no. But with real results that I can finally see... it's soooo... soooooo oooo oooo... worth the money.

As a note, the needling doesn't particularly hurt... but then everyone is different.

Sooo with it!

Yay,

Kaylee

[Guest LizMarie]

As a followup to this, I am seeing slow but steady increases in hair. Before HRT began I was clearly a Norwood 7. If you don't know how bad that is, go look it up.

Before I started microneedling I'd been using Minoxidil with minimal results. A recent chat with a hair restoration specialist says I am now "almost" a Norwood 5. He said if I can reach a solid Norwood 5 or even 4, I would become a great candidate for hair transplants. Right now I am still a mediocre candidate but before my hair loss was so bad I was not a candidate at all.

I am going to try to also add a PRP + Matristem ACell scalp treatment (stimulates stem cells in the scalp) at some future point but when will depend on finances.

[Guest ashleynikole]

Wow!!!

To think I hated being a Norwood Type 3. I know I don't have it bad, but even Dr. Spiegal said what would be best for me is to pull it forward as much as possible and then see about transplanting the difference to fill in the temples. I can't imagine having it worse. Glad you girls are getting results before having to put out "serious" money.

Good luck

Ashley

[Guest LizMarie]

As a general rule, most transwomen are better served with bangs than not. FFS can help greatly with that though and allow pulling the hair back if you have the hair to do so, of course.

As someone with extreme hair loss (most of it occurred within a few months while I was undergoing chemotherapy in 1996), and whose family has no evidence of much hair loss on either side of the family going back at least 4 generations, I suspect that most of my damage was from the chemo. So did one hair restoration specialist with whom I spoke hence the intent to undergo a PRP + Matristem ACell scalp treatment when I can afford it.

My goal, as I said, is not to get all my hair back naturally. I'd love that but it's unrealistic. I know a few former LP posters who have had that occur but most of us with hair loss don't. We have to either wear wigs, hair pieces, or undergo transplants. So my goal is to get enough hair back that it will make transplants viable, and if I still have to wear bangs for that, I certainly will!

[Guest Cyndysub]

I have the male pattern baldness thingy and due to my T levels falling I now have hair sprouting in areas that hasn't seen any hair for a long time.

I am using the 5% Minoxidil and unless my glasses are failing me I am starting to see some fine hairs emerging on part of my bald spot. It will be interesting to see how this progresses for my bald area. I read somewhere that Retinol can help the body make more Hyaluronic Acid which makes for a more hydrated and healthy skin. Retinol also helps your skin to absorb Hyaluronic Acid more efficiently when applied topically. Hyaluronic Acid is the main ingredient in the better moisturizers.

Cyndy

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Hail the Gods, I am humbled by their gift of hair to me. I have always been real sensitive about my hair, and it was a huge source of gender dysphoria at various times, but especially when it started showing male pattern baldness. I am thus exceedingly grateful that my bald spot filled in, and my hairline is going forward a bit at a time, but definitely forward. I know that my hair loss wasn't huge compared to many to begin with, but it did eventually make me do something that I am not proud of (and won't ever try again). HRT is the only thing I am using, but I think that I have been lucky to repond really well on it. I will pray that you who need more help growing hair find something that really does the job. I seriously empathize with your plight.

loving hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest Cyndysub]

Thanks Stephanie, I also use Finasteride 5mg as well as Spironolactone and both of them are helping with my hair but in baby steps but those do add up.

Cyndy

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Hi Cyndi,

I have severe financial constraints, but I had tried minoxidil foam 5% (Rogaine), and also dutasteride (Avodart) in order to regrow hair. Both were effective to some extent, especially the Avodart, but I didn't have the money to continue them. When I could no longer get any Avodart, well, lets just say I kinda wasn't in a happy place. I am so fortunate that I met my friend Jennifer (she is trans, and now fully legally female), and she was able to hook me up with Tri-City Health to put me on MediCal, and HRT. She literally saved my life. I am on Spiro, and Estradiol (sub-lingual), but of course we can't discuss dosages here. However, I do think from research that Dutasteride is twice as effective as Finasteride (both are DHT blockers), but since it is not approved for hair loss by the FDA, it is hard to come by in the U.S. unless you can get a prescription to use it for BPH. I got it online, since I was bad girl. Spiro for me seems to be amazingly effective, and I am astonished at how much my hair has come back. I will have to pour a libation to the Gods again tonight in thanks. Good luck, and good hair!

hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest Cyndysub]

Thanks Stephanie,

I will look up Dutasteride and check it out. Like I said I am using Finasteride as well as minoxidil 5% and I now have very short and thicker growth than my current hair is. I am certainly hopeful. Yippee I am finally starting to feel some tenderness behind my nipples. Skip,Jump for Joy,and giddy,Hee Hee.

Huggs

Cyndy

[Guest LizMarie]

My own response to microneedling has been minimal though it's clear there was a response. It's just not enough to matter, at least not yet.

Please remember that male pattern baldness comes from testosterone via a testosterone by-product called DHT. Remove the testosterone and the DHT levels collapse.

[Guest Cyndysub]

I have my fingers and toes crossed and hope that I can have enough hair to use even if some clever styling is needed to keep from going the wig route.

[Guest LizMarie]

You also have the option of hair transplants if your hair loss is not extreme (like mine). If yours is simply a receding hairline, some thinning, or a smaller bald patch in back, all of that can be repaired with hair transplants to yield a completely natural looking and acceptable head of hair.

That is my own goal - to regrow enough that the remainder can be repaired by a hair restoration specialist. I'm not there yet but I'm in better shape than I was two years ago.

[Guest GinaInside]

Will the microneedling help with thinning hair? Or is there anything known that will reverse such hair loss?

[Guest Cyndysub]

I found a very interesting link about hair and current research.

http://www.lifesciencelog.com/cluster620433540/

[Guest Kaylee]

Hi all,

It's been interesting reading the posts here, and where it works well for some... it does not for others. Truely... everyone IS different. While I have not been seen by a hair restoration specialist, I'd say I was certainty a class 5, very thin on the top, with a tuft in the front. While the pattern still bothers me... I'm growing instead of losing.

My question at this point is the effects of T. At day 64 on Estradiol, I have seen minimal changes. My Endo decided not to start me with an androgen blocker... and I wonder how much difference that would make in the Battle for Hair. I won't be resigned to a wig. I sweat like a farm animal in them unless it's winter time. It's restoration city or bust for me.

Yeah, this is where I'm tempted to write about the good olds days of hair half way down my back. . Ahhh... the good old days

Good luck to all in this venture!

Kaylee

[Guest LizMarie]

Kaylee, I would urge you to consider looking into getting a prescription for finasteride (called propecia when prescribed for hair loss). If you can manage it, get a prescription for generic finasteride in the higher dosage (not allowed to list dosages here). The lower dosage of propecia is really intended for males to avoid side effects. The higher finasteride dosage can cause loss of erections and growth of breast tissue. If I could get the higher dosage prescription, I sure would but I can't. At least not yet. I'm going to try this week though when I see my physician about other things.

I also urge combining finasteride with minoxidil applied externally. You can get expensive variants that are easier to apply or you can be cheap like me and get the 5% minoxidil solutions in a glycol solution that you rub into your scalp and hair. I can get 6 months of supply from Amazon for about $30 so I consider that very cheap.

Adding both finasteride and minoxidil, and microneedling your scalp one day a week should maximize whatever regrowth you can get from just drugs.

A reasonable expectation would be to get enough regrowth to make hair transplants viable and largely invisible. An exceptional result would be so much hair regrowth that you don't need transplants at all.

I was Norwood 7 and am more closely approaching Norwood 5 now, maybe still 6. I'd love to get to solidly Norwood 5 or even Norwood 4 if I could then do transplants to finish things. Or I may not and just have to accept what is. We'll see.