Can you use a Derma Roller with Minoxidil?

Monday, September 2, 2024

Hair loss affects around 85% of men over 50 and around one-third of women at some point in their lives (1)(2). Fortunately, minoxidil is an approved drug for treating hair loss in men and women. It is widely known for promoting hair regrowth—but few people know the potential benefits of combining minoxidil with a derma roller.

If you’ve been using minoxidil but aren’t satisfied with your results, using a derma roller alongside your current routine can speed up your progress. Here, we explore how to safely combine minoxidil and derma rolling and the science behind using these two hair loss treatments together.

What is Derma Rolling?

Derma rolling is a form of microneedling, a procedure that involves making micro-punctures on the skin’s surface with sterilised needles. These micro-injuries trigger the body’s natural healing process, leading to a significant increase in collagen and elastin production—up to 400% over six months (3).

This surge in collagen and elastin production makes micro-needling highly effective in reducing the appearance of scars, dark spots, and wrinkles. It’s commonly used to treat skin pigmentation disorders, acne scarring, stretch marks, and sun damage (4). More recently, repeated micro-needling has also been recognised for its ability to promote hair growth (5).

Derma rollers are a specific type of microneeding device. All variations of the Dermaroller device have a cylindrical roller covered in steel micro-needles that can be rolled across targeted areas (6). For example, when using a scalp roller for hair growth, the focus is on the scalp.

Do Derma Rollers work for hair loss?

Derma rolling may effectively stimulate hair growth by itself when used consistently. Research on mice found that derma rolling five times per week for three weeks enhanced the expression of genes involved in hair growth (5). However, most human research studies typically use a derma roller and minoxidil together—and the results across studies are impressive (7).

One study looked at 100 male patients with hair loss (8). Half the men were given a 12-week treatment of minoxidil, and the other half were given a combined plan of minoxidil and derma rolling. At the end of the study, 82% of men in the combined treatment group saw a 50% improvement in hair growth compared to 4.5% of men taking minoxidil alone.

Results in the combined treatment group were also seen more rapidly. Men using a derma roller with minoxidil saw noticeable hair growth in six weeks, compared to minoxidil-only patients waiting up to ten weeks to see results. Another study on men who weren’t responding to hair loss drugs also saw thicker hair and more regrowth after one month of derma rolling (9).

Options for using a Derma Roller and Minoxidil for hair loss

If you want to combine minoxidil with derma-rolling, you have two main options: having the procedure performed professionally at a clinic or using a derma roller at home.

Professional microneedling for hair growth

Professional microneedling is performed by trained specialists using advanced derma-rolling devices. These devices often have adjustable needle depths, allowing for more precise control and personalised treatments. It’s also a great option if you’ve never used a derma roller before, as you won’t need to learn how to perform the technique yourself.

The procedure typically involves cleansing the scalp, applying a numbing agent, and then using the micro-needling device to treat the scalp. Minoxidil can afterwards be applied to the target area. The skin micro-punctures enhance minoxidil absorption and effectiveness.

Using a Derma Roller at home for hair loss

Using a derma roller at home is more convenient and cost-effective than professional microneedling. You can incorporate the treatment into your routine without needing appointments, making it easy to add into your current routine. However, there is a risk of improper technique.

If you want to try derma-rolling at home, clean your scalp and gently roll the device across the area horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. It’s important not to roll over the target area too often, as this can cause irritation. Pressure should be firm but not hard enough to cause pain. Once the micro-needling is complete, you can apply minoxidil.

When using a derma roller at home, it’s important to thoroughly clean the device afterwards using 70% isopropyl alcohol to reduce the risk of infection. Alternatively, you can use Dermarollers with 0.2mm needles (the smallest available size) to minimise safety risks.

How to use Minoxidil after microneedling

Minoxidil scalp solution, also sold under the brand name Regaine, should always be applied after micro-needling. Rinse the scalp post-micro-needling and gently pat it dry using a clean towel. Then apply the 10 metered sprays (or fill the dropper if using Regaine) evenly to the areas where the hair is thinning, and rub gently.

For best results, apply minoxidil twice daily – and you don’t need to use the derma roller before every application. There is currently no “best practice” for how often to derma roll for hair loss treatment, but it’s recommended to limit derma rolling to once a week or once a month, depending on needle length and whether the procedure is done at home or in a clinic (10).

Minoxidil tablets for hair loss

An alternative to topical minoxidil is to take minoxidil tablets. These are an unlicensed medicine for hair loss, meaning many people are unaware of them as an option.

However, oral minoxidil is a safe and effective treatment that can encourage hair regrowth (11). These tablets are more convenient than sprays, serums, and foams, which people can struggle to apply consistently.

One of the challenges with topical treatments is absorption, which is where derma rolling comes in handy. It enhances the skin’s ability to absorb minoxidil. However, tablets deliver the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring more consistent delivery.

No studies have specifically examined the combination of minoxidil tablets and derma rolling for hair loss. While this combination could be promising—since derma rolling improves circulation and can promote hair growth independently—more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness as a combination therapy.

Other alternative treatments for hair loss

If derma rolling isn’t quite for you, another option is to use topical minoxidil solutions that contain other active ingredients, such as finasteride, minoxidil, and tretinoin spray. Combined, finasteride and minoxidil are more effective at improving hair thickness than minoxidil alone, and tretinoin is known to enhance the effectiveness of minoxidil for hair loss (12)(13).

These multi-ingredient solutions can improve absorption without derma-rolling and promote better results. However, they are only suitable for males and must be applied once daily, making them less convenient than minoxidil tablets.

At Oxford Online Pharmacy, we provide a wide range of hair loss treatments privately, including prescription medicines like oral Minoxidil via the online doctor.