Therapeutic Effects of Growth Factor Cocktail Treatment in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia According to the Depth of Microneedle

Abstract

Background: Growth factor treatment in combination with microneedling in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) patients is safe and effective. However, there is a lack of studies examining the effect of treatment according to the depth of the microneedle. Objective: The aim was to evaluate differences in efficacy according to the depth of microneedle. Methods: This study was performed on 6 male and 5 female AGA patients who were treated with topical growth factor cocktail (GFC) with microneedling every 2 weeks for 3 months. The scalp was divided into right and left sides and treated with microneedle depths of 0.5 and 0.3 mm, respectively. GFC was topically applied using a microneedle medical device. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by phototrichogram and digital photograph analysis on 6 repeated treatments for 3 months. Results: Phototrichogram of the 0.5- and 0.3-mm-treated sides of the scalp showed 19 and 12 cm2 increase in hair density and 2.6- and 1.8-μm increase in hair diameter, respectively. These results were statistically significant (p＜ 0.05). In terms of density, the 0.5-mm depth was significantly more effective than the 0.3-mm depth (p＜0.05). With regard to diameter, the effect according to microneedle depth was not significantly different (p＞0.05). Conclusion: GFC treatment with microneedling is effective and safe and a microneedle depth of 0.5 mm appears to be more effective than that of 0.3 mm. More research is necessary to confirm these results and determine the most effective depth for microneedling by investigating various depths.