Q&A: Guidelines, benefits of using derma roller for hair loss treatment

Key takeaways:

• Derma rolling allows topical hair loss medications to penetrate deeper into the scalp for better results.
• According to Ben Behnam, MD, FAAD, ‘anyone with male or female hair loss should use a derma roller.’

Derma rollers have been around since the early 1900s and have been used to treat a variety of skin conditions from acne scars to fine lines and wrinkles.

Only relatively recently have researchers discovered that derma rollers can also be used on the scalp to increase the effectiveness of topical hair loss medications.

This product’s versatility has caused its popularity to surge, with its market expected to grow by $88.53 million from 2021 to 2026.

Ben Behnam

While derma rollers were previously used by dermatologists exclusively, patients are now using this tool themselves.

Healio spoke to Ben Behnam, MD, FAAD, cofounder of Happy Head, about the benefits and guidelines for using derma rollers in the treatment of hair loss so that dermatologists can both take advantage of this tool and educate their patients on safe derma rolling practices.

Healio: How does a derma roller increase the efficacy of hair growth medications?

Behnam: When you derma roll, you create these small channels throughout the skin, serving as a medication delivery mechanism. It allows the medications to penetrate deeper into the scalp and get better results. Minoxidil is the most common medication paired with a derma roller micro needling.

Healio: What studies have supported the use of derma rollers?

Behnam: There was a study back in 2013 called “A randomized evaluator blinded study of effect of microneedling in androgenetic alopecia: A pilot study.” Basically, what they did in this study was they had patients in two groups, one group was just topical minoxidil, and the other group did derma rolling along with minoxidil. And what they realized was that the derma roller, along with the minoxidil group, had statistically significant superior results in improving hair growth compared with the group that only did minoxidil without the derma roller.

And actually, specifically in the micro-needling group, 82% of patients reported more than a 50% improvement vs. only 4.5% of patients in the group that only did minoxidil without the microneedling. So, the result was significantly better in the microneedling group.

Healio: What medications would you pair with derma roller?

Behnam: Typically, you should pair topical minoxidil, but in this case we do recommend doing Happy Head which is minoxidil combined with finasteride and retinoic acid.

Healio: What regiment with the derma roller would you prescribe to patients?

Behnam: We typically tell patients to apply the topical medication first and then use the derma roll on top. It causes those channels in the skin and penetrates the medication more into the scalp.

Healio: Who should use the derma roller?

Behnam: In my opinion, I think anyone with male or female pattern hair loss should use a derma roller. Most patients use the derma roller once a week or twice a week, and it depends on the depth of the microneedling. We typically recommend using a 0.5 mm depth and doing it every night. Please do not apply a lot of pressure and don’t make the scalp bleed.

Healio: What else should dermatologists know about derma rolling?

Behnam: Derma rolling is very effective. However, I know a lot of patients who want to use a much deeper roll depth, such as a 1.5 mm, but I typically don’t recommend that on a regular basis because I think patients can damage their own scalp if they use an aggressive one.

Instead, my recommendation is to use a low-depth roller and use it in conjunction with topical minoxidil or topical Happy Head and they will see better results.

I personally use a derma roller after doing a platelet-rich plasma procedure. I have seen a lot of doctors who don’t do that and that it does not lead to great results. So definitely pair your platelet-rich plasma procedures with the roller as well.

References:

• Derma rollers market size to grow by USD 88.53 million from 2021 to 2026; North America to account for 38% of the market growth – Technavio. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/derma-rollers-market-size-to-grow-by-usd-88-53-million-from-2021-to-2026-north-america-to-account-for-38-of-the-market-growth---technavio-301793231.html. Published April 11, 2023. Accessed June 26, 2023.
• Dhurat R, et al. Int J Trichology. 2013;doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114700.

For more information:

Ben Behnam, MD, FAAD, can be reached at help@happyhead.com.