Medication questions Treatment and getting started

Does microneedling help minoxidil work?

Short answer

Some small trials suggest adding microneedling to topical minoxidil may increase hair counts more than minoxidil alone, but the studies are short, mostly small and were run under study conditions. Rolling needles over your scalp at home carries risks such as irritation, infection and reactions to products pushed into the skin. Speak to a clinician before trying it.

A person sitting on a yellow chair holding a smartphone in both hands

Key facts

Dhurat 2013: 100 men, 12 weeks, weekly microneedling plus 5% minoxidil vs minoxidil alone.
Meta-analyses of 10 to 12 small trials suggest higher hair counts with the combination.
Side effects with microneedling were more frequent but mostly mild in trials.
Home microneedling has been linked to infection and reactions to applied products.

What microneedling is

Microneedling uses a roller, stamp or pen covered in fine needles to make many tiny punctures in the skin. The idea is that this controlled injury triggers healing and growth signals, and may also help substances applied to the skin get in more easily. Home "dermarollers" are widely sold, often marketed alongside minoxidil.

The Dhurat 2013 study

The study most often quoted is a randomised, evaluator-blinded pilot study by Dhurat and colleagues, published in 2013. It recruited 100 men with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia. One group had weekly microneedling plus twice-daily 5% minoxidil lotion; the other used 5% minoxidil lotion alone. Hair was counted in a fixed, tattoo-marked 1 cm² area at the start and after 12 weeks.

The mean increase in hair count at 12 weeks was 91.4 in the microneedling group and 22.2 in the minoxidil-only group, and both investigators and patients rated the combined group's results more highly.

It is worth reading this carefully. It was a pilot study, it lasted only 12 weeks, only the evaluators were blinded, and there was no sham (pretend) microneedling group, so participants knew which treatment they had.

What reviews of the trials found

Two systematic reviews have pooled the randomised trials of microneedling plus minoxidil compared with minoxidil alone:

Abdi and colleagues, 2023: 10 trials with 466 patients, 8 combined in a meta-analysis. The combination increased total hair count, but the increase in hair thickness was not statistically significant. No scarring or serious adverse events were reported.

Ahmed and colleagues, 2025: 12 trials with 631 patients. The combination increased hair count and hair diameter. Adverse events were more frequent with microneedling (74 versus 59), though generally mild or self-limiting.

These are promising signals, but the trials are mostly small and short. They were carried out in study settings, which is not the same as using a device at home.

The risks of microneedling at home

A 2021 systematic review of microneedling side effects found it is relatively safe when done properly, with expected redness, pain, swelling and temporary irritation. More serious problems have been reported:

Reactions to products: a 2014 report described facial granulomas (lumps of inflamed tissue) after microneedling, linked to topical products applied around the procedure, and warned that home access to devices is a concern.

Infection: a 2018 case report described a viral skin infection spread across the face by a home microneedling roller.

There is a specific point for minoxidil users. The Regaine leaflet warns that minoxidil is more likely to get into the bloodstream if it is overused or if there is a scalp condition, and the SmPC says not to use it on an abnormal or damaged scalp. Applying minoxidil to freshly punctured skin is therefore not something to try without advice. Our page on scalp irritation covers the more common local reactions.

Our view

WMG Meds does not provide microneedling. If you are using or considering topical minoxidil and want to add microneedling, talk to your prescriber or a dermatologist first, and never use needles on a scalp that is broken, infected or inflamed. Results vary, and none of these approaches works for everyone.

If you would like a doctor to review your current routine, including anything you do at home, the free online assessment asks about it. You can also ask us a question before you start.

Want an answer for your own situation?

A GMC-registered doctor can review your history and medicines and tell you what would suit you, including whether treatment is right for you at all. The assessment and review are free.

Start your free assessment →

Sources

Facts checked against these sources on 4 October 2026. This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Read our editorial policy.

Keep reading

Male pattern hair lossCondition guide Oral vs topical minoxidil: what is the difference?Question answered Does ketoconazole shampoo help hair loss?Question answered How long does minoxidil take to work?Question answered Is hair loss treatment available on the NHS?Question answered How can I tell if my hair loss treatment is working?Question answered What happens in an online hair loss consultation?Question answered Topical minoxidil and scalp irritation and itchingSide effect guide Minoxidil topical solutionMedicine information Androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss)Glossary

All medication questions →

Your situation is not a general answer

Ask a doctor, not a forum

A general guide cannot account for your history, your other medicines or what matters to you. Our GMC-registered doctors review all of that before recommending anything, and the assessment and review are free.

Start your free assessment → How it works 020 3239 3378