Microneedling is a type of cosmetic treatment that addresses various effects of aging. It’s also nicknamed skin needling because of its effects on increasing collagen production in the skin.

Microneedling involves the use of a skin roller with small needles that causes minor skin injuries.

While used as an anti-aging skin treatment, microneedling may also be a method of treatment for hair loss. There’s even evidence that it can help a special type of hair loss known as alopecia areata.

The same process of creating wounds in the skin is also thought to regenerate the health of the hair follicles. It’s thought that this can result in new hair growth, or perhaps, it may thicken thinning hair as seen in androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness.

Microneedling first gained its reputation as a scar treatment during the 1990s. Since then, it’s been studied as a potential alternative or adjunctive treatment for androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.

Aside from collagen production in the skin, which is thought to underlie one of the reasons it may be beneficial for acne scars, it’s thought that microneedling can also help induce stem cellsTrusted Source in the hair follicles that may lead to hair growth.

Microneedling may also promote the absorption of products used to treat your hair loss, such as:

• minoxidil (Rogaine)
• topical steroid
• platelet rich plasma

One studyTrusted Source in particular explored the potential benefits of microneedling when used with a topical corticosteroid to treat alopecia areata.

During microneedling, your healthcare provider uses a roller with needles on it.

The size of the needles can range from less than 1 millimeter to a few millimeters in length. They’re all contained in a handheld device. Also called a roller, the device is rolled along the treatment area, creating small injuries.

Some speculate that microneedling may provoke the release of factors that promote hair growth or perhaps directly stimulate hair growth as a result of the small injury caused.

Your healthcare provider will apply a topical anesthetic to your scalp about 45 minutes prior to treatment. This helps to reduce any pain you may feel.
The actual procedure time can vary based on the size of the treatment area, but it generally takes less than 10 minutes. After the scalp microneedling is completed, your healthcare provider may apply a topical balm to the area or perform an injection, depending on what the goal of the microneedling session is.