Should you derma roll before or after Minoxidil? While neither option is essentially incorrect, it is most common to derma roll before using Minoxidil. That is because the derma roller creates tiny puncture wounds in the scalp, which help increase the absorption of topical medication.
Use of Minoxidil and Dermaroller together
Ideally, it advised using minoxidil after 20-30mins of dermarollers use. As when you use Dermaroller it open ups micropores on your scalp. Sometimes using Minoxidil immediately after roller might cause irritation.
The present 12-week study showed that dermaroller along with Minoxidil treated group was statistically superior to Minoxidil treated group in promoting hair growth in men with AGA for all 3 primary efficacy measures of hair count and patient/investigator assessment of hair growth/scalp coverage.
Men may use the 5% minoxidil foam twice a day while women should only apply once a day. Applying minoxidil at least two hours before bedtime allows the scalp to dry fully, which can help prevent minoxidil from being spread to another part of your body as you sleep.
"Dermarolling/microneedling the scalp before applying minoxidil creates microtrauma that activates the body's natural healing pathways, increases blood flow, and creates microchannels in the skin that may enhance the absorption of minoxidil or other topically applied products," says Dr. Bauman.
Do not shampoo your hair for 4 hours after applying minoxidil. Immediately after using this medicine, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them. Do not use a hairdryer to dry the scalp after you apply minoxidil solution. Blowing with a hairdryer on the scalp may make the treatment less effective.
The use of microneedling in combination with topical minoxidil in the treatment of AGA demonstrated superior regrowth compared to minoxidil monotherapy. In this pilot study, following 3 weekly sessions of microneedling, 66% of subjects presented an increased follicular sulfotransferase enzymatic activity.
Minoxidil has other effects that could be bothersome for some patients. These include increased hair growth, weight gain, fast heartbeat, and chest pain. Before you take this medicine, be sure that you have discussed the use of it with your doctor.
Minoxidil probably absorbs better when applied after the scalp is washed and is still a bit warm.
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.
You may apply 5% Minoxidil immediately after showering in the morning on a dry scalp, but allow it to absorb for at least two to three hours before showering again, swimming or participating in heavy physical activity that would cause you to sweat profusely.
Minoxidil liquid may be more irritating than the foam, but it can allow for more targeted application. The foam dries faster and doesn't drip as much. You can save money on topical minoxidil by using a free GoodRx coupon with a prescription.
In a word, yes, though with a few important caveats, according to the experts we spoke with. “While minoxidil is not technically approved by the FDA for use on areas other than the scalp, with professional guidance it could be viable to use on brows,” says Dr. Ziering.
Yes. Don't worry if you accidentally skip one day of application; it probably won't have a dramatic effect on your results. However, skipping minoxidil application regularly is likely to mean worse results, so it's best to avoid this where possible.
Contraindications include the following: Minoxidil should not be used in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to the drug or its constituents, including propylene glycol. The utilization of minoxidil is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
It may cause weight gain due to water retention in the body.
Minoxidil. This is the only over-the-counter medication for hair loss approved by the FDA for use by both men and women. It won't rescue a receding hairline.
Early stages of treatment
Within 2-4 months, hair shedding starts to decrease as the medication begins working to grow new hair. Some people may also experience minor scalp irritation like flaking, redness or itching when beginning Minoxidil treatment. Using the foam version instead of the liquid solution can help.
The combination of minoxidil and retinol additively promoted hair growth in hair follicle organ cultures. In addition, minoxidil plus retinol more effectively elevated phosphorylated Erk, phosphorylated Akt levels, and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio than minoxidil alone in DPCs and HaCaT.