Category Archives: Wounding

Skin Regeneration, Wound Healing and Hair Growth

The most “natural” way of regrowing lost hair is via wounding or intentional injury. Hence the massive popularity of at-home microneedling and dermarolling for hair growth.

However, no-one truly understands the biology of wound healing spurred new hair follicle growth. We have been waiting for 15 years for Follica to come through.

Update: March 2023 — In vivo reprogramming of wound-resident cells generates skin with hair.

Update: February 2022 — Another interesting new study titled “Cellular Memories: More Than Skin Deep.” Co-author is Dr. George Cotsarelis.

June 21, 2021

Hair Follicle Mesenchymal Activity During Wounding Healing

I am updating this post because an important new study on wound healing and hair follicle mesenchymal stem cell activity was published in June 2021. The Israeli researchers behind this paper concluded the following:

“During wound healing, dermal papilla (DP) and dermal sheath (DS) cells move towards the wound, but do not directly participate in follicle neogenesis.”

They further elaborate that follicle neogenesis during wound healing is a genuine de-novo process. The new follicle formation does not rely on any preexisting components from preexisting follicles.

October 24, 2020

Wound Healing and Hair Follicle Growth

Two recent papers published important new findings in regards to wound healing and skin regeneration.

Wound healing via skin regeneration is often accompanied by hair follicle regeneration. Or even by brand new hair follicle neogenesis (e.g., Follica). Note that this hair growth after wounding phenomenon was even being researched in the 1950s and 1960s.

Thousands of hair loss sufferers around the world are trying out at-home microneedling and dermarolling. Many of them have seen significant success, although one has to be careful with this type of scalp self-injury. On our hair loss chat, the most interesting recent discussion is around wounding depth levels.

Human embryonic and neonatal skin has the potential to regenerate after wounding. This includes fully functioning hair follicles. However, adult skin no longer has such regenerative capabilities. Researchers have been trying for years to find ways to coax salamander-like regenerative powers in humans. If not for whole limbs, at least for hair growing skin to cover baldness for our sake.

New Studies on Skin Regeneration and Wound Healing

1) In September 2020, a team that included Dr. Jeff Biernaskie published a study on the regenerative potential of dermal fibroblasts during wound healing. They identified a specific population of progenitor cells that reside within the dermis and which aid in wound healing. I covered Dr. Biernaskie and his University of Calgary team in detail in 2020.

Skin Regeneration Regulators
Skin Regeneration Regulators. Source: Bernaskie Lab GitHub.

This latest research is shared on GitHub. Also see Biernaskie Lab. According to the findings, Runx1, retinoic acid, and Hic1 control mesenchymal regenerative capabilities.

According to this summary, Dr. Biernaskie said that they have shown the following:

“You can alter the wound environment with drugs, or modify the genetics of these progenitor cells directly. Both are sufficient to change their behavior during wound healing. And that can have really quite impressive effects on healing that includes regeneration of new hair follicles, glands and fat within the wounded skin.” 

“It suggests that the adult wound-responsive cells do in fact harbor a latent regenerative capacity, it just simply needs to be unmasked.”

2) Also in September 2020, a new study from the University of Washington identified Wnt transcription factor Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) as the key factor in adult skin regeneration.

LEF1 gene expression in fibroblasts has the potential in adult skin to repair itself like the skin of a newborn baby. This skin can also grow new hair follicles.

Interview with lead author Dr. Ryan Driskell.

“We identified a genetic factor that allows adult skin to repair itself like the skin of a newborn baby.”

Skinregeneration.org

The authors of the above study have started a new site called skinregeneration.org. The site’s mission is to provide a platform for scientists to easily query large datasets that focus on skin wounding and scarring repair.

For further information, see the Driskell Laboratory site at Washington State University.

Update: July 8, 2022 — A WSU research team led by Dr. Ryan Driskell is researching how to regenerate skin without scarring. This would be done by reactivating Lef1 expression in adult fibroblasts. In effect, this would turn adult skin into more youthful young skin.

Hair, Skin and Wounds all Interconnected

While researching for this post, I could not believe the number of diverse past posts that I have written on this blog that have focused on skin regeneration, wound healing and hair formation.

Regenerating hair follicle after wounding.
Wound induced single hair follicle neogenesis in a bald old man.

Renowned hair loss researchers such as Dr. George Cotsarelis, Dr. Luis Garza, Dr. Elaine Fuchs and Dr. Mayumi Ito have all also conducted frequent research on skin regeneration. I have discussed their work in past posts if you search for their names.

My gut feeling is that whenever there is a fully effective cure for hair loss, there is a strong likelihood that there will also be a cure for quality skin regeneration.

Skin Gun and Spray-On Skin

It seems like the technology to repair skin has improved significantly during the past decade. There is an especially unmet need when it comes to treating skin that has been burnt badly.

One of the technologies that I used to very curious about is the skin gun that was widely hyped in 2011. I have not heard much about this in recent years. RenovaCare acquired the technology in 2013. The company’s skin gun and spray-on stem cells for wound healing are trademarked under the names SkinGun™ and CellMist™.

At-Home Microneedling for Hair Loss

Scalp Dermaroller
A Popular Scalp Dermaroller for Hair Growth.

Microneedling (collagen induction therapy) entails wounding and skin disruption to induce hair growth and regeneration. In my prior posts on Follica, people often made informative comments about at-home microneedling and dermarolling for hair growth.

This post was first published in December 2019. The second half has more recent updates. I also wrote a post in 2013 on using dermarolling in combination with Minoxidil. And I discussed more evidence on the benefits of microneedling for hair loss reversal in 2017, courtesy of Dr. Rachita Dhurat.

At-Home Microneedling for Hair Growth

Intentional scalp injury and wounding has been known to induce follicular neogensis via stimulating the dermis’ natural wound healing process. Over the years, there has been a lot of online discussion about DIY at-home microneedling and dermarolling to treat androgenetic alopecia.

I was planning to write a post on this subject in the past, but kept delaying it till today. For one, there are numerous hair loss forum and Reddit threads on this subject running into 100s of pages. Moreover, when it comes to microneedling for facial skin rejuvenation related applications, there is even more information available online. Including numerous reviews and before and after photos.

According to a summary of papers on microneedling, the procedure can help numerous dermatological conditions. These include skin rejuvenation (via increases in collagen and elastin); reduction of acne scarring, wrinkles, fine lines, stretch marks and surgical scars; improvement in undesired skin color changes such as melasma; and enlarged pore reduction. Note that in 2016, a Japanese research team found age-related hair loss to be caused by reduced collagen.

An increasingly common use entails using microneedling or skin puncturing for better transdermal drug delivery. In the hair loss world, many doctors and surgeons are using microneedling in tandem with application of hair growth serums, Minoxidil, PRP and Exosomes.

Needle Depth, Device Choice and Safety

Among the key questions when trying out at-home microneedling on the head:

  1.  What is the appropriate depth of needles for microneedling on the scalp for hair growth? For thinner facial skin uses, fine needles of 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm depth seem to be preferred. For thicker scalp skin, many people recommend 1.5 mm to puncture the skin and epidermis sufficiently. Reader “PinotQ” mentioned a possible treatment regimen of 1.5 mm once a week, and 0.5 mm daily for maintenance. A September 2020 study from Iran found a depth of 0.6 mm to be more effective than a depth of 1.5 mm.
  2. What device is the best? There are hundreds of dermarollers and dermapens on sale online. A large number of those seem to have great reviews. It seems like most people prefer dermarollers to dermapens when it comes to the scalp, although the lower price of the former could be a factor. While the dermaroller needles enter the skin at an angle, dermapen needles enter vertically. Each device and delivery method has advantages and disadvantages.
  3. Safety precautions, including: making sure that the needles are sterilized and clean to prevent infection; not using too much force when rolling the device to avoid damaging the dermis; aftercare and cleaning up correctly in case of bleeding or other skin injury.
  4. How often to use the dermaroller or other micro needling device? Can one get away with just once a week treatment? Note that some people may easily bleed or have overly sensitive scalps, making microneedling impractical or even dangerous. For those with seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis of the scalp, it is best to consult a dermatologist before starting treatment.

Dermarollers and Dermapens

Microneedling Dermaroller Device
A Dermaroller for Microneedling.

Dermarollers (such as this popular one) work via a rolling head of hundreds of stainless steel needles that prick the skin.

Derma rollers are very cheap on Amazon. However, sizes range from needle depths of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. The rolling drum size can also vary significantly. You will need to read the comments to this post before deciding on the best product (s) for scalp hair growth purposes.

Dermapen Microneedling Pen for Hair Growth
Dr. Pen Dermapen for Hair Growth.

Many people also use handheld motor powered dermapens (more expensive) for microneedling. These are also known as micropens. Dermapens are handheld devices that work via oscillating pulses that rapidly move the needle up and down the treatment area. Unlike derma rollers that move horizontally across the skin, dermapens move vertically.

For more information, see this article on dermaroller versus dermapen. These two devices are also sometimes termed as microneedling roller v/s microneedling pen.

Dermastamps

Dermastamp for Hair Growth
A dermastamp for hair growth from Dr. Pen.

An alternative product that some people praise is called the dermastamp (or derma stamp).

A popular one from Dr. Pen contains 140 titanium needles. As of today, it has been reviewed 130 times and holds a decent 4.4 out of 5 stars rating.

User Reviews on Microneedling at Home

Ultimately, the point of this post is to benefit from crowd-sourced reader comments about this subject matter all in one place. I might even start microneedling myself in 2020 if I get more motivated after reading about people’s experiences.

Follica’s recent statement seems to indicate that many kinds of wounding and skin injury can regenerate hair. Follica’s tried and tested in-office version and device will likely be the most effective. But for the time being, at-home use will have to suffice.

If you find any links to microneedling before and after hair growth photos, please post them in the comments.

Update: March 2023

A new scalp microinfusion technique from Portugal promotes drug delivery via micro-needling using a professional tattoo machine. It is known as the the MMP® technique. MMP is the Portuguese acronym for microinfusion of drugs into the skin. The researchers used a tattoo machine and cartridges containing 27 needles with a diameter of 0.3 mm and tip length of 5.5 mm. The needling depth was set to 300 microns and the frequency to 120 Hz. They injected Minoxidil into the scalp of balding patients to successfully promote hair growth.

Please let me know when this study on topical Dutasteride and microneedling is released in its entirety. It is based on a randomized controlled trial.

Update: July 2022

Microneedling for Better Drug Delivery

A really interesting study from China was published in July 2022. The researchers found that transdermal delivery of Rapamycin and Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) nanoparticles with dissolvable microneedles led to significantly increased hair growth in mice. More here. Of interest:

“Rapamycin groups demonstrated more rapid hair growth, while EGCG groups had higher follicle density. The best results were achieved with a combination of rapamycin and EGCG.”

Microneedling Hair Loss
Microneedling transdermal drug delivery for hair loss treatment. Source: MDPI.

According to the authors, microneedling can break the barrier of the stratum corneum through puncturing. This ultimately improves drug delivery efficiency. Note that this microneedling process is not the same as at-home microneedling, but there has to be some commonality of intentional wounding.

We have seen other such studies in the past, but this is the first one to utilize non-hair loss drugs. Make sure to read my post on NAD, NMN and Dr. Sinclair, where I also touch upon Rapamycin.

Update: January 5, 2022

New Microneedling and Hair Loss Studies

  • A January 2022 study from China reported that micro-injury induces hair regeneration (and vitiligo repigmentation). The mechanism of action is via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
  • In January 2022, a study from India concluded that microneedling monotherapy increased total hair count more than topical minoxidil 5%. The combination of the two was even more effective.
  • A June 2021 study of interest, albeit not exactly related to at-home microneedling: Ceria nanozyme-integrated microneedles reshape the perifollicular microenvironment for androgenetic alopecia treatment.
  • In February 2021, a study from Korea found that a newly developed home-use microneedle device enhanced the penetration of 5% Minoxidil. Patient self-assessment scores showed the highest satisfaction in the Minoxidil + Microneedling combination treated group. However, the excess hair count in this cohort after 6 months treatment (twice per week) was not statistically significant.
  • In December 2020, an interesting letter summarized a pilot study on using Follica’s proprietary microwounding device to treat female pattern hair loss (FPHL). The results were very positive, and I covered them in detail here.
  • A September 2020 study from Iran concluded that microneedling at a depth of 0.6 mm was more effective than at a depth of 1.2 mm. This is quite surprising, since most doctors and hair loss sufferers tend to recommend the higher number. For example, in the below video from 2020, the doctors suggest derma-rolling or micro-needling at a depth of 1-1.5 mm.
  • A June 2020 study from China found Microneedling and Minoxidil combination treatment to be superior to either one by itself. The underlying mechanism involves activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

In a video from Dr. Gary Linkov, he recommends starting with 0.5 mm needle depth. Always consult your doctor if you develop any scarring or other side effects.

Fake Dermaroller Warning

One of this blog’s valuable e-mail correspondants sent me the below lengthy message that I decided to paste after minor changes and corrections. I am not sure if the linked videos are biased by their sale of dermaroller products. I can also not vouch for the 95 percent “fake” estimate, considering that I have never microneedled or dermarolled my own scalp.

Moreover, some of the most popular demarollers on sale on Amazon have worked for many people per ratings and comments on hair loss forums, Discord and more. So perhaps some people just get lucky and even a slightly “off” or fake product also works?

Readers please let me know what you think in the comments to this post. At some point I might move this subject to the bottom of this post, underneath the original dermaroller section.

E-mail

“You really might want to dig into the matter of fake dermarollers and shed light on this major topic, considering your large audience. Most people (probably yourself included and most dermatologists for sure) aren’t aware, but at least 95% of dermarollers sold on the internet are fake. I myself think this is the main reason why most people don’t get results when dermarolling, or even damage their hair.

A related video that you should watch:

The main difference is that the fake dermarollers have 540 “needles”. Moreover, these are actually spikes cut from cheap metal wheels, but this is often only visible by breaking the dermaroller. So consumer can never see the truth. The real ones have 192 needles.

However, some companies try to fool buyers by creating fake metal dermarollers with 192 needles (my previous one was fake despite my watchfulness). The ideal is to order a dermaroller on which the needles are visible through the roll.”