Microneedling for female pattern hair loss: case report and histopathological changes

Abstract

Microneedling has traditionally been used to induce collagen formation. Scalp microneedling has been seen to stimulate the capillary cycle and anagen phase, but studies demonstrating histopathological changes after this procedure are lacking. Here we present the case of a 37-year-old woman with a 15-year history of female pattern alopecia, with diffuse hair thinning prominent in the frontoparietal region and hair miniaturization seen in dermoscopy. The patient’s condition remained stable for seven years with use of spironolactone and topical minoxidil. The patient underwent three scalp microneedling sessions at monthly intervals. Histopathological analysis was conducted before the sessions and one month after the last session. Despite slight clinical and dermoscopic improvement, the alopecia pattern remained the same, without significant changes in follicle count after the interventions. Neither inflammation nor fibrous tracts were observed after the procedure. The histopathological analysis is essential to assess the safety of scalp microneedling in the short and long term, investigate signs such as inflammation and fibrosis, and determine the effectiveness of this procedure in treating alopecia. Studies with a more significant number of cases are necessary.

Keywords

• alopecia
• pathology
• treatment outcome