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Whether it’s due to pregnancy, stress, hormonal fluctuations, medical conditions, or just natural aging, hair loss can be quite challenging, especially for women who tend to associate having a full, thick head of hair with youth and physical attractiveness.
Fortunately, there are many solutions that you can use to combat hair loss; Dermapen ranks as one of the best options, especially for home use.
Dermapen, aka Microneedling Pen, is a widely used treatment that aims to stimulate natural collagen production in the skin. Thin needles are used to gently penetrate your skin and create micro-injuries to synthesize new collagen. Using DermaPen has been proven one of the most effective methods for combating hair loss as well.
Using Dermapen for hair loss is a multi-function treatment that involves the use of small needles to form tiny puncture wounds in your scalp to reactivate dead follicles, leading to hair growth.
DermaPen has yielded immeasurable results for countless individuals who are dealing with hair loss.
This article aims to explore the use of DermaPen for hair loss as a favorite hair regrowth technique.
How Effective is DermaPen (Microneedling Pen) for Hair Loss?
As much as microneedling is used as an anti-aging skin treatment, it’s also an excellent method for treating hair loss. The similar process of creating skin wounds is also thought to initiate the regeneration of healthy hair follicles. This can result in new hair growth and even thicken thinning hair.
Aside from stimulating collagen production and bringing blood flow and nutrients to the scalp, microneedling is also thought to help induce stem cells in the hair follicles, which leads to hair growth in the area being treated.
Dermapen has also been known to promote the absorption of skin products used in treating hair loss. These may include platelet-rich plasma and Rogaine.
What Needle Depth is best for Hair Loss?
One of the most critical factors you should take into consideration before starting microneedling your scalp for hair growth is the optimal needle depth you should use.
The scientific literature surrounding microneedling and hair loss shows that using a 1.5 millimeters needle provides the best results in treating hair loss. The needle size and depth use in treating hair loss in the scalp has more to do with the needle’s penetration depth.
Unlike with other parts of the body, the hair follicles in the scalp sit between 1-2 millimeters deep in the dermis. Therefore, this justifies the 1.5 millimeters depth penetration.
How to Use DermaPen for Hair Growth & How often?
Since needles are involved when microneedling, safety should be your number one concern when using Dermapen at home. Therefore, it’s vital that you sanitize your DermaPen and clean the area you’re about to treat. Also, take care not to push too hard on your needling device to avoid causing damage to your scalp.
When using DermaPen for hair loss at home, ensure that you:
- Prepare your kit: a dermapen, 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, cotton pads, a numbing cream.
- Comb your hair before starting using a wide-toothed brush to form a flat surface.
- Optionally, you can use a topical numbing cream 30 minutes before the procedure to help reduce pain during the session; divide the hair into sections, apply a layer of your numbing cream and massage it into the scalp.
- After removing the numbing cream, disinfect the area to be treated using an alcohol-soaked cotton pad.
- Adjust the settings of your dermapen (needle depth and speed).
- On dry hair, start gliding your dermapen on the area to be treated – glide the device horizontally then vertically and then diagonally gently and firmly (two or five times in each direction, until a mild erythema is noticed), and remember to lift the dermapen before every pass.
Concerning the frequency of use, the short answer is that it depends on several factors, such as the needle depth, applied pressure, and other individual variances. So, it depends more on how your body reacts to the microneedling sessions.
However, current evidence confirms that using Dermapen for hair growth once every 1-3 weeks can help to regrow your hair.
How Many Sessions Are Required to See Results?
As with most treatments, the response to microneedling treatment often varies from one individual to the next. Therefore, the results may vary depending on your skin tissue, age, skin condition, the severity of the treatment, and whether the treatment is handled by a professional.
Some patients may need 4-6 sessions to start noticing their desired results. On the other hand, other patients may feel satisfied after undergoing one or two sessions. It’s also essential to have maintenance treatments to keep the treatment progress up and prevent any further damage.
What Should You Apply to Your Scalp After Microneedling?
Rogaine is one of the best hair growth serums that you can apply to your treated area. Rogaine’s hair growth serums contain 2% to 5% minoxidil and don’t have harmful chemicals that your skin may react to. After using DermaPen for hair loss, we advise that you wait at least 24 hours before you apply minoxidil. Give your skin more time to breathe and heal before you start applying Rogaine or other minoxidil products.
You can also apply castor oil on the treated area to help enhance the results after your microneedling session, it is known for its hair growth, thickening, and strengthening properties. Unlike minoxidil, castor oil can be applied immediately after microneedling.
DermaPen Aftercare Tips
Since microneedling creates tiny wounds in the treated sections, you should refrain from your regular hair care routines after treatment. Instead, we advise that you follow the post microneedling aftercare instructions mentioned below:
- Avoid scrubbing the treated areas at least 4 hours after the treatment.
- Avoid direct high heat, such as from the sun, blow dryer, very hot shower, or steam room after the treatment.
- Apply a topical antibiotic like Rogaine after treatment to maximize the results.
- Don’t shave on the day of the treatment to avoid skin irritation.
- Avoid blood-thinning products a week before the treatment.
- Avoid activities that make you sweat.
- Don’t take anti-inflammatory medications.
- Drink plenty of water.
At-home vs. Professional Microneedling
Microneedling at-home for hair growth can be challenging for several reasons such as not knowing how much pressure to apply, the hygienic measures, and not being able to reach all the areas that need to be treated.
In this case, it is advisable to seek professional help. Trained professionals can use greater needle depths to maximize the results, apply the optimal pressure, apply the right complementary treatments before and after the session, and treat the hard-to-reach areas of the scalp.
Does Dermapen Work For Alopecia Areata?
Yes, a study on two patients with patchy hair loss has proven that microneedling can be very beneficial to treat alopecia areata.
Takeaway
With all the positive reviews surrounding DermaPen for hair loss, why hesitate to try it yourself? It’s one of the simplest and easy to use beauty tools that, if used correctly, can have your hair looking fuller, thicker, and healthier.
After undergoing microneedling treatment, ensure that you follow the aftercare procedures mentioned above. These aftercare tips make a huge difference, especially with regards to the outcome of the treatment. You deserve to look your very best always!
However, it is advisable to see your doctor first, especially if you take blood-thinning medication, have diabetes, have active eczema, you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are on radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
