How Dermarollers Prevent Hair Loss And Boost Hair Growth

How Dermarollers Prevent Hair Loss And Boost Hair Growth

Hair loss is one of the biggest aesthetic concerns among adults and affects billions of people across the world. While we have seen a huge influx of treatments designed to tackle the issue, one tool in particular has been making headlines over the past few years—the Dermaroller.

Here, we will explain why derma rollers prevent hair loss and initiate the growth of new hair, their scientific reasons for doing so, and how to use them safely.

Dermaroller

A derma roller is a small hand-held device with hundreds of tiny needles. It was originally developed as a cosmetic product to reduce wrinkles and scars and improve the texture of the skin in general.

Microneedling (using a derma roller) involves puncturing the skin surface using tiny needles. The controlled micro-injuries activate the body’s natural healing process, which promotes collagen production and overall skin health.

The same is true for derma-rolling on the scalp to promote hair growth. The device mechanically stimulates micro-injuries to the scalp, which notify the body to increase blood flow, release growth factors, and initiate the repair and regeneration process in the hair follicles.

How Dermarollers Promote Hair Growth

1. Stimulating Blood Circulation

Hair follicles require nutrients from the blood that circulation delivers to be healthy and productive. Bad circulation is another factor responsible for hair loss because the scalp remains undernourished, and the hair follicles become weaker. Dermarollers stimulate the blood flow to the scalp by creating tiny injuries. An increased blood flow in the injured area gives the hair follicles more oxygen and nutrients for healthy hair growth.

2. Promoting Collagen Production

Collagen, a type of protein, is crucial to the structure and strength of hair. It provides the proper scaffolding to keep hair follicles in place and healthy. Hair thinning occurs when our body does not produce enough collagen as we age, making the hair follicles less strong. Dermarollers are devices used to induce collagen production in the scalp, which is believed to strengthen and re-organise hair follicles, encouraging thicker, more vigorous regrowth.

3. Triggering Hair Follicle Stem Cells

These cells share the exact origin with those travelling to damaged sites, such as injured muscles or wounds. Slowly, though, depending on a person’s age or simply because of some genes losing effectivity (thought to be at least partly due to genes firing poorly over time), these stem cells can tend to go dormant. Dermarollers send signals through the micro-injuries that activate these stem cells, and they then start to return to their everyday work. This action facilitates shortening the catagen (resting) and telogen (shedding) phases of hair follicles, leading to new hair growth (anagen phase).

4. Improving Topical Medication Absorption

Most individuals experiencing hair loss use topical treatments like finasteride, minoxidil or oils. Scalp skin is almost like a shield in this sense, and quite frankly, one of these state-of-the-art type treatments is only as good as its ability to infiltrate the scalp and provide what it really needs, which are those active ingredients. Dermarollers offer a means to break through this barrier by creating scalp microchannels that facilitate better penetration of topical treatments. This enhances product penetration to maximise the benefits of any topical treatments used after microneedling.

5. Improved Growth Factor

Cells responsible for wound healing (platelets, fibroblasts, endothelial cells) may increase growth factors/signals (autocrine or paracrine).

These growth factors are released by the body to heal when the skin is punctured. The latter growth factors bring about more significant cellular repair and regeneration. This means that in the case of hair loss, they favour the repair of hair follicles, which would help develop more robust and healthier growth. PDGF and EGF have been associated with hair follicle development and growth.

Types of Hair Loss Dermarollers Work

While derma rollers can effectively treat many types of hair loss, they are most effective in certain cases. Microneedling can aid in three main types of hair thinning.

1. Male and Female Pattern Baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia)

Androgenetic alopecia, a gradual thinning of the top portion of the scalp that begins at both temples and worsens over time, typically causes advanced hair loss. One study found derma rollers to be particularly effective when combined with minoxidil for treating androgenetic alopecia. The microneedling allows the medication to penetrate a little bit deeper into the scalp, hopefully increasing its effect. This also sends a signal to hair follicles to make hair thicker and denser.

2. Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata (the official term for hair loss) is an autoimmune disease resulting in sudden, smooth bald patches. The exact aetiology is unknown, but it is believed that the body’s immune cells attack the hair follicles. In some cases of alopecia areata, microneedling has potential when used together with treatments such as corticosteroids or platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The derma roller stimulation can also help kick-start dormant hair follicles, activating them to grow more hair in the areas affected by the condition.

3. Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that results from stress or illness that disrupts the normal cycle of growth. In this condition, many hair follicles in the growth phase shift prematurely to the resting phase, causing most hair to become thin. As a result, microneedling can help reverse this problem by allowing the hair follicles to grow back in the Anagen phase.

4. Traction Alopecia

This type of hair loss results from excessive pulling or tension on the hair, typically from hairstyles that put too much pressure on the scalp. Whereas traction alopecia can be irreversible if not treated quickly, microneedling might be able to stimulate growth in affected regions (if the hair follicles have only been weakened and are still alive).

Here is how you can use a derma roller for hair growth:

1. Choose the Right Needle Size

Different needle lengths also indicate the variety of Dermarollers, which are 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm, commonly used by people for skin needling. Best derma roller size for hair growth: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. Shorter needles (0.2 mm–0.3 mm) are typically used to improve the permeation of topical treatments, while longer needles (0.5 mm–1.0 mm) are employed for hair regrowth by stimulating deeper scalp layers.

2. Scalp Cleansing & Dermaroller

When you use the derma roller, it is important to clean your scalp and the roller to prevent infections. First, take a shower to cleanse your scalp of dirt or oil so your hair is ready to absorb the color. Soak the roller in 70% isopropyl alcohol or any alcohol you have at home for 5-10 minutes, then let it air dry.

3. Start Rolling

Roll the derma roller lightly over your scalp, paying particular attention to areas with hair loss or thinning. Roll in different directions (up/down, side to side, diagonally)—these are key tips as we need the device to cover all areas of the scalp. Overexertions should be avoided since they may damage your own scalp.

4. Apply Topical Treatments

This could make the scalp more susceptible to after-microneedling treatments. Now would be the best time to apply minoxidil, oils and other hair growth agents. The microchannels induced by the derma roller will help the active ingredients to seep into your skin better, resulting in increased efficiency.

5. Frequency of Use

You need to use a derma roller to remove dead skin cells, but do not overdo it. Needle sizes of 0.5 mm-1.0 will only need to be used once a week each time the device is utilised. Being overused can cause irritation of the scalp and damage it. Give your scalp time to heal between treatments.

Risks And Potential Side Effects

Regarding the risk, derma rollers are mostly safe to use if you use them correctly.

These side effects might occur:

Redness and Irritation: After the microneedling, you may notice slight redness on your scalp and some irritation. This is natural and should drop off in a couple of hours.

Infection: If the derma roller is not disinfected correctly, there is a risk of infection. Make sure to clean the device before and after use.

Sensation of the scalp: Depending on the length or pressure used, some patients may experience heightened sensation in the head area.

If you have a scalp condition, it is advisable to seek help from a dermatologist before using a derma roller.

What size of derma roller do I use to combat hair loss?

Depending on your goal (e.g., enhancing topical treatment absorption or growing new hair by collagen induction and cell generation), you can choose the right derma roller for your needs.

1. To improve skin absorption (minoxidil or hair serums)

Dermaroller with 0.25 mm-0.3 mm needles These tiny needles create microchannels on the scalp, which promote penetration of topically applied treatments (such as minoxidil or hair growth serums) into deeper layers without causing any considerable trauma to the scalp.

2. For Stimulating Hair Growth:

Derma rollers with 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm needles can directly stimulate hair follicles and collagen production, so they are recommended [12]. The needle is large enough to reach the hair follicles, where it can trigger a healing response to regrow hair and strengthen thinning hair.

3. For Extreme Hair Thinning Or Progressive Treatment

If you suffer from more severe hair loss, a skin-needling device with 1.0 mm-1.5 mm needles can be used; however, these longer needles should only be performed under professional guidance due to the risk of puncturing the skin down to deeper layers, which may require longer recovery times between treatments.

Frequency of Use:

You can use 0.25 to 0.3 mm derma rollers more frequently, around two to three times per week, because they speculate that a minimum of injury has evolved.

00 to 1.0 mm roller should be used once a week to make sure the scalp has sufficient time to heal before they hit it with steel needles again.

Many beginners should use a 0.5mm derma roller to treat hair loss and minimise side effects.

And, while it is a gross simplification to say that derma rollers can tackle hair loss and promote hair growth, they offer potential by improving blood circulation, boosting collagen production, and enabling the skin to better absorb topically applied treatments. From hair thinning to complete baldness, microneedling has proven helpful for those experiencing different stages of hair loss and can be used by itself or in combination with other therapies. But to see the best results, you should know how to use a derma roller and stick with it. Dermarollers can aid in the battle to prevent hair loss while also promoting a healthy head of thicker hair when used correctly.