Scalp microneedling in San Diego
Microneedling of the scalp is the same principle as microneedling of the face — controlled micro-injury prompting the body to repair — applied to a different problem.
It is presented here as an adjunct rather than a standalone treatment, and that framing is deliberate. The evidence supporting it is real but modest, and it comes mostly from studies where it was combined with topical minoxidil rather than used alone.
What it is thought to do
Triggers a wound-healing response, including growth factors involved in the hair cycle
Improves penetration of topical treatment applied to the scalp
Increases local blood flow to the treated area
Stimulates collagen in the scalp itself, as it does elsewhere on the body
What the evidence actually supports
The published studies are small, and the strongest of them compared microneedling plus topical minoxidil against minoxidil alone — with the combination performing better. That is the claim the evidence supports: it improves on topical treatment, in men with pattern hair loss, over several months.
What the evidence does not support is microneedling as a replacement for medical treatment, or as a treatment for hair loss of any other cause. We would rather say that here than have you assume otherwise from the enthusiasm this treatment attracts online.
If your hair loss has not been diagnosed, that comes first. See the hair loss consultation page.
What a session involves
Numbing cream is applied, and the device is passed over the areas of thinning at a depth chosen for scalp tissue. A session takes around thirty to forty-five minutes including numbing.
Expect redness for a day or two, similar to mild sunburn, and some tenderness. Topical treatment is generally held for around twenty-four hours afterwards rather than applied immediately, because a freshly needled scalp absorbs far more of anything put on it — including the alcohol in some solutions.
A course, not a session
Hair cycles slowly. A single treatment does not produce a visible change, and the protocols in the literature run over several months with sessions spaced weeks apart.
The interval matters as much as the number: the scalp needs to complete its healing response before it is treated again. Treating too frequently is not faster.
Who should not have it
Active scalp infection, inflammation or an unhealed wound in the treatment area
Scarring alopecia — the follicle is already destroyed and needling does not recover it
A bleeding disorder or current anticoagulant therapy, without a discussion first
A history of keloid scarring
Pregnancy or breastfeeding, where any concurrent topical treatment is a consideration in its own right
Questions about scalp microneedling
Does microneedling help with hair loss?
The published evidence, which is limited, supports microneedling as an addition to topical minoxidil for pattern hair loss rather than as a treatment on its own. Studies combining the two performed better than minoxidil alone over several months.
How many scalp microneedling sessions do I need?
A course rather than a single session, spaced several weeks apart over several months. Hair cycles slowly and one treatment does not produce a visible change. The exact number is decided at consultation.
Can I use minoxidil straight after scalp microneedling?
Generally topical treatment is held for around twenty-four hours. A freshly needled scalp absorbs considerably more of whatever is applied to it, including the alcohol in some solutions, which increases irritation.
Does scalp microneedling hurt?
Numbing cream is applied first and most people find it tolerable. Expect redness for a day or two afterwards, similar to mild sunburn, and some tenderness.
Will microneedling work if my hair loss is not pattern hair loss?
There is no evidence that it does, and in scarring alopecia the follicle has already been destroyed. This is why diagnosis comes first — see the hair loss consultation page.
Related treatments
Last reviewed August 8, 2026
You are quoted before anything begins.
Tell us what you're considering and we'll tell you honestly whether scalp microneedling is the right treatment for it.