Table 2.
Summary of studies using RF for hair growth
| Hair growth | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First author | Type of study (evidence level) | Condition | System/settings | RF modality | Adjunct | Patients | Treatment plan | Results/findings |
| Tan et al. (2019) | Prospective placebo-controlled trial (II) | AGA | Novel Device (Innogen, Tel Aviv, Israel) RF: 460 KHz 12 W, 62 mJ/pin |
Fractional | None | 24 M with AGA (avg age of 29.5) | RF treatment (n = 19) versus sham (n = 5) 4 total tx at 3-wk intervals |
Average increase in hair counts RF = 22.8% versus sham = 9.6% (p = 0.08) No AEs observed |
| Verner et al. (2018) | Prospective single-center study (II) | AGA | HairLux (Innogen Technologies Ltd., Yokneam, Israel) RF: 460 KHz 20 mJ/pin |
Fractional | None | 18 F, 7 M with AGA (age range: 19–73 year/o) | 10 total tx, 2-wk intervals | 2 month post-tx Hair density: 31.6% average increase Hair shaft thickness: 18% average increase No serious AEs observed |
| Yu et al. (2018) | Randomized controlled split-scalp trial (I) | AGA | BodyTite (Derma Optic & Electronic Ltd., Chongqing, China) RF: 1 MHz 12 W, 1.5 mm depth, 300 ms |
Fractional (microneedle) | Minoxidil | 19 M with AGA (age range: 23–45 year/o) | Split-scalp treatment 5% minoxidil 2×/daily (monotherapy) versus RF (5 total tx, 4-wk intervals) + 5% minoxidil 2×/daily | 5 month post-tx Minoxidil Mean hair count: 46.22 +/− 18.77 → 63.21+/− 63.21 Mean hair thickness: 52 +/− 16 → 66 +/− 14 µm Minoxidil + RF Mean hair count: 44.12 +/− 21.58 → 73.14 +/− 25.45 Mean hair thickness: 53 +/− 13 → 71 +/− 15 µm Combined treatment with RF is significantly better than monotherapy of minoxidil alone AES: tx-related pain, transient pinpoint bleeding, and mild erythema |
| Issa et al. (2015) | Case series (IV) | AA | RF: 45 W CO2 laser: 60 W, 60 mJ/pixel | Fractional | Triamcinolone | 4 F, 1 M with AA (age range: 18–47 year/o) | CO2 laser versus RF (1–6 treatments, 3-wk intervals) + Topical Triamcinolone + Acoustic pressure wave US | Fractional RF + triamcinolone + US complete response in patient 1 and 2 after 3 tx and 6 tx, respectively Fractional CO2 laser + triamcinolone + US complete response in patients 3, 4, and 5 after 1 tx each. Results sustained at 12 month F/U AEs: mild burning sensation during tx |
RF, radiofrequency; AGA, androgenic alopecia; AA, alopecia areata; IPL, intense pulsed light; AE, adverse event; Tx, treatment; Pt, patient; F/U, follow-up; US, ultrasound.