Table 3.
Parameter summaries for studies assessing the use of MN on AA and AT subjects
| Alopecia areata (AA), alopecia totalis (AT) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Author (year) | Total subjects (gender); alopecia type | Study type | Treatment regimen | MN procedure | No. of MN sessions | Treatment duration | Endpoints | Effectiveness | Adverse events | Jadad score |
| Aboeldahab et al. [28] | n = 80 (50 m, 30 f); alopecia areata (AA) | Comparison: cryotherapy versus MN |
Group 1: cryotherapy Group 2: MN |
MN automated pen, 1.00–2.00 mm needles, session endpoints marked as 4–5 passes longitudinally, vertically, and diagonally | 6, once every 2 weeks | 12 weeks | Hair counts, hair density, Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores, photographic evaluation, self assessments |
Yes Hair counts, hair density, SALT scores, photographic evaluation, and self assessments improved in groups 1 and 2; higher changes to SALT scores in group 2 versus 1 |
No adverse events in group 2 | 3 |
| Ragab et al. [29] | n = 60 (48 m, 12 f); AA | Combination: PRP solution |
Group 1: PRP injections Group 2: fractional CO2 laser + PRP topical Group 3: MN + PRP topical |
MN roller, 1.50 mm needles, session endpoints marked as 4–5 passes longitudinally, vertically, and obliquely until mild erythema noted | 3, once monthly | 3 months | SALT |
Yes SALT scores improved in groups 1, 2, and 3; no difference in SALT scores across groups |
No serious events reported; pain higher in group 1 versus group 3 | 3 |
| Abdallah et al. [30] | n = 20 (19 m, 1 f); AA | Intrapatient comparison: triamcinolone acetonide injections, minoxidil 5% injections |
Patch 1: triamcinolone acetonide injections Patch 2: 5% minoxidil injections Patch 3: triamcinolone acetonide injections + 5% minoxidil injections Patch 4: MN Patch 5: control |
MN roller, session endpoints marked as 4–5 passes longitudinally, vertically, and diagonally | 4, once every 4 weeks | 16 weeks | SALT, Lesional Area & Density (LAD) scores |
Yes SALT and LAD scores decreased in patches 1, 2, 3, and 4; largest differences seen in patches 1 and 3 versus patch 5 |
No serious events reported | 2 |
| Giorgio et al. [31] | n = 41 (17 m, 24 f); AA | Combination: 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy |
Group 1: MN Group 2: 5-aminolevulinic acid + photodynamic therapy Group 3: MN + 5-aminolevulinic acid + photodynamic therapy |
MN automated pen, 1.00 mm needles, session endpoints marked as 5 minute of passes on AA-affected areas | 6, once every 3 weeks | 18 weeks | 4-point scale |
Yes No change in group 1; improvements noted in 53% of group 2 and 94% of group 3 |
No events reported | 1 |
| Yoo et al. [32] | n = 8 (2 m, 6 f); alopecia totalis (AT) | Split scalp: 5-aminolevulinic acid + photodynamic therapy |
Side 1: MN + methyl 5-aminolevulinic acid + photodynamic therapy Side 2: methyl 5-aminolevulinic acid + photodynamic therapy |
MN roller, 5.00 mm needles | 3, once every 4 weeks | 12 weeks | Histological assessments (4 mm punch biopsy) | No | No serious events reported | 1 |
A table summarizing all included studies assessing the use of MN on AA and AT subjects. Each study summary features parameters regarding author, year of publication, total subjects, gender, study type, treatment regimen, MN procedure, number of MN sessions, treatment duration, assessment endpoints, effectiveness, adverse events, and Jadad score