If you are experiencing hair loss, you know that there are many options out here to regrow your hair. There are shampoos, conditioners, vitamins, LLLT, surgeries, medications, and more. But what if I told you that you can actually use microneedles to grow back your hair?

It sounds weird, but derma rolling for hair loss is a growing solution with strong science behind it. So if you are intrigued, here is everything you need to know about derma rolling for hair loss.

Good question! Typically, derma rollers are plastic devices that roll across your skin to help with skin texture and hair growth for collagen induction therapy. Derma rolling uses tiny needles to stimulate blood circulation and revive collagen production. You can buy a derma roller for home use or go to a dermatology office for professional microneedling, so you have plenty of options.

Derma roller cost depends on whether you go into an office or purchase a derma roller for home use. If you buy your own derma roller, you will see prices ranging from $15-$140. If you choose to go into a dermatology office for micro-needling, you will pay around $200-$700 per session.

For the most part, derma rolling is safe and effective for hair loss. As with any product, there can be some risks if you do not use the proper precautions and directions. Some risks that come with microneedling are;

• You can get an infection or breakout from not properly sterilizing your derma roller.
• You might experience skin irritation or redness.
• Derma rolling can cause scar tissue formation.
• Derma rolling can cause some bleeding or swelling.

Most of these side effects are from overusing the derma roller or not properly sanitizing after use. Just make sure to follow the instructions and don't use your derma roller more than the manufacturer suggested.

If you are like me, you probably want to know the science behind micro-needling. Anyone can claim to help your hair grow, but we want to see the scientifically-backed studies. So I deep dived into my research to see what scientists and physicians say about derma rolling and hair loss.

The good news is that in 2012 a randomized study found that micro-needling for alopecia patients showed a 50% improvement in over 80% of participants. The study concluded that micro-needling is safe and effective for hair loss treatment.

Another study in 2015 followed its participants for six months to monitor hair growth from derma rolling. The study concluded that micro-needling accelerated the patient's scalp density and encouraged new hair follicle growth.

These studies are encouraging because they show the positive benefits of using microneedling in your hair growth routine. When you are trying to grow back your hair, finding products backed by science is necessary to get the best results.

Derma rollers come in many sizes, so it is essential to understand what needle size works best for beginners and, of course, for hair loss.

You want to stay around 0.5 to 1.5 mm for best results, but there are exceptions for every size.  Here is a quick cheat sheet to understanding what size you need for the best results:

0.15 to 0.25 mm is recommended for beginners, and if you are using topical solutions to encourage better absorption.

0.5 to 1.5 mm are used for hair growth since it has a deeper penetration, but this can also expose you to damage so be sure to follow the instructions on the amount of days you should use this size needle per week.

1.5 mm or longer is best left to the professionals. If you want to work your way up this size needle, you will need to go into an office and let a professional handle your microneedling.

Not everyone has thousands of dollars to fork over to a dermatology office. The good news is, derma rolling can be done at home and on budget. There are many at-home options to choose from.

Here are some tips for at-home microneedling:

• Replace the roller once a month.
• Sterilize it after EACH use in alcohol or a cleansing solution.
• Keep an eye on the needles to ensure they aren't broken or dull.

When you buy your derma roller, they will have specific instructions for sterilizing best practices. You also want to ensure that you are not using your derma roller every day. Your scalp will need some in-between downtime sessions.

Studies have found that results should be seen around 12 weeks of use. Of course, results will vary by frequency and needle size, but it appears to be only a few months before you will see some regrowth. You can also add a topical solution before your microneedling session to ensure better absorption and increase your results.

A quick Google search will bring you tons of results for derma rollers. But, hey you might not have time for all of that, so I did the work for you. Here is my list of the top four derma rollers (and links).

Needle Size: .25mm

Why We love it: The Titanium Needle Roller is an affordable option. The needle size is great if you are just getting started with derma rolling. They also have some decent verified reviews. You can grab yours here.

Needle Size: .25mm

Why We love it: This derma roller kit has two needle options. One is for hair growth and the other is for your face. Therefore you get two needle sizes, 0.3mm and 0.25mm. The price is affordable, especially since you get two derma roller sizes in the box. If you want one, you can find it here!

Needle Size: .75mm

Why We love it: The Healthy Care Derma Roller has medical grade needles and they are .75mm. There are also a lot of verified reviews that verify this is a great needle size for hair growth (like this one) You can grab yours right over here.

Needle Size: .25mm

Why We love it: The Sdara Derma Roller is a pricier option, however, it has been featured by top beauty brands like The Zoe Report, Elite Daily, BuzzFeed, and Glamour. I do feel like that gives it some credibility. There are also over 11,000 reviews, which is VERY high for a product. This is a well-established brand that should bring you great results. Check it out here.

Here is an easy criteria reference guide to finding the best derma roller for your hair goals. For one, refer to my guide for picking the right needle size.

Microneedling is not for everyone, and that's ok. I should note that the needles are tiny and not like the needles, I am sure you are picturing. However, if you couldn't imagine using microneedling some other options work well to restore hair loss.

LLLT or low-level laser therapy is a science-backed, non-invasive hair loss solution. Adding light therapy to your hair loss routine is a great way to see faster growth in as little as four months. Low-level laser therapy uses high-quality lasers to gently stimulate your scalp and regenerate your hair follicles. It helps block DHT and encourages your hair to enter the hair growth phase. Some laser caps are on the pricey side (think $1900 and up) however, illumiflow is an affordable, FDA cleared option. Illumiflow uses high-quality laser diodes fitted into a comfortable cap for at-home light therapy. If you want to check out these laser caps, head on over here.

Hair loss vitamins are a great way to address any nutritional deficiencies and they give your body the tools it needs to grow new hair. Most hair growth vitamins will include vitamin A, C, E, and biotin to send nutrients right to your scalp. I also love to see horsetail extract, keratin, folic acid, and nettle for an added boost. Hair loss vitamins are a great way to grow your hair and work well with other hair growth solutions like LLLT, derma rolling, and hair loss shampoos.

Hair loss shampoos and conditioners are great for restoring your hair health from the outside. They stimulate your scalp, strengthen your existing hair, and are gentle enough not to strip the natural oils you need to protect your scalp. Look for hair loss products that are sulfate and artificial fragrance-free. Those chemicals are not suitable for anyone!

Derma rolling is an excellent option for hair loss and has some decent scientific studies to back that up. As with most hair growth products, it might take a few weeks to see results, but hey, either way, that time will pass anyways. Why not grow some hair along the way? I hope this was helpful for you, and just remember to refer to the guide for picking the right needle size for your derma roller.

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