Origin of hair mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a therapeutic alternative to other treatments for hair loss developed in France and which was originally aimed at treating pain. Over the years and thanks to scientific advances, mesotherapy began to be used in the treatment of dermal diseases, delaying aging and finally in hair renewal.

In general, mesotherapy consists of performing microinjections of active ingredients into the dermis, the intermediate layer of the skin, whose origin is the embryonic mesodermal tissue. These substances are aimed at promoting the formation of blood vessels and the production of cells and proteins that make up the skin, promoting tissue renewal and good circulation.

On the other hand, capillary mesotherapy is based on the intradermal injection of active ingredients into the scalp. These active ingredients are a mixture of vasodilators and antioxidants aimed at promoting the health of the hair follicle. With this treatment, the cells of the dermal papillae in the subcutaneous tissue are stimulated, promoting an increase in the thickness of the hair and thus the resistance of the hair fibre.

Mechanism of action of mesotherapy

The effects of mesotherapy are achieved through two mechanisms of action:

Mechanical effect of mesotherapy

When microinjections are made into the skin and scalp, mechanical tissue injury occurs, which immediately activates tissue repair mechanisms involving the production of collagen and elastin, two of the most important structural proteins of the dermis. In addition, during tissue repair, growth factors are released that are responsible for activating the cell division of skin cells and hair follicles.

Chemical effect of mesotherapy

The active ingredients injected during mesotherapy have particular properties that will act specifically on skin cells and substances according to the condition being treated. Therefore, because not all disorders are similar, the cocktail of active ingredients varies according to the requirements of each patient and the effects that need to be obtained.

Substances used in hair mesotherapy

Apart from the above, the substances used in hair mesotherapy depend on the condition to be treated, in general they are intended to improve circulation, neutralize the effect of dihydrotestosterone, increase the size of the hair follicle and promote collagen synthesis. Among the most frequently used are

Acetyl tetrapeptide-3

It is used as an alternative to minoxidil because it reduces the local inflammatory response and blocks the effects of dihydrotestosterone. At the same time, it promotes the renewal of the hair follicle, increasing its size and stimulating the production of proteins that help anchor it and keep it fixed in the dermis. The success rate of acetyl tetrapeptide-3 therapy is 90 to 92% compared to minoxidil which is 50% and requires more treatment time.

Biocanine A

It is a powerful isoflavonoid used in the treatment against androgenic alopecia and it already acts controlling the production of dihydrotestosterone in people with baldness associated with hormonal imbalance.

Nano-peptides

This most recently developed therapy consists of the injection of cocktails of short protein fragments (peptides) packaged in microdrops. These peptides perform quite specific functions, so that each cocktail varies depending on the need.

Treatment protocol in hair mesotherapy

The treatment protocol in hair mesotherapy is established by the treating physician after the diagnosis of alopecia or hair fragility since it depends, among other things, on the severity of the lesion and its extension on the scalp.

Generally, each session lasts about 10-30 minutes, depending on the size of the alopecic area to be treated. On the other hand, the number of sessions varies throughout the protocol, starting with an intensive treatment of 2 sessions per week during the first two months and ending with a session every three months.

The positive effects of hair mesotherapy start to be observed after 3 months of treatment, but the best results are obtained after six months.

Advantages of Hair Mesotherapy

One of the most evident advantages of this therapy is that it can be used in conjunction with other topical treatments for alopecia, which activates its pharmacological effects and potentiates its effect. Many specialists consider that in order to obtain good results in the case of hair micro-grafts, it is necessary to carry out previous sessions of hair mesotherapy since the latter favors the correct implantation of the hair in the receiving area.

Other pharmacological treatments for alopecia, such as those for oral use, are subject to the digestive process, so their dose and effect may be altered during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract, while topical treatments for alopecia may not penetrate the patient’s scalp due to conditions inherent to their physiology, such as thickness or oil layer.

Therefore, by introducing the active ingredients directly into the dermis through hair mesotherapy, the correct dose is guaranteed to reach the hair follicle, avoiding the loss of its effect along the way.

Side effects of mesotherapy

The main side effects of hair mesotherapy are associated with the penetration of the needle into the scalp so some patients complain of pain, bruising, swelling and in very few cases infection at the puncture sites.

For this reason a new variant of hair mesotherapy has been developed in which the solution is applied to the scalp and then uses ultrasound to introduce it into the dermis. In this way, the use of needles in hair mesotherapy has been gradually eliminated and progress has been made towards a less invasive technique.