Comparative Efficacy of Topical Chitosan and Minoxidil in Hair Loss: A Controlled Study With Microneedling
Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, has shown promise in enhancing tissue repair. While 5% minoxidil remains the standard treatment for androgenetic alopecia, interest in non-hormonal or adjunctive therapies such as chitosan is growing. To evaluate t...
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| Veröffentlicht in: | The Journal of craniofacial surgery |
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03.10.2025
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| Abstract | Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, has shown promise in enhancing tissue repair. While 5% minoxidil remains the standard treatment for androgenetic alopecia, interest in non-hormonal or adjunctive therapies such as chitosan is growing.
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical 2% chitosan applied after microneedling in comparison with 5% topical minoxidil and a no-treatment control group in patients with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse hair loss.
A prospective, controlled study enrolled 30 patients (aged 22-58 y), randomized equally into 3 groups (n=10 each): (1) microneedling followed by 4 mL of 2% chitosan (Chitosan group), (2) twice-daily application of 5% topical minoxidil (Minoxidil group), and (3) untreated control (Control group). Treatments continued for 6 months. Primary outcomes included trichoscopic hair density and hair shaft diameter; secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction scores and adverse events. A representative scalp biopsy from the chitosan group was evaluated histologically.
After 6 months, both the chitosan and minoxidil groups demonstrated significant increases in mean hair density compared with the control group (+30.5% and +22.3%, respectively; P=0.032 and P=0.048). Although the chitosan group showed a numerically greater improvement than the minoxidil group, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.62). Hair shaft diameter and patient satisfaction scores improved in both treatment groups. No meaningful changes were observed in the control group. Mild, transient erythema occurred in 3 patients (1 in the chitosan group and 2 in the minoxidil group). Histologic analysis in a chitosan-treated subject showed increased follicular density and improved dermal matrix organization.
In this small controlled study, microneedling followed by topical 2% chitosan resulted in significant improvements in hair growth parameters compared with no treatment, and outcomes were generally comparable to those observed with 5% minoxidil. While these results are promising, the small sample size limits definitive conclusions regarding comparative efficacy. Larger, adequately powered trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and to better delineate the role of chitosan as a standalone or adjunctive therapy.
Level II. |
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| AbstractList | Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, has shown promise in enhancing tissue repair. While 5% minoxidil remains the standard treatment for androgenetic alopecia, interest in non-hormonal or adjunctive therapies such as chitosan is growing.
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical 2% chitosan applied after microneedling in comparison with 5% topical minoxidil and a no-treatment control group in patients with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse hair loss.
A prospective, controlled study enrolled 30 patients (aged 22-58 y), randomized equally into 3 groups (n=10 each): (1) microneedling followed by 4 mL of 2% chitosan (Chitosan group), (2) twice-daily application of 5% topical minoxidil (Minoxidil group), and (3) untreated control (Control group). Treatments continued for 6 months. Primary outcomes included trichoscopic hair density and hair shaft diameter; secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction scores and adverse events. A representative scalp biopsy from the chitosan group was evaluated histologically.
After 6 months, both the chitosan and minoxidil groups demonstrated significant increases in mean hair density compared with the control group (+30.5% and +22.3%, respectively; P=0.032 and P=0.048). Although the chitosan group showed a numerically greater improvement than the minoxidil group, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.62). Hair shaft diameter and patient satisfaction scores improved in both treatment groups. No meaningful changes were observed in the control group. Mild, transient erythema occurred in 3 patients (1 in the chitosan group and 2 in the minoxidil group). Histologic analysis in a chitosan-treated subject showed increased follicular density and improved dermal matrix organization.
In this small controlled study, microneedling followed by topical 2% chitosan resulted in significant improvements in hair growth parameters compared with no treatment, and outcomes were generally comparable to those observed with 5% minoxidil. While these results are promising, the small sample size limits definitive conclusions regarding comparative efficacy. Larger, adequately powered trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and to better delineate the role of chitosan as a standalone or adjunctive therapy.
Level II. Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, has shown promise in enhancing tissue repair. While 5% minoxidil remains the standard treatment for androgenetic alopecia, interest in non-hormonal or adjunctive therapies such as chitosan is growing.BACKGROUNDChitosan, a natural polysaccharide with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, has shown promise in enhancing tissue repair. While 5% minoxidil remains the standard treatment for androgenetic alopecia, interest in non-hormonal or adjunctive therapies such as chitosan is growing.To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical 2% chitosan applied after microneedling in comparison with 5% topical minoxidil and a no-treatment control group in patients with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse hair loss.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical 2% chitosan applied after microneedling in comparison with 5% topical minoxidil and a no-treatment control group in patients with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse hair loss.A prospective, controlled study enrolled 30 patients (aged 22-58 y), randomized equally into 3 groups (n=10 each): (1) microneedling followed by 4 mL of 2% chitosan (Chitosan group), (2) twice-daily application of 5% topical minoxidil (Minoxidil group), and (3) untreated control (Control group). Treatments continued for 6 months. Primary outcomes included trichoscopic hair density and hair shaft diameter; secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction scores and adverse events. A representative scalp biopsy from the chitosan group was evaluated histologically.METHODSA prospective, controlled study enrolled 30 patients (aged 22-58 y), randomized equally into 3 groups (n=10 each): (1) microneedling followed by 4 mL of 2% chitosan (Chitosan group), (2) twice-daily application of 5% topical minoxidil (Minoxidil group), and (3) untreated control (Control group). Treatments continued for 6 months. Primary outcomes included trichoscopic hair density and hair shaft diameter; secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction scores and adverse events. A representative scalp biopsy from the chitosan group was evaluated histologically.After 6 months, both the chitosan and minoxidil groups demonstrated significant increases in mean hair density compared with the control group (+30.5% and +22.3%, respectively; P=0.032 and P=0.048). Although the chitosan group showed a numerically greater improvement than the minoxidil group, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.62). Hair shaft diameter and patient satisfaction scores improved in both treatment groups. No meaningful changes were observed in the control group. Mild, transient erythema occurred in 3 patients (1 in the chitosan group and 2 in the minoxidil group). Histologic analysis in a chitosan-treated subject showed increased follicular density and improved dermal matrix organization.RESULTSAfter 6 months, both the chitosan and minoxidil groups demonstrated significant increases in mean hair density compared with the control group (+30.5% and +22.3%, respectively; P=0.032 and P=0.048). Although the chitosan group showed a numerically greater improvement than the minoxidil group, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.62). Hair shaft diameter and patient satisfaction scores improved in both treatment groups. No meaningful changes were observed in the control group. Mild, transient erythema occurred in 3 patients (1 in the chitosan group and 2 in the minoxidil group). Histologic analysis in a chitosan-treated subject showed increased follicular density and improved dermal matrix organization.In this small controlled study, microneedling followed by topical 2% chitosan resulted in significant improvements in hair growth parameters compared with no treatment, and outcomes were generally comparable to those observed with 5% minoxidil. While these results are promising, the small sample size limits definitive conclusions regarding comparative efficacy. Larger, adequately powered trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and to better delineate the role of chitosan as a standalone or adjunctive therapy.CONCLUSIONSIn this small controlled study, microneedling followed by topical 2% chitosan resulted in significant improvements in hair growth parameters compared with no treatment, and outcomes were generally comparable to those observed with 5% minoxidil. While these results are promising, the small sample size limits definitive conclusions regarding comparative efficacy. Larger, adequately powered trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and to better delineate the role of chitosan as a standalone or adjunctive therapy.Level II.EVIDENCEBASED LEVELLevel II. |
| Author | Choi, Wonseok Chansataporn, Pattra Wan, Jovian Pamela, Ruri Sydorchuk, Olena Putri, Ardhiah Iswanda Junawanto, Irwan Hendira, Putri Yi, Kyu-Ho Namthongton, Nil |
| Author_xml | – sequence: 1 givenname: Jovian surname: Wan fullname: Wan, Jovian organization: Medical Research Inc., Wonju – sequence: 2 givenname: Olena surname: Sydorchuk fullname: Sydorchuk, Olena organization: SIORE Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea – sequence: 3 givenname: Irwan surname: Junawanto fullname: Junawanto, Irwan organization: ERHA Dermatology Clinic, Jakarta, Indonesia – sequence: 4 givenname: Wonseok surname: Choi fullname: Choi, Wonseok organization: V Plastic Surgery Clinic, Daegu, Republic of Korea – sequence: 5 givenname: Nil surname: Namthongton fullname: Namthongton, Nil organization: Namninforv Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand – sequence: 6 givenname: Putri surname: Hendira fullname: Hendira, Putri organization: Dr. Soetomo General Hospital – sequence: 7 givenname: Ardhiah Iswanda surname: Putri fullname: Putri, Ardhiah Iswanda organization: Rejuva Dental and Dermatology, Surabaya, Indonesia – sequence: 8 givenname: Pattra surname: Chansataporn fullname: Chansataporn, Pattra organization: Preeyavej Medical Center, Phanom Sarakham, Chachoengsao, Thailand – sequence: 9 givenname: Ruri surname: Pamela fullname: Pamela, Ruri organization: CELV Dermatology Clinic, South Jakarta (Jakarta Selatan), Indonesia – sequence: 10 givenname: Kyu-Ho surname: Yi fullname: Yi, Kyu-Ho organization: Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Human Identification Research Institute, BK21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea |
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| Title | Comparative Efficacy of Topical Chitosan and Minoxidil in Hair Loss: A Controlled Study With Microneedling |
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