Comparative Efficacy of Topical Chitosan and Minoxidil in Hair Loss: A Controlled Study With Microneedling

This study compared the efficacy of topical 2% chitosan applied after microneedling with 5% minoxidil and a no-treatment control in 30 patients with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse hair loss. Over 6 months, both the chitosan and minoxidil groups showed significant increases in hair density compared to the control group, with improvements of +30.5% and +22.3%, respectively. Although the chitosan group had a numerically greater improvement than the minoxidil group, the difference was not statistically significant. Both treatment groups also saw improvements in hair shaft diameter and patient satisfaction, with mild, transient erythema reported in a few cases. The study concludes that while chitosan shows promise, larger studies are needed to confirm its efficacy as a standalone or adjunctive therapy.