PRP, Microneedling, Minoxidil and Red Light Therapy for Hair: How They Compare
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kate Healy, MB BCh BAO, MICGP, CFPC – 2026-10-15
For pattern hair loss, topical minoxidil has the most established evidence, and combining it with microneedling has shown the largest improvement in hair density in pooled studies. PRP and red light therapy have promising but less consistent evidence. The most appropriate choice depends on the type of hair loss, your health and pregnancy plans, and what you can realistically commit to over months.
If you are comparing PRP, microneedling and red light therapy for hair, you are likely trying to understand which is worth the time and cost, and whether they can be combined. These treatments are designed for pattern thinning. If you are not sure that is what you have, our guide to why hair thins explains the other causes, and Merrion's page on hair loss and thinning hair treatment explains how the type is assessed.
Topical minoxidil
Minoxidil is applied to the scalp, usually once or twice a day, and is the most established treatment for pattern hair loss in both women and men.[2] It is available without a prescription in Canada. Benefit depends on continued use and tends to fade if it is stopped. Some people notice temporary extra shedding in the first weeks, and some find the scalp becomes dry or itchy. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Prescription medicines
Prescription options for pattern hair loss, such as finasteride for men, spironolactone for some women, need to be selected individually and reviewed over time. They are considered only after an assessment, and several are not suitable during pregnancy or when trying to conceive.
Microneedling for hair
Microneedling creates small, controlled injuries in the scalp, which may stimulate the follicle's environment and help topical treatments penetrate. In a 2023 network meta-analysis of 27 trials, minoxidil plus microneedling was associated with the greatest improvement in hair density at six months; microneedling alone showed a smaller effect.[1] Our article on microneedling for hair loss explains the evidence and its limits.
At Merrion, scalp microneedling is offered within the Hair Growth Microneedling Program, a course of eight in-office treatments with home care between visits.
PRP for hair
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment involves taking a small sample of your blood, concentrating the platelets, and injecting them into areas of thinning. Platelets release growth factors, which is the rationale for using them around hair follicles. Treatment is usually given as a series of sessions.
Systematic reviews describe PRP as possibly helpful for pattern hair loss, but results are very variable. Preparation methods, injection schedules and outcomes vary considerably between studies, which makes results hard to compare.[3] In the 2023 network meta-analysis, the difference between PRP alone and minoxidil alone was not statistically significant.[1]
PRP is not suitable for everyone, including some people with blood or platelet disorders or those taking certain medicines. Merrion Medical Aesthetics does not offer PRP for hair. If it may suit you, Dr. Kate can talk this through with you at your assessment.
Red light therapy and low-level light therapy for hair
Low-level light therapy uses red or near-infrared light, delivered by caps, helmets, combs or clinic devices. Reviews suggest it may improve hair density in pattern hair loss and is generally well tolerated, although devices, wavelengths and treatment schedules differ widely between studies.[4] Most of this research used laser-based devices applied regularly over months; LED devices such as Healite have been studied less, and these findings should not be assumed to apply to them. "Red light therapy" is used as a label for many different devices, so it is reasonable to ask what type of device any evidence refers to.
At Merrion, Healite LED is included at each session of the Hair Growth Microneedling Program as supportive scalp care. It is part of a wider plan, decided after an assessment, rather than a stand-alone hair treatment.
Can you combine hair loss treatments?
Combining approaches is common, and pooled evidence suggests some combinations work better than single treatments. In the network meta-analysis, minoxidil with microneedling ranked highest for density gains, while PRP combined with microneedling ranked below minoxidil with microneedling in the trials available.[1] Combinations still need to be planned, because timing matters: the scalp may absorb more after needling, and several treatments together can increase irritation.
How to choose between them
The most appropriate option depends on:
- the type and extent of hair loss, and how long it has been present
- your general health, medicines and blood test results
- pregnancy, breastfeeding or plans to conceive
- comfort with daily applications, needles or injections
- how much time you can commit to sessions and home care over months
During an assessment, Dr. Kate considers these factors together before discussing which options, alone or combined, may suit you.
Organise your concerns before a visit. The quiz helps you describe what you notice; it does not replace an examination.
For a hair loss plan matched to you, book a complimentary consultation with Dr. Kate.
Frequently asked questions
Is PRP or microneedling better for hair loss?
Neither is universally better. In pooled studies, PRP alone and microneedling alone showed broadly modest effects, while microneedling combined with minoxidil showed the largest improvement in density.
Does red light therapy work for hair growth?
Reviews suggest low-level light therapy may improve density in pattern hair loss. Devices and schedules vary widely, so results from one device should not be assumed for another.
Can PRP and microneedling be combined?
They are sometimes combined, but in pooled analysis this combination ranked below minoxidil with microneedling. Planning depends on the individual assessment.
Is minoxidil better than PRP?
Minoxidil has the more established evidence. In pooled analysis, the difference between PRP alone and minoxidil alone was not statistically significant.
Does LED light therapy help hair growth?
Most light therapy research used laser-based devices. At Merrion, Healite LED is used as supportive scalp care within the Program, not as a hair growth treatment.
Which hair loss treatment works fastest?
None works quickly. Hair grows slowly, and most treatments are judged after three to six months of consistent use.
Sources
- Gupta AK, et al. Relative effects of minoxidil 5%, platelet-rich plasma, and microneedling in pattern hair loss: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Skin Appendage Disord. 2023;9(6):397–406.
- Dakkak M, Forde KM, Lanney H. Hair loss: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2024;110(3):243–250.
- Gentile P, Garcovich S. Systematic review of platelet-rich plasma use in androgenetic alopecia compared with minoxidil, finasteride, and adult stem cell-based therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2020.
- Darwin E, et al. Low-level laser therapy for the treatment of androgenic alopecia: a review. Lasers Med Sci. 2018.
This information is educational and does not replace personalised medical assessment.
