The purpose of this study is to determine whether Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome microneedling on the scalp is an effective treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia (pattern hair loss).
After being informed about the study and potential risks, all participants who give written consent and meet the later discussed inclusion criteria and don't fall under the exclusion criteria will be enrolled in the study. The investigators will conduct a double-blind placebo-controlled study to test whether Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Exosome (WJMSC-exosome) application with microneedling is an effective treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia. Participants will be broken down into a 5 billion exosome group vs. saline group and a 50 billion exosome vs. saline group. Treatment will be applied to the following treatment area: two rectangles on the scalp vertex each measuring 4cm on the sagittal plane by 2cm on the coronal plane. One rectangle will be 2.0 mm left of the midline of the scalp and another will be 2.0 mm right of the midline of the scalp. Each treatment area will be divided into an anterior and posterior half with 1 permanent microdot tattoo in the middle (4 tattoos in total). The microdot tattoo (composed of Iron Oxide, Glycerol, Alcohol, and distilled Water and Red - D\&C Red #30, Glycerol, Alcohol and distilled water) will allow HairMatrix® by Canfield, an AI-driven hair consultation device, to accurately and reproducibly access changes in hair growth in the treatment areas. Participants in the 5 billion exosome group will receive topical applications of 5 billion WJMSC-exosomes on one side of the treatment area and an equal volume of placebo (an identically-looking saline solution) application on the opposite side of the treatment area. The 50 billion exosome group will receive topical applications of 50 billion WJMSC-exosomes on one side of the treatment area and an equal volume of placebo application on the opposite side of the treatment area. Immediately after topical application, all participants will receive microneedling at a depth of .5 mm on the entire treatment area. Treatment will be administered in 4 sessions, monthly for the first three months and for a 4th time 4 months after the third session. The study will go on for 12 months from the date of the first treatment. Participant's changes in hair growth (hair count, hair thickness, and hair color) and adverse events will be evaluated and recorded.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
100
Participants will receive 5 billion WJMSC-exosome topical application on one half of the treatment area and an equivalent volume of saline solution on the contralateral half of the treatment area. Microneedling at a depth of .5mm on the entire treatment area will immediately follow the exosome and saline application. Participants will also receive 4 permanent microdot tattoos on the aforementioned locations.
Participants will receive 50 billion WJMSC-exosome topical application on one half of the treatment area and an equivalent volume of saline solution on the contralateral half of the treatment area. Microneedling at a depth of .5mm on the entire treatment area will immediately follow the exosome and saline application. Participants will also receive 4 permanent microdot tattoos on the aforementioned locations.
Levit Dermatology
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Hair count
Evaluated by HairMatrix® by Canfield, an AI-driven hair consultation device
Time frame: Evaluated on monthly visits for a year
Hair thickness
Evaluated by HairMatrix® by Canfield, an AI-driven hair consultation device
Time frame: Evaluated on monthly visits for a year
Hair color
Evaluated by HairMatrix® by Canfield, an AI-driven hair consultation device
Time frame: Evaluated on monthly visits for a year
Adverse events
Patients will self-report adverse events on a questionnaire on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being minimal discomfort and 10 being worst discomfort ever experienced.
Time frame: Participants will self-report adverse events during monthly visits for the entire 1-year duration
Self-reported hair changes
Patients will self-report impressions of hair growth changes on each treatment area on a scale of -10 to 10, with -10 being extreme worsening of hair loss and 10 being extreme regrowth. Patients will scale impressions of hair thickness, hair density, hair color, hair growth speed, hair texture, and overall satisfaction with therapy applied to each treatment area.
Time frame: Patients will self-report on questionnaire during monthly visits for the entire 1-year duration
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