Dermabrasion to Diminish Scars and Encourage Hair Growth?

Hi Dr. Rassman,

Thank you for taking the time to write in this informative blog- I read what you write religiously. I’m a female with some large scarring and hair loss due to an accident. I’ve heard a lot of anecdotal evidence of some pretty dramatic effects of ‘skin needling’ or ‘dermabrasion’ on both diminishing scars and encouraging hair growth in the same skin. Do you have any opinions or advice on this technique. Any opinion on the various ‘skin rollers’? Would it help with my husband’s male pattern baldness?

I receive mailings from “skin rollers” with samples sent to my office. There are papers written about these devices which are actually advertisements supporting them, but as you state, these are mostly anecdotal evidence. Some have a hint of scientific research behind them, but I have not seen the research published in creditable medical journals. It is my general opinion (as you also state) that these are just anecdotal observations and if it works for you… great! Buyer beware.