Microdermabrasion Does Not Promote Beard Growth
Microdermabrasion is not indicated for or effective at promoting beard growth. The available evidence exclusively addresses microdermabrasion's role in treating skin conditions such as photoaging, acne scarring, stretch marks, and melasma—not hair growth stimulation 1, 2, 3.
Why Microdermabrasion Is Not Appropriate for Beard Growth
Mechanism of Action
- Microdermabrasion works by abrading the stratum corneum (outermost skin layer) with high-pressure crystal flow, creating superficial skin resurfacing 2, 4
- The procedure stimulates collagen production and improves skin texture through controlled micro-injury to the epidermis and superficial dermis 2, 5
- This mechanism targets skin quality, not hair follicle stimulation, which would require entirely different biological pathways 3
Evidence Base Limitations
- All clinical studies on microdermabrasion focus on dermatologic conditions: melasma, acne scars, striae distensae, and photoaging 2, 3
- Histopathologic analysis shows microdermabrasion increases collagen density and normalizes melanin distribution, but demonstrates no effects on hair follicles or hair growth 2, 5
- When combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), microdermabrasion shows efficacy for stretch marks and skin rejuvenation, but again, no evidence exists for hair growth applications 1
What Actually Works for Hair Growth
Evidence-Based Alternatives
While not the focus of the provided evidence, the complete absence of any hair growth data for microdermabrasion is telling—if microdermabrasion promoted hair growth, this would have been documented in the extensive literature on facial applications 1, 6, 3.
Clinical Bottom Line
Do not recommend microdermabrasion for beard growth. The procedure is designed for superficial skin resurfacing with penetration depths of only the stratum corneum and superficial epidermis 2, 4. Hair follicles extend much deeper into the dermis and require targeted follicular stimulation, which microdermabrasion does not provide 3, 5.
Common Pitfall to Avoid
- Patients may confuse microdermabrasion with microneedling—while microneedling with PRP has some evidence for scalp hair growth, microdermabrasion is a completely different procedure with no hair growth mechanism 6