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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Mechanical and Controlled PRP Injections in Patients Affected by Androgenetic Alopecia
Published on: January 27, 2018
Intradermal Injections of 10% Glucose (Sihler G) for Scalp Hair Regrowth: A Randomized, Evaluator-Blinded Pilot Study
Kyu-Ho Yi1,2, Olena Sydorchuk3, Suyeon Lee3
1You and I Clinic, Seoul, Korea. kyuho90@daum.net.
Background:
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common non-scarring alopecia with substantial psychosocial burden. Minoxidil and 5α-reductase inhibitors remain standards of care but require prolonged adherence and do not fully address the dermal microenvironment.
Objective:
To evaluate efficacy and safety of intradermal 10% glucose combined with non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid (NHA) versus NHA alone for scalp hair regrowth.
Methods:
In this prospective, single-center, randomized, evaluator-blinded pilot study, 40 adults with mild-to-moderate AGA (Norwood-Hamilton II-IV or Ludwig I-II) were randomized 1:1 to receive intradermal 10% glucose + NHA (Sihler G, Sihler Inc., Korea) or NHA alone. Participants underwent five sessions at 3-week intervals (weeks 0-12). This pilot study was not prospectively registered. The primary end point was change in terminal hair density (hairs/cm2) in a fixed target area from baseline to week 18. Secondary outcomes included hair shaft diameter, global photographic assessments, responder rates, and patient-reported outcomes.
Results:
Thirty-eight participants completed the study (19 per group). At week 18, mean terminal hair density increased by + 19.3 ± 8.1 hairs/cm2 with glucose+NHA and by + 6.2 ± 7.5 hairs/cm2 with NHA alone (between-group difference 13.1 hairs/cm2; 95% CI 7.6-18.7; p < 0.001). Mean hair shaft diameter increased by + 12.8% ± 6.9 versus + 4.1%±6.1 (p = 0.002). Responder rates (≥ 15% density increase) were 74% versus 26% (p = 0.003). Adverse events were mild and transient; no serious events occurred.
Conclusion:
In this pilot RCT, intradermal 10% glucose combined with NHA produced greater improvements in objective and subjective hair outcomes than NHA alone, with a favorable shortterm safety profile. Larger, longer trials are warranted.
Level Of Evidence Ii:
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
