APR says hair-loss treatment research published in international journal

APR announced Monday that research conducted through an industry-academia collaboration on scalp health improvement and androgenetic alopecia treatment using radiofrequency microporation technology has been published in Pharmaceutics, an international journal ranked in the top 10 percent (Q1) of the pharmacology category in the Journal Citation Reports.

Researchers evaluated the skin-delivery efficiency of minoxidil and its hair-regrowth effects using the radiofrequency microporation technology built into the Air Shot mode of APR's home beauty device, the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro X2.

The technology uses precisely controlled radiofrequency energy to create temporary microchannels in the scalp's stratum corneum, allowing active ingredients to be absorbed more efficiently into the skin. The study found that applying radiofrequency microporation alongside minoxidil increased the drug's deposition in the epidermis and dermis by up to 2.40 times compared with topical application alone. Hair coverage, length and thickness also improved in an androgenetic alopecia animal model.

Finasteride, an oral hair-loss medication, is contraindicated in women of childbearing age due to the risk of fetal abnormalities in male fetuses, making topical minoxidil the standard recommended treatment for female-pattern hair loss. However, topical agents such as minoxidil must penetrate the scalp's stratum corneum, which has long limited how effectively active ingredients reach the skin and the area around hair follicles.

APR said it plans to conduct further clinical research to verify the technology's applicability, efficacy and safety in treating hair loss. "This publication in an international journal demonstrates that APR goes beyond simple product development by continuously validating the scientific principles and efficacy behind its own device technology," a company official said.