Manual techniques applied to hair therapy: treatments for male androgenetic alopecia

Abstract

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common condition in men, characterized by follicular miniaturization induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), resulting in progressive hair loss. In addition to the aesthetic impacts, AGA compromises the psychosocial well-being of individuals. The methodology adopted was an integrative literature review, with searches carried out in the Google Scholar, SciELO, PubMed and LILACS databases (2014-2025), using the descriptors: “male androgenetic alopecia”, “manual techniques” and “treatments for androgenetic alopecia”. Studies that addressed protocols of manual resources appropriate for Aesthetics were included. The results indicate massage techniques as a promising complementary technique, by improving blood circulation, reducing anxiety and stress, improving sleep quality and increasing follicle nutrition. In addition to traditional treatments, with medications, therapies such as microneedling, low-intensity laser and carboxytherapy have shown efficacy in stimulating hair growth. Comparative analysis suggests that the combination of different modalities can enhance the results, although the lack of standardization of protocols represents a limitation. It is concluded that AGA requires a multifactorial approach, integrating conventional treatments with complementary therapies. This study, through a bibliographic analysis, addressed the use of massage techniques in hair care and their potential application as a complementary therapy in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia.