Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment for Hair Loss: Here's What to Know

Table Of Content

• Things Your Hair Says About Your Health
• I Tried Minoxidil To Regrow My Hair And This Is What I Look Like Now
• Harvard Health Blog
• Alopecia Areata
• PRP Therapy Benefits
• What is the average recovery associated with PRP injections for hair loss?
• Special Health Reports
• Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) & Hair Loss

In all studies, patients were either naive or underwent a wash-out period from any treatment ranging from 2 weeks to 1 year. In genetically predisposed individuals, hair follicles are oversensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is converted from testosterone by the 5α-reductase type II enzyme. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is an encompassing term for non-scarring hair loss that typically begins in adult life, mediated by the action of androgens on genetically susceptible hair follicles [1]. Although the histopathological findings are identical in both sexes, clinical presentation and therapeutic implications differ considerably, hence the term female androgenetic alopecia (FAGA) advocated by many authors [2,3,4]. PRP may help promote increased blood flow to sites and blood vessel development.

Things Your Hair Says About Your Health

Between August 2013 and November 2013, all patients suffering from androgenic alopecia and on topical minoxidil and finasteride for at least 6 months without much improvement were considered for PRP therapy. All included patients were tested by ELISA for HIV, HBS Ag and platelet count. Exclusion criteria were haematological disorders, thyroid dysfunction, malnutrition and other dermatological disorders contributing to hair loss. A 1 cm × 1 cm square area was marked over right parietal area in mid-pupillary line, 10 cm proximal to right eyebrow in each patient. Baseline follicular units were manually counted with the help of trichoscan in this area by dividing into four small quadrants [Figures ​[Figures11 and ​and22]. Further studies observed a significant improvement in hair parameters in patients treated with both PRP and topical minoxidil or oral finasteride, with the combination of PRP and minoxidil being the most effective in inducing hair regrowth [73,74].

I Tried Minoxidil To Regrow My Hair And This Is What I Look Like Now

Evidence from the literature suggests PRP as a potential effective, well-tolerated treatment for FAGA. In spite of milder efficacy compared to topical minoxidil, PRP showed to produce high levels of satisfaction and improvement in the quality of life in patients affected by FAGA. In light of this evidence, PRP could be proposed in patients who did not respond or did not tolerate topical minoxidil, as well as in combination with topical and oral drugs. These researches would significantly impact clinical practice, providing patients with new therapeutic options. Interestingly, all included studies observed a significant satisfaction and improvement in quality of life of patients undergoing PRP, which was found greater than placebo and topical minoxidil.

Harvard Health Blog

Your dermatologist may prescribe you spironolactone or finasteride to help promote hair regrowth as well if you are post-menopausal, says Zeichner. After that time, most of her patients – both male and female – have regrown 30% to 40% of the hair they’ve lost. Because it is a surgical procedure, doctors typically recommend hair transplantation only for those who have dramatic hair loss. Doctors can perform PRP therapy prior to transplantation, which can provide better results with more dense hair growth, Dr. Khetarpal says. They typically administer injections monthly for three months, then spread them out over about three or four months for up to two years.

Treatments are typically performed once a month for the first three to four months, and then every three to six months thereafter, depending on the individual patient's response and results. Following this protocol, anticipated results can first be seen within two to three months, says Sadick. If you are considering PRP injections, be sure to talk with your health care provider about all the benefits and risks. Early studies indicate that PRP injections may help treat osteoarthritis pain and stiffness by modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation, but research is growing.

Plasma therapy is one of the advanced therapies used to effectively address hair loss, both on its own and in conjunction with hair restoration, since the early 2000’s and has demonstrated promising results. Patience and consistency with your PRP sessions are crucial to seeing changes to your hair regrowth and achieving the desired results. PRP injection is a simple, cost effective and feasible treatment option for androgenic alopecia, with high overall patient satisfaction. Usually, medical insurance does not cover PRP injections, which can become expensive if repeat treatments are necessary. To date, there has been no conclusive evidence of its effectiveness, or standardization of treatment.

Hairline International Launches Sonicated PRP- a cutting edge Hair Regeneration Therapy - Hindustan Times

Hairline International Launches Sonicated PRP- a cutting edge Hair Regeneration Therapy.

Posted: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Some private insurance companies may cover PRP therapy for people with certain medical conditions, such as alopecia areata. Medicare and Medicaid only cover PRP therapy for healing chronic pressure or venous wounds in people with diabetes. Before each session, the hair pull test was performed three times by the same clinician. All patients were advised to avoid washing hair two days prior to the treatment.

Now, post-surgical PRP injections have expanded to help heal muscles, tendons and ligaments, as procedures on these tissues have notoriously long recovery times. In 2019, a team of researchers carried out a systematic review of the research on PRP as a treatment for hair loss. In this article, we describe how doctors use PRP to treat hair loss and what researchers say about its effectiveness.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) & Hair Loss

Platelets also contain dense granules that contain bioactive factors to increase membrane permeability and modulate inflammation (Leo et al., 2015). Dense granules contain serotonin, histamine, dopamine, calcium, and adenosine that increase membrane permeability and modulate inflammation (Asadi et al., 2014, Leo et al., 2015). Activated platelets are understood to release numerous growth factors and cytokines from their alpha granules as part of the wound healing process. Platelets in PRP become activated when injected into the scalp and release multiple growth factors, which promote hair growth.

PRP is an autologous preparation of plasma with a high concentration of platelets. It is relatively safe intervention with minimal adverse effects, including temporary and tolerable pain during treatment, mild headache, minimal itching, transient erythema and edema on treated area. For hair loss, treatment includes one PRP treatment per month for three months, followed by one treatment every three months for a year, and then one treatment yearly. It takes three months to see any improvement, and you’ll see maximum improvement in one year.

According to the literature, ideal timing to achieve significant results in both FAGA and MAGA consists of 3 monthly sessions followed by a 3- to 6-month maintenance period [71]. In the study by Puig et al., no significant difference in improvement in hair parameters was detected after a single session of PRP compared to placebo [59]. As suggested by the authors, it is conceivable that one session would not be sufficient to induce a significant clinical effect. This seems to be confirmed by the observations of Tawfik et al. and Dubin et al., who observed superiority of PRP over placebo after a higher number of regularly scheduled sessions [56,58].

AEDIT uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. The PRP for hair loss procedure is offered at many of our practice locations. Our Board – Certified dermatologists are experts in performing this procedure. To learn more about the procedure and whether it’s right for you, find the Forefront Dermatology office near you and schedule a consultation today. Viral hair loss products have been gaining media popularity, but can they help with alopecia?

PRP therapy is usually not covered by insurance, so you may need to pay out-of-pocket. A 2018 review also notes that PRP therapies may help reduce pain and improve healing in ligament and tendon damage cases. Still, the authors conclude that more research is necessary to fully assess the efficacy of the treatment. A 2015 study reports that males receiving PRP treatment grew more hair, and with significantly more density, than males who did not get the treatment. Several studies have been conducted investigating the potential effects of PRP in the treatment of AGA in males, with promising results [65,66,67,68,69]. Women with hyperandrogenism may present with patterned hair loss and hirsutism, however, most women with FAGA have normal levels of androgens [23,24].