A randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, half-head study to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma on alopecia areata
August 2013
in “British Journal of Dermatology”
TLDR Platelet-rich plasma treatment significantly increased hair regrowth and decreased discomfort in alopecia patients, making it a potentially better and safer treatment option.
A decade ago, a study was conducted on 45 patients with alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. The patients were treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), triamcinolone acetonide (TrA), or a placebo. The results showed that PRP significantly increased hair regrowth, decreased hair dystrophy and burning/itching sensation, and raised Ki-67 levels, a marker for cell proliferation, compared to TrA or placebo. No side effects were reported during the treatment. The study concluded that PRP could be a safe and effective treatment option for AA, potentially a better alternative to TrA. However, the researchers emphasized the need for further controlled and randomized studies to confirm these findings in a larger patient group.
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