An Overview of the Biology of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Microneedling as Potential Treatments for Alopecia Areata

November 2017 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”

Lauren C. Strazzulla, Lorena Avila, Kristen Lo Sicco, Jerry Shapiro

platelet-rich plasma microneedling alopecia areata growth factor hair follicle triamcinolone acetonide PRP TAC

From the encyclopedia

Platelet-Rich Plasma →

growth factors taken from your blood and injected into your scalp to stimulate hair

Microneedling →

technique to create small wounds in skin to activate collagen production and hair growth

Alopecia Areata →

autoimmune disorder causing patchy hair loss

Studysummary This review discusses the potential use of platelet-rich plasma and microneedling for alopecia areata and reports encouraging findings, but no new clinical results; future research is needed to validate these treatments. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

In 2017, research was conducted into the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and microneedling as potential treatments for alopecia areata (AA). Laboratory studies suggested that these treatments could enhance growth factor production, aiding hair follicle development and cycling. A double-blind study with 45 patients showed significantly greater hair regrowth in those treated with PRP compared to those treated with triamcinolone acetonide (TAC), a common AA treatment. Another study with 74 patients showed 52.8% of those treated with PRP went into remission by week 6. However, the lack of standardized treatment protocols and assessment methods made it difficult to fully evaluate these treatments' potential benefits. Further research was needed to confirm these therapeutic techniques' effectiveness for AA patients.

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