Platelet-Rich Plasma for Hair Loss
November 2018
in “Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America”
TLDR Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), a protein-rich extract from a patient's blood, shows promise in improving hair density, thickness, and quality, but the best method of use and number of treatments needed for noticeable results are still unclear.
In 2018, a review of multiple studies explored the use of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) as a treatment for hair loss. PRP, a concentrate extracted from a patient's own blood, contains proteins that can significantly affect hair cell growth. The studies showed promising results, with PRP treatment leading to improvements in hair density, thickness, and quality. For example, one study demonstrated a significant increase in hair count and density over the control group when using inactive-PRP compared to active-PRP. Patient satisfaction was generally high. However, there was no consensus on the best method of PRP activation, indicating a need for further research. The review also discussed the use of PRP in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA), with positive effects observed when used in a series of at least 3 treatments. Side effects were minimal but two studies found no effect of PRP on hair restoration, suggesting that multiple injections might be necessary for measurable improvement. As of 2018, there were 7 active clinical trials evaluating PRP's effect on AGA and AA.
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