The Role of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

January 2024 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”

Christl A. Donnelly, I. Minty, AO D’Souza, Y. Y. Wong, Indranath Mukhopadhyay, Vijaiganesh Nagarajan, R. Rupra, W. N. Charles, Ankur Khajuria

platelet-rich plasma androgenetic alopecia hair density hair count Ki67+ keratinocytes scalp pain PRP AGA

TLDR Platelet-rich plasma may improve hair density and count in male pattern hair loss, but more high-quality research is needed.

The systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PrP) in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in 291 male patients across 9 studies. The treatment protocols varied, with the number of injections ranging from 2 to 6, and treatment periods from 2 to 7 months. Six studies reported a significant positive effect of PrP on hair density, and five studies reported a significant positive effect on hair count. Two studies reported a significant increase in Ki67+ keratinocytes after 2 weeks of treatment. All papers that recorded satisfaction reported an increase post-treatment. The most common side effect was local pain to the scalp, with no long-term or major side effects reported. However, due to the lower quality of evidence and moderate risk of bias in the studies, the authors recommend further robust long-term studies with larger randomized patient cohorts and standardized treatment protocols.

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research The Effect of Placebo in Split-Scalp and Whole-Head Platelet-Rich Plasma Trials for Androgenetic Alopecia Differs: Findings from a Systematic Review with Quantitative Evidence Syntheses

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Placebo effects vary in hair loss trials, with split-scalp trials showing higher hair density after 6 months compared to whole-head trials.

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research Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy

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