PRP for Immune Mediated Alopecias (Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis)

January 2021

Nina Semsarzadeh, Jeffrey S. Dover

platelet-rich plasma stem cells alopecia areata alopecia totalis intralesional corticosteroids topical minoxidil corticosteroids immunosuppressants JAK inhibitors PRP SCs AA

TLDR PRP is effective for treating patchy alopecia areata.

The document reviewed the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells (SCs) for treating alopecia areata (AA). PRP was found to be as effective as intralesional corticosteroids and topical minoxidil, with potential for a quicker and more sustained response in patchy AA cases. Although stem cells showed promise in preliminary studies, more clinical research was needed to assess their efficacy. The study also addressed the significant psychosocial effects of AA and the inconsistent success rates of current treatments, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and JAK inhibitors.

View this study on link.springer.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

23 / 23 results

research Successful Treatment of Alopecia Areata Barbae with Platelet-Rich Plasma

6 citations , April 2020 in “Cureus”

Platelet-rich plasma injections can effectively treat alopecia areata barbae.

research Functional Complexity of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Niche and Therapeutic Targeting of Niche Dysfunction for Hair Regeneration

59 citations , March 2020 in “Journal of Biomedical Science”

Understanding how hair follicle stem cells work can help find new ways to prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.

research Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Therapy for Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata

26 citations , June 2019 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Regenerative therapies show promise for treating vitiligo and alopecia areata.

research The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Hair Regrowth in Patients with Alopecia Areata Totalis: A Clinical Pilot Study

14 citations , June 2019 in “Dermatologic therapy”

PRP did not significantly regrow hair in alopecia areata totalis patients.

research Platelet-Rich Plasma and Stem Cells for Hair Growth: A Review of the Literature

12 citations , May 2019 in “Aesthetic Surgery Journal”

Platelet-Rich Plasma and stem cell therapy can increase hair count and density, but the best method for preparation and treatment still needs to be determined.

research Evaluation of Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Intralesional Steroid in Treatment of Alopecia Areata

19 citations , May 2019 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Platelet-rich plasma is a safe and effective treatment for hair loss, with fewer relapses than steroid treatment.

research Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy on Alopecia Areata in Cellular and Hair Follicle Organ Culture Models

16 citations , October 2018 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy may help treat alopecia areata by promoting hair growth and reducing inflammation.

research Cellular Therapy with Human Autologous Adipose-Derived Adult Cells of Stromal Vascular Fraction for Alopecia Areata

45 citations , May 2018 in “Stem Cell Research & Therapy”

Using patients' own fat-derived cells to treat alopecia areata significantly improved hair growth and was safe.

research Alopecia Areata: Treatment Options and Efficacy

182 citations , December 2017 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

Some treatments can help with a hair loss condition called alopecia areata, but none ensure lasting results; choices depend on the person, with JAK inhibitors showing promise for severe cases.

research Role of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Limited Alopecia Areata in Local Population

3 citations , November 2016 in “Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatology”

PRP is a safe and effective treatment for limited alopecia areata.

research Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Minoxidil 5% in Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Trichoscopic Evaluation

62 citations , October 2016 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

PRP more effective than minoxidil 5% for treating alopecia areata.

research Stem Cell Therapy as a Novel Therapeutic Intervention for Resistant Cases of Alopecia Areata and Androgenetic Alopecia

39 citations , August 2016 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment”

Stem cell therapy may help treat tough hair loss cases.

research Platelet-Rich Plasma Combined with Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide for the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Case Report

15 citations , November 2015 in “Journal of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery”

Mixing platelet-rich plasma with triamcinolone acetonide can potentially improve hair regrowth in alopecia areata patients.

research The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Regrowth: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

214 citations , September 2015 in “Stem Cells Translational Medicine”

Platelet-rich plasma injections significantly improved hair regrowth and thickness in patients with hair loss.

research Successful Treatment of Corticosteroid-Resistant Ophiasis-Type Alopecia Areata with Platelet-Rich Plasma

30 citations , August 2015 in “JAAD case reports”

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections successfully treated a woman's steroid-resistant hair loss, causing hair to regrow within a month.

research Hair Regrowth in Alopecia Areata Patients Following Stem Cell Educator Therapy

55 citations , April 2015 in “BMC medicine”

Stem Cell Educator therapy helps regrow hair and improve life quality in alopecia areata patients.

research Intralesional Platelet-Rich Plasma vs. Intralesional Triamcinolone in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata: A Comparative Study

15 citations , January 2015 in “International journal of medical research and health sciences”

Platelet rich plasma is as effective as triamcinolone for treating alopecia areata.

research Role of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Chronic Alopecia Areata: Our Centre Experience

61 citations , January 2015 in “Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery”

Platelet-rich plasma treatment could potentially be an effective way to treat chronic alopecia areata with minimal side effects.

research Limited Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment on Chronic Severe Alopecia Areata

15 citations , January 2014 in “Hair therapy & transplantation”

Platelet-Rich Plasma treatment has limited and temporary effects on severe Alopecia Areata and does not prevent relapses.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- and Active-Controlled, Half-Head Study to Evaluate the Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Alopecia Areata

research A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- and Active-Controlled, Half-Head Study to Evaluate the Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Alopecia Areata

205 citations , April 2013 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Platelet-rich plasma treatment significantly increased hair regrowth and decreased discomfort in alopecia patients, making it a potentially better and safer treatment option.

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations , April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Potential Therapeutic Tool for Promoting Hair Growth

270 citations , March 2012 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

Platelet-rich plasma can potentially promote hair growth by stimulating cell growth and increasing certain proteins.

research Maintenance of Hair Follicle Immune Privilege Is Linked to Prevention of NK Cell Attack

253 citations , December 2007 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Hair follicles prevent NK cell attacks to avoid hair loss.

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 108 results

community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

in Research 830 upvotes 1 year ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community When are we getting a cure to hair loss?

in Chat 2 years ago

Potential treatments for hair loss, including Minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841 and various upcoming pharmaceuticals, gene editing and cloning. It is suggested that a cure, if found, would be highly profitable due to the large number of people affected by hair loss globally.

community I just made my own PRP - DIY PRP

in Research/Science 552 upvotes 2 years ago

The post and conversation are about a user who made their own Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for hair loss treatment at home, using their own blood and a centrifuge. The responses vary, with some users supporting the DIY approach to save money, others expressing concern about the safety and effectiveness of the method, and a few joking about the lengths people will go to combat hair loss.

community SCUBE3 and GT20029 could be the closet thing to a cure: Hair Follicle Regeneration and Protection Against DHT

in Research/Science 14 upvotes 2 years ago

SCUBE3 and GT20029 are potential treatments for hair loss, with SCUBE3 stimulating hair growth and GT20029 protecting against DHT. A combined approach using SCUBE3, finasteride or dutasteride, and later GT20029 could provide a comprehensive treatment for androgenetic alopecia.

community If we can clone a sheep why we can't cure baldness till now

in Research/Science 181 upvotes 1 month ago

Hair loss treatments like Minoxidil, finasteride, and stem cell therapies exist, but a complete cure is hindered by genetic complexity and market dynamics. Cloning hair follicles is considered a potential solution, but it's currently not feasible.

community New and Interesting HairLoss Studies/Papers/Reviews

in Treatment 40 upvotes 5 years ago

Hair loss treatments discussed include Dutasteride with Ketoconazole, tissue engineering strategies, and androgenetic alopecia therapies. Massage doubles follicular retention, improving treatment effectiveness.

Related Research

8 / 8 results

research Potential Herbal Medicine for Alopecia Areata Treatment: A Systematic Review

December 2022 in “International journal of research publications”

Herbal medicine might be a good alternative for treating hair loss.

research Clinical Response to Adjunctive Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in a Patient with Alopecia Universalis on Oral Tofacitinib

1 citations , December 2021 in “JAAD case reports”

A woman with severe hair loss saw significant hair regrowth after adding platelet-rich plasma injections to her treatment with tofacitinib.

research Efficacy of Systemic Minoxidil and Tofacitinib Combination in Treatment-Resistant Alopecia Universalis

1 citations , October 2020 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

Using minoxidil and tofacitinib together can effectively treat severe hair loss.

research What’s New in Hair Loss

5 citations , March 2019 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

New treatments for hair loss show promise, but require more research on long-term effects and proper dosing.

research The Efficacy of Topical Minoxidil for Non-Scarring Alopecia: A Systematic Review

1 citations , February 2019 in “PubMed”

Minoxidil is effective in treating various types of hair loss and can improve quality of life, with combination therapies showing increased effectiveness.

research Alopecia Areata: An Update on Treatment Options for Children

21 citations , May 2017 in “Paediatric drugs”

Individualized treatment plans are crucial for children with alopecia areata, with promising options like JAK inhibitors showing significant hair regrowth.

research Alopecia Areata: Evidence-Based Treatments

71 citations , March 2009 in “Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery”

Alopecia areata can cause unpredictable hair loss, and treatments like corticosteroids and minoxidil may help but have varying side effects.

research Topical Minoxidil for Hair Growth in Alopecia Areata and Androgenetica

24 citations , February 1987 in “Drugs”

Minoxidil promotes hair regrowth, but more research needed for effectiveness and response factors.