Platelet-Rich Plasma Has a Place in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

November 2020 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Deirdre Hooper

platelet-rich plasma androgenetic alopecia topical minoxidil oral finasteride hair count hair density anagen hairs PRP AGA Rogaine Propecia

From the encyclopedia

Platelet-Rich Plasma →

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

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Studysummary This study highlights criticisms of existing research on PRP as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia, noting small sample sizes, lack of controls, subjective result analysis, and varied methodologies.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has shown to be a beneficial treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), a common problem seen in dermatologic settings. While topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are the only FDA-approved treatments, PRP has been found to be a viable option for patients interested in more natural, alternative therapies. Recent well-designed studies have expanded our understanding of PRP, demonstrating a significant increase in hair count, hair density, and percentage of anagen hairs in the PRP group versus control. Patient selection is important, and protocols vary widely in studies, but a regimen of three to four monthly treatments followed by maintenance treatments every six months has been successful in many patients. However, better data is needed to optimize and predict outcomes, and future investigations should seek to standardize protocols and define clear outcome measures.

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Research cited in this study

5 / 5 results

research Platelet-Rich Plasma for Androgenetic Alopecia: Efficacy Differences Between Men and Women

10 citations , August 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This study found that platelet-rich plasma significantly increased hair diameter in both men and women with androgenetic alopecia but improved hair density only in men.

research Evaluation of Platelet-Rich Plasma as a Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

33 citations , July 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

In this study, PRP increased hair density in areas treated for androgenetic alopecia, but there was no significant difference when compared to placebo-treated areas.

research The Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review

76 citations , December 2018 in “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery”

This review discusses various aesthetic and regenerative applications of platelet-rich plasma and concludes that it has potential as a safe cosmetic intervention but requires further studies to understand its clinical effects.

Treatment of Male Pattern Alopecia with Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Double-Blind Controlled Study with Analysis of Platelet Number and Growth Factor Levels

research Treatment of Male Pattern Alopecia with Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Double-Blind Controlled Study with Analysis of Platelet Number and Growth Factor Levels

57 citations , October 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that platelet-rich plasma significantly increased hair count, density, and the percentage of anagen hairs in patients with androgenetic alopecia, but these improvements did not correlate with platelet or growth factor levels.

Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Half-Head Study to Assess the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

research Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Half-Head Study to Assess the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

136 citations , April 2016 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This study found that platelet-rich plasma significantly increased hair density and anagen hair proportions in androgenetic alopecia patients, suggesting potential as an adjuvant therapy.